Mom's who had vaginal deliveries...

I am planning to have a vaginal delivery if at all possible.I had a drug-free birth with my DD so I don't know what to expect. I have some questions for anyone who birthed their twins vaginally...


1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
3.) How long did you labor?
4.) How long did you push?
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
7.) How much time between each baby?

I know this is lots of questions but I only have my DD's birth to draw from. Thanks!!!

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
Spontaneous at 35 w 1 day
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
Probably around 3-4
3.) How long did you labor?
I started having contractions at 5 am, went to the hospital around 6 that night. Delivered at 4:30pm the next day
4.) How long did you push?
Over an hour and half for the first one, 6 min for the second.
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
No
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
No, they did bring them both to me before they whisked them off to the nursery.
7.) How much time between each baby?
6 min.

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
Induced, 38 weeks, 1 day

2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
Probably 4-5

3.) How long did you labor?
6.5 hrs. from induction till both babies were out

4.) How long did you push?
Hmmm, about 2 mins. for baby A (he was crowning as they wheeled me to the OR. Maybe about 4 mins. for baby B. Pushing is actually the easiest part of labor/delivery for me. My first DD I only had to push for 25 mins. after 19 hrs. of labor.

5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
No, he was taken to the warmer and cleaned up while I focused on Baby B.

6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
Nope, she was cleaned up while I held Baby A

7.) How much time between each baby?
16 mins.

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
33weeks 6 days...spontaneous. Born close to midnight though so I say 34wks

2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
5.5

3.) How long did you labor?
Prolly around 30 hours when my back starting hurting sporadically :rotflmbo: but I didn't know for about 18 of it

4.) How long did you push?
about 30 mins for Baby A for about 10 mins with Baby B

5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
Yes

6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
Sadly no...they were born so far apart we knew A was having breathing difficulties and B prolly would too

7.) How much time between each baby?
54mins...stinker baby

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
Spontaneous at 38 w 2d
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
6cm
3.) How long did you labor?
10 hours, had to get pitocin as contractions were vigorous but not dilating further for quite awhile
4.) How long did you push?
A - 20 minutes - she was sunny side up and rotated strangely so it took awhile B - 30 seconds
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born? No, concerned about her eye
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born? No, not until he was cleaned up but not immediately - policy due to NICU teams present for any OR birth
7.) How much time between each baby? 6 minutes, just waiting for docs to be ready and to get B's hand out of the way, he flew right out with 2 pushes.

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
Was not induced, had pre-e and delivered spontaneously at 34w5d

2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
Somewhere between 4 and 6, I don't remember exactly

3.) How long did you labor?
I think I was in labor for longer than I thought I was. When I realized I was going to have the girls that day it was 2:00 pm and I had them at 11:22 and 11:27 pm, so I guess 9 hours?

4.) How long did you push?
I pushed for about an hour

5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
No, she had a BM in the womb and the NICU nurses took her immediately

6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
No, she was also given to the NICU nurses

7.) How much time between each baby?
5 minutes

 

1.)Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
Spontaneous - I was on meds to stop sontractions until 36 weeks, went into labor at 37 weeks! Water broke at home after a full day of crampy back pain and mild contrations.

2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
I didn't get an epi - drug free

3.) How long did you labor?
Not counting the contractions at home, it was about 5 hours of labor before I was fully dilated

4.) How long did you push?
about 2 hours DD took forever!

5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
No because they lost baby b (DS) on the monitor so my dr didn't take chances. She had me start pushing immediately and used a kiwi suction to help get hom out fast!

6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
No, he had to be monitored for a few hours because he inhaled some fluid.

7.) How much time between each baby?
13 minutes

Just wanted to add that even though I was really upset that I couldn't hold either of them right away, they were checked out and back in my arms a few hours later, healthy enough to go home with me when I left two days later i wouldn't have wanted to hold DD with any chance of DS being in distress. We bonded very quickly (mainly through the early months of nursing and lots of cuddling) even without having the ideal situation immediately after birth. Also, did someone tell you you had to have an epi? I delivered in an OR just in case, but opted not to get an epi. Did you ask your dr if you could try drug free again? GL!!

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
I was induced at 37w3d
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
3
3.) How long did you labor?
Induced at 8 and delivered at 13.10 and 13.18
4.) How long did you push?
2 pushes for baby A and 2 pushes for baby B
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
Yes
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
Yes
7.) How much time between each baby?
8 minutes


Hope that helps, best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
Spontaneous labour at 35 weeks, 4 days.

2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
I think I was around 5 - 6 cms when I got the epidural catheter placed - delivered without pain medications. I didn't want the epi at all, but they wanted one for a breech extraction. I ended up delivering Baby B with a breech extraction before the anesthesiologist added any meds, so I got to be numb AFTER the delivery(really dumb, and I hated it).

3.) How long did you labor?
About 12 hours, but only the last 20 minutes were hard labour. The rest I was able to talk through contractions, and nap in between. Easiest of the four labours I've had!

4.) How long did you push?
A minute or less for each, I would say.

