Twin mums - vaginal birth or c-section?

Hi, I am also due non-identical twins in Feb 2025. Having lots of scans probably like yourself, twin A is breach as it stands but I am hoping that will change as we get closer. I have already had two natural vaginal births and my consultant is saying that the twins should be no different as long as they turn. But I am the same as you, worrying about every scenario. As long as these babies come out safe whatever we go through I am sure it will be worth it x

I had my boys vaginally. I didn't need an epidural, but I was told if I didn't get one and ended up needing a section, my wife would have to leave for me to be put to sleep. If I got it, she could stay for the section. Ugh! I didn't want her to potentially miss out, so I got it. The way I looked at it is a c-section is major surgery and basically puts you out. Taking care of twins is hard enough, I couldn't imagine doing it with my abdomen stitched up.

@Sadé Thank you for this, it’s good to hear about a positive vaginal birth. I feel I mostly hear about c-sections with twins! Good point about the epidural too, I wouldn’t want my partner not to be there if I had to have a c-section later on

Twin mom here! I’ve had one vaginal birth with epidural for my daughter. I’m hoping to push my twins out also vaginally, but my OB did let me know either way I’d be delivering in an operating room just in case because anything could happen which definitely gave me a sense of comfort because I have no one in my life that has had twins. I am just hoping for a safe and healthy delivery for my boys

I gave birth to twins in september . Due to my babies turning and laying breech I had to have a elective c section but my first daughter was vaginal birth .

My doctor said twins are usually always C-section. It’s rare that they’re both facing down in order to have a vaginal birth. I would go with what your doctor recommends is the safest route for you and the babies.

I am booked in for an elective c section tomorrow for my non identical twins. I was all for a vaginal delivery at first but became increasingly anxious about having to deliver 2 babies, risk of them getting stuck, risk of haemorrhaging etc so decided against it in the end. I think it’s such a personal choice and if you’re low risk and want a vaginal delivery there’s no reason why you shouldn’t 😊

@Alex This is how I’m feeling right now! I’m only 28 weeks so I’ve still got plenty of time to decide, and things could easily change still. As long as babies and I are safe and well that’s all that matters. I hope all goes well for your c-section tomorrow!

I'm 27 weeks and am also struggling with that decision. The midwife told me it would be an assisted vaginal delivery (if vaginal). While pushing out lower baby someone would try to keep the other baby in position by physically holding it in place via the belly. Has anyone experienced this or their midwifes explained them the same?

I haven’t had twins but I am a twin! My mum had me and my sister vaginally. She had an epidural and both of us were helped out with forceps

I had my non-identical twins in July. I was torn on the decision but my twin B was bigger than twin A so that swayed my decision for the C-section and I was really nervous about the surgery. Also put down to try vaginally when I was in labour but I was so glad I went for the C section, it was over in a matter of minutes compared to hours in labour 😅 and my recovery was also very good. Just make sure you have a good network around you to help with the babies for any option you go for 🙂

I worked in OB, have 21 nieces and nephews, and my own twins. I would absolutely never choose an abdominal surgery unless is was completely medically necessary. Even if B flips they can literally just reach in, grab their feet, and pull them out. It only matters that A is head down. A cooter recovery is much much better to deal with than a surgical recovery. I thought for sure I'd need a section and my OB would always say "WHEN you deliver vaginally you are going to do great. The last thing you need is an abdominal surgery recovery on top of two newborns" and he was right! I pushed out both babies and both placentas in less than 30 minutes.

@Sarah i mean this in the nicest way but it sounds like your doc is just not confident in their ability to assist in a twin delivery. I worked in OB and this is not it.. delivering twins vaginally is still super super common.. literally only A has to be head down..

@Chantal I was also told by my midwife that they’d have to hold twin 2 in position externally after twin 1 is born, which is why I could not have a water birth and one of the reasons why they recommend a epidural, as they have to apply a lot of pressure which can be uncomfortable.

@Jill That’s interesting to know! My twin 2 is also bigger than twin 1. My consultant and midwife haven’t commented on this, but I wonder if it will be a factor…

@Christine it is, the only requirements are A is head down and around the same size or bigger than B so they can create a big enough canal for B to come through after them. This said, my last growth scan at 34 weeks they said B was a few Oz bigger than A but my OB was still comfortable going ahead he said B would have to be significantly bigger than A to make a difference. Annnndddd my growth scan was wrong and A was 6lbs and B was 4lbs15oz so I'm sooo glad we went ahead vaginally. I honestly just went in with a "whatever happens happens. They gotta get here one way or another" mindset and just let whatever may be, be. And it went way more smooth than I ever could have imagined 😅

@Kylee Thanks for this. I want to have the mindset of ‘whatever happens, happens’ but I think my biggest fear is delivering one vaginally and then needing a c-section for the other and end up recovering from both 😓

