Multiple Births
The birth of twins, is likely to be a far more monitored process,
with double the staff in the delivery room, in the case of any
additional problems arising. This needn't be the case though, as
many multiple births proceed in the normal way with both babies
being born vaginally and with as little medical intervention as
possible. As straightforward as some births may be, there are those
that require added assistance in an attempt to offer your babies the
best welcome to the world.
Premature labourAs mentioned earlier, it is common for
twins to arrive sooner than the usual 40 week period, and it is for
this reason that it is important to recognise any signs that may
suggest that you are about to go into labour. As with single
pregnancies, many signals may only indicate 'false labour', but it
is still essential that you contact your doctor or hospital as soon
as possible - rather safe than sorry!
| Symptoms |
Description and Action
|
| Severe backache |
If you find yourself
suffering from backache that seems to reach a point and then
fade, it could indicate the start of contractions.
Contact
your doctor immediately, or go to the hospital |
| Bleeding |
At the onset of labour many women,
experience a small loss of blood-stained mucus, which is
commonly known as the 'show'.
Contact your doctor immediately, or go to the hospital
|
| Contractions |
'Braxton-Hicks contractions' are common throughout all
pregnancies, but if these contractions become severe, recurring
approximately every 15 minutes, it could indicate that you are in
labour.
Contact your doctor immediately, or go to the hospital |
| Abdominal pains |
These pains may be very similar to that of period
pains, and it could indicate early labour.
Contact your doctor immediately, or go to the hospital |
| Leaking |
Leaking small amounts of fluid is a common discomfort of
pregnancy, due to added pressure on your bladder. Should this occur
too often, it could mean that your membranes are leaking.
Contact your doctor immediately, or go to the hospital |
| Ruptured membranes |
If you experience a sudden gush of water from
your vagina, it could mean that your waters have broken and that
labour is about to start.
Go to the hospital immediately |
Pre-term babies:
With most twins arriving before the expected date, they are most
likely to be very small and almost fragile, so great care must be
taken to ensure that they are delivered as carefully as possible.
This may require a forceps delivery or the administering of an
epidural to prevent a forceful delivery.
Differing positions:
Babies from singleton pregnancies, have ample space to be able to
correctly position themselves for their birth, but this is not
always the case with multiple pregnancies. Although twins are
normally in the correct position at the start of labour, there are
those where one twin is in the correct cephalic (head down)
position, and the other breech, but provided there are no additional
complications it is possible for both to safely survive vaginal
delivery. If in the case of both babies being breech, a caesarean
section may be the only option.
The second arrival:
The second twin almost always has a more difficult delivery than the
first, and is usually the main reason for medical intervention. This
being due to the altered position, having to endure a double-take of
contractions and the uterus is normally compressed after the
delivery of the first.
After delivering the first twin, the doctor will check the second
twin's heartbeat and assess her position in the womb. If she is
lying across (transversely), your doctor will manipulate her into
the correct position from the outer side of your abdomen. If this
method fails, your doctor may attempt to turn her internally.
Most doctors aim at achieving the shortest as possible interval
between the two births, hoping for a space of no longer than five to
fifteen minutes. In order to encourage the birth of the second twin,
hospital staff may rupture the amniotic sac. If this method does not
restart the contractions you may be given a syntocinon drip to
speed-up the labour process. In the case of the second twin becoming
distressed or being unable to be turned around into a correct
position, a caesarean section will become inevitable.
Pain relief:
Pain is an integral part of every childbirth experience, although
the severity may differ quite considerably from one woman to the
next. The pain experienced during childbirth is due to a number of
reasons, these being, the stretching of the cervix in the first
stage; the pressure and widening of the birth canal in the second
stage; and the delivery of the placenta in the third and final stage
of labour. There is also of course the pain involved in some of the
medical procedures that may be necessary to assist the delivery.
However, in spite of all these discomforts, there are means and ways
of making the birthing experience a little less painful, by the
administering of certain drugs such as Pethidine and an Epidural
anaesthetic. Above all, these pains do indicate that, it won't be
too long before you are cuddling your newborn creations to your
breast - So hang in there!
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