5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
Neither one was placed on my chest at all, I didn't hold them until the next day. I was a surrogate though, and wasn't really concerned about holding them right away either. I hemorrhaged after the birth, so that was more important, and after the bleeding subsided I was REALLY tired and weak, and wouldn't have felt comfortable holding them.

7.) How much time between each baby?
They were born 4 minutes apart.

 

Thanks for starting this thread! I was wondering about all of those questions myself....

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
Was induced at 38 weeks and 2 days!

2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
Approx. 6 centimeters....

3.) How long did you labor?
Well, they started the pitocin at about 10:00 and my water was manually broken for baby A at 10:30. I delivered about 3:30, so labor was 5 hourse.

4.) How long did you push?
a couple minutes for baby A I think, not too long. Was dilated to a 9.5 at 3Pm, wheeled to OR, everyone got ready, I pushed, baby A out at 3:26PM.

5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
No, baby B slid down and was ready to come out ASAP.

6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
No, they were wrapped and then put on my chest.

7.) How much time between each baby?
Two minutes.

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
spontaneous at 32weeks, 6 days which was stopped in hospital. Again spontaneous at 35w6d
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi? I was fully dilated and ready to push when I got the epi and only wanted it b/c I was at a high risk for c-sect (breech/transverse presentation)
3.) How long did you labor? 2 hours
4.) How long did you push? 5 min for twinA, maybe another 5-10 for twinb, they had to use forceps w/him so it took a bit longer
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
no they were brought right away to the pediatricians
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
no, again to pedi
7.) How much time between each baby? 8 minutes, so I guess I could not have pushed that long for twinb!

I know this is lots of questions but I only have my DD's birth to draw from. Thanks!!!
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1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
Induced at 38w+2d
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
I was 5 1/2 cm (I had been dialated for weeks, 4 1/2 cm without going into labor when they admitted me).
3.) How long did you labor?
They started Pitocin at 6 am (4 1/2 cm), broke my water at 8 am (5 1/2 cm), I was complete a little after 10 am, born at 10.32 am (pushed 4 times for #A) and 10.36 am (pushed once for head after breech extraction).
4.) How long did you push?
4 sessions for A and 1 for B
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
nope
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
nope (he didn't breath at first, scored 5/9 Apgar) and needed to be bagged (he pooped while coming out, a little stressed, but recovered quickly).
7.) How much time between each baby?
4 minutes

 

:thanks: This thread was a great idea and so interesting to read all of your stories, thank you for sharing.

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
Spontaneous. 37.5 weeks. I did get pitocin only because it turned out that Baby A's bag had a leak for at least 12 hours. So with the worry about infection, they decided to speed things up.
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
5 I think.
3.) How long did you labor?
4 hours in the hospital. Slept through about 2 hours after the epi.
4.) How long did you push?
20 minutes with A. One contraction with B.
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
No. The NICU nurses took him.
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
No. The NICU nurses took him also. But neither baby left the room. They were evaluated and then given to me.
7.) How much time between each baby?
20 minutes. They allowed me to rest before pushing with B (otherwise I think it would have been 3-4 minutes).

 

I think it is fantastic if all goes well you are interested in vaginal delivery. I just wanted to share my story to help remember that even vaginal deliveries can have unexpected (and still wonderful) outcomes:
1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you? spontaneous labor, 37 weeks 3 days
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi? 5 cm
3.) How long did you labor? Labored for 4.5 hours until water was broken and cord prolapsed
4.) How long did you push? N/A - ended up with emergency c-section (general anesthesia) after cord prolapsed - both babies happy and healthy thanks to doctor who rode the gurney and held Ethan's head up off of his cord
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born? N/A
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born? N/A
7.) How much time between each baby? 12 minutes from water breaking to Ethan being delivered and two minutes between Ethan and Kendall

Good luck!!!

 

1.) Did you go into spontaneous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
Self-induced with castor oil at 39w.

2.) How many centimeters dilated where you when you got your epi?
No epi - drug free for me too!

3.) How long did you labor?
About 20 hours, but not all of it was intense. Stops and starts because of the caster oil.

4.) How long did you push?
About 20 minutes with A. Less with with B. Pushing was the best part.

5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
Yes.

6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
Yes.

7.) How much time between each baby?
Just over an hour. I rested most of that, and when I was ready I got back on the birth stool and pushed Baby B out.

(BTW - this was a homebirth, so some of the policies would be different at a hospital.)

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you? I was 36 weeks 4 days when my water broke. I was at home at the time.

2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi? I was pretty far along. I went into labor around 4 pm and didn't get the epi until after 9 that night. I couldn't decide if I wanted a C Section or not so that's what took so long.

3.) How long did you labor? My water broke sometime around 4 pm. The girls were born just after midnight.

4.) How long did you push? With Baby A I did a few sets of 3 pushes at a time in the labor room. At that point I started to feel nauseous and the nurse was afraid if I threw up that I would birth Amelia, so they brought me to the OR. In the OR I did two sets of 3 pushes, and threw up. Then for Baby B I only pushed 3 times.

5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born? No. There were so many medical people in the room with me that I didn't see her when she was born! They took her to make sure she was breathing okay and I sent DH over to see what she looked like. I did see her within the first 2 minutes though. I was shaking so badly from the epi that I was scared to hold her.