I'm 33 weeks and just had a conversation with my OB about that exact concern. I was convinced at the beginning of my pregnancy I would just elect to do C-section for safety as I didn't want to do both. Now that I'm far along and could deliver at any moment, I'm in a situation where baby A is bigger and head down and B is also head down. This is ideal for trying vaginally and my OB said even if baby b was breech it would still be ideal because of baby A. There are so many successful vaginal births you have to be in a positive mindset going into it and you will just do whatever it takes for your child to be safe. I personally think it's worth trying vaginally to avoid surgery so that's my current plan. ❤️

@Christine very true! I was worried about that too but my OB said yes of course it can happen but it's very rare. Even if B flipped he would've reached in and grabbed her feet and pulled her out. That's what's so nice about having to deliver in an operating room, they're monitoring with ultrasound the entire time so they know what's going on and if/how to intervene, I've even heard of some docs preferring to flip B back around if it happens so there's sooo many possibilities. Some people feel more comfortable just planning on a surgery and not having to think about it, I wanted to see what I was capable of cause I'm tiny but mighty and I lowkey rocked that shit 😅 I have friends from school that pushed for 2-3 hours for a singleton and I literally got my twins out in 28 minutes and they're 18 minutes apart in age so most of it was just getting baby girl to wiggle down to my cervix 😅

@Chantal this is awful information!! They do not stabilise the second twin until the first is out and if alls going well there’s no need for any assistance with the first. I personally had a C-section for my twins but I’d also had an emergency C-section with my first baby. It was great. I saw them coming out, had skin to skin after delayed cord clamping and my husband got to cut the cords! I recovered pretty quickly, was home 24 hours later and generally was back to myself driving etc by 3 weeks. People only share the horror stories because sharing the good stuff doesn’t make for good conversation Yes most twins are delivered by caesarean but a fair few are vaginal and the vast majority I’ve been there for have gone beautifully with minimal intervention

I'm also due in Feb with fraternal twins, and have been having the same anxieties. I was also told that I should be able to do vaginal, but I'm just mentally preparing myself anything.

I was told no water birth because of the extra monitoring of twins heartbeats etc meant all the cables and whatnot were not compatible with being in the water. Also only like 4% of twin births are A vaginal B emergency section. To put your mind at ease there. I had a planned section as both were breech but I had a vaginal with my singleton and would have 100% gone vaginal with the twins if they had just stayed head down!

@Ceri-Ann thanks for commenting and sharing your experience 💞

Hello! My b/g twins were born October 2023 and they were born vaginally. When I found out I was pregnant I interviewed my OBGYN whether she A) was experienced in twin births and B) if she was comfortable with an extraction of twin B if needed. She is experienced in both. At the end of my pregnancy I developed preeclampsia and Twin B was growth restricted so we decided to induce at 36w4d. They were both head down. They came two days later at 36w6days. Baby A came out then Baby B flipped and the Dr reached in and grabbed her out by her foot. They were born 2 minutes apart, but in the moment it felt longer. They were both healthy and needed no nicu time. I did need to get an epidural in case of c section. And delivered in the operating room with 2 OBGYNs. But it went phenomenal. My healing was good and I didn’t want to recover from an abdominal surgery and take care of twins. The first few weeks at home were rough and a bit of a blur. I’m really happy I was proactive to have a vag birth.

i was terrified of having one vaginal and one c section too! my babies were breech for 3 months so i had a section booked but i had always wanted to do vaginal. at my last scan at 36 + 2 they had both turned head down! i cancelled my section and asked to be induced instead. my waters then went spontaneously at 36 +4 and i had them the next day vaginally! i did have an epidural and they struggled to find one of the twins heart rates so had to start pushing not long after i was 10cm. i had to sign all the emergency c section paperwork just incase. i made all the doctors/midwives aware that it would've been my worst nightmare to have one vaginally and one section and they were really supportive, normally only let you go 30 minutes between babies being born, however as baby b wasn't in distress i had a 57 minute age gap! baby b was almost 2lbs bigger so it was super hard work pushing him out after but i did it! its possible but i guess you just have to be open every situation happening

C-section all the way, i didn't want to risk natural with the 1st and section with the 2nd as you've gone through both then x

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDBA2UWJyEr/?igsh=NTlvY3F4MmVvcnFr

I watched this video of mom birthing her twins all on her own at home without any epidural and it has been giving me hope I can do vaginal delivery with my twins. I am 20 weeks atm

@Ashreen I saw that!! Absolutely incredible

I had my twins at 33w3d and they were both head down. I didn’t know when I would be having them until one of the follow up apts the OB said okay let’s get these guys outs by c-section. The reason why they decided c-section was bc it was the safest option for my boys. So basically what I’m saying is go with the flow bc pregnancies are unpredictable.