6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born? No. I was shaking so badly I was afraid I would drop them. I did hold them as they wheeled me out to see my dad and friend in the waiting room but I was terrified of dropping them!

7.) How much time between each baby? 5 minutes.

 

Mammabee718-I asked about not getting an epi because I truly loved my birth experience with my DD. I felt very in control and I loved how I felt after the labor. Totally energized! She said I could if I wanted to BUT if I ended up in an emergency situation, I would be knocked out so they could get the baby(ies) out ASAP. I am not sure if I want to risk that. I feel like I could totally do a natural twin birth if they are head down and all. I feel like it will be weird to have meds and stuff, like I won't know when to push and all.

 

KMay -

The other reason that my OB recommends the epi is that even if your babies both start out head down, there's a chance that your baby B could end up in another position and your OB could potentially end up putting their arm right up into your uterus to either turn or grab the baby! This I am told (and I assume!) is no fun at all without an epi! Could you ask your OB about getting you set up for an epi but not pushing any of the medication into the catheter unless you need it?

 

Good suggestion! Having done without medication before, I'm sure you can get through without an epi. I loved my experience and wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The worst part was getting to 5 cm. If that's when you get the epi, it would have been wasted on me.

Having the catheter in would be a bit of a pain, but you could consider it insurance against needing it in a hurry.

Good luck whatever you decide!

 

I've actually considered getting the epi w/ no drugs, I'll ask my OB at my next appointment in a couple of weeks if they do that and then discuss alternate possibilites as well.

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
At 37w 1d my water broke. After about six hours with no real contractions I chose to get pitocin. I was really hesitant about the "induction" but it ended up working out great!
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
Since my water had broken I was never checked for dilation until I felt the urge to push. I didn't get an epidural.
3.) How long did you labor?
Two hours after pitocin I started having real contractions which lasted for 40 minutes.
4.) How long did you push?
I don't remember, but it was a very short time.
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
My OB wanted me to focus on the birth of the second baby and said that she needed all of my focus on the delivery so the first baby went with Daddy.
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
I don't remember! I don't think so, but I should check with DH!!
7.) How much time between each baby?
About 15 minutes. I was exhausted after pushing the baby and waited through a couple of contractions until the monitor showed that baby #2's heart rate was decreasing a little so I got really motivated to get her out.

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
spontaneous at 34w1d

2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
i didn't get an epi

3.) How long did you labor?
i was in early labour for a couple of days but i was only in active labour for about 2 hours

4.) How long did you push?
about 30 minutes for both babies

5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
no, they needed to check her out right away because she was early.

6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
no, again they needed to check her out right away. i was able to hold them both very briefly (long enough for one quick picture) before they were whisked away to the NICU.

7.) How much time between each baby?
there was 8 minutes between the girls - they used a small kiwi vacuum extractor on my baby B because she was having some decels & they wanted her out as quickly as possible.

 

Thank you all! This info is so helpful!

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
spontaneous - 33wk5d
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
5
3.) How long did you labor?
water broke monday, mag drop til thurs to allow time for steroids, labor pains started mid day wed but nurses were in denial, delivered thurs morning
4.) How long did you push?
steady push 2 1/2 hours maybe? i started at like 4 or 5 am but contractions stopped so i got pictocin then shift change and had to wait on NICU crew bc they were in another delivery
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
yes
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
color="#4169E1"]yes[/color]
7.) How much time between each baby?
20 min exactly

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
spontaneous at 37w2d (water broke)

2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
3cm

3.) How long did you labor?
Very active labor for 10 hours

4.) How long did you push?
40 minutes for both

5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
yes, but was then whisked away to the special care nursery

6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
yes, but again whisked away to the special care nursery

7.) How much time between each baby?
40 minutes

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you? Spontanous...I went for my 35 week check up and found out I was 4cm dialated and 80% effc. I was sent to L&D and my boys were born few hours later. I was 35w4d.
2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi? 6cm
3.) How long did you labor? I went in at 2.30pm for my check up 45 mins later I was being monitored at L&D my boys were born at 10.57pm and 11.14pm.
4.) How long did you push? 20mins baby A and 10mins baby B
5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born? No
6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born? No
7.) How much time between each baby? 17mins, it would be a little sooner but Baby B was transverse and had to be turned had down.

Good Luck. For me personally this time around was much easier than with my daugther. But than again she was almost 9lbs and the boys were 6.9lbs.

 

1.) Did you go into spontanous labor or where you induced? How far along where you?
My water broke at 36 weeks 5 days


2.) How many centimeters dialated where you when you got your epi?
4 centimeters


3.) How long did you labor?
Water broke at 6:30 am, babies both born by 6:30 pm

4.) How long did you push?
1.5 hours for baby A, 8 minutes for baby B


5.) Was the first baby born placed on your chest after they were born?
No


6.) Was the second baby placed on your chest after it was born?
No


7.) How much time between each baby?
8 minutes

I know this is lots of questions but I only have my DD's birth to draw from. Thanks!!!
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