Can you give birth naturally to twins?
Can you have a natural birth with twins? Lots of women think they have to have a caesarean section with twins. In fact, more than 40% of twin births are vaginal. If you’re planning a vaginal delivery, it’s usually recommended that you have an epidural for pain relief, but you can discuss this with your midwife.
How does a woman give birth to twins?
Twins can occur either when two separate eggs become fertilized in the womb or when a single fertilized egg splits into two embryos. Having twins is more common now than it was in the past. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , twin births have nearly doubled over the last 40 years.
Is giving birth to twins easier?
The good news is that even though you have two babies, you only have to labor once. Once the cervix is open, each baby will have its own pushing stage. This means you will have to push twice, but the majority of the time the second twin is born much more easily than the first.
Are twin babies usually born early?
Twins are more likely to be born early, often before 38 weeks, so it’s important to understand your birth options. Less than half of all twin pregnancies last beyond 37 weeks. Because of the likelihood that your babies will be born early, there is a good chance one or both of them will spend some time in special care.
What is the normal delivery time for twins?
approximately 36 weeks
While 40 weeks is the full gestation period of the average pregnancy, most twin pregnancies are delivered at approximately 36 weeks (range 32-38 weeks depending on the type of twin pregnancy).
What happens when you are pregnant with twins?
If you’re carrying multiples, you can expect: More-frequent checkups. You’ll see your health care provider often to track your babies’ growth and development, monitor your health, and watch for signs of preterm labor. You might need frequent ultrasounds or other tests, especially as your pregnancy progresses.
What is the longest time between twins being born?
90 days
The longest interval between the birth of twins is 90 days, in the case of Molly and Benjamin West, dizygotic (fraternal) twins born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA to parents Lesa and David West (all USA) on 1 January and 30 March 1996.
What is full-term with twins?
That’s why full-term for twins is considered 38 weeks, not the typical 40 weeks. Preterm birth — delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy — is the most common complication when you’re pregnant with multiples. About 50 percent of twins are born early. Twin delivery, on average, occurs around 35 to 36 weeks.
What are the complications of twin pregnancy?
Why is multiple pregnancy a concern?
- Preterm labor and birth. Over 60 percent of twins and nearly all higher-order multiples are premature (born before 37 weeks).
- Gestational hypertension.
- Anemia.
- Birth defects.
- Miscarriage.
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
How often do twin births occur?
The birth rate for identical (monozygotic, or MZ) twins is the same throughout the world, at about 4 per 1000 births. It does not seem to be related to where people live, what they eat, their racial/ethnic background, or any other factors. This suggests that identical twinning is a random event that is not influenced by genes or environment.
What are the chances of giving birth to twins?
– 7.3 percent in women younger than 35 – 6.9 percent in women age 35 to 37 – 6.8 percent in women age 38 to 40 – 5.1 percent in women age 41 to 42 – 5.9 percent in women age 43 and above
What percent of twin births are vaginal?
Moreover, planning a vaginal birth does not necessarily mean that a woman will have one. In the study, 56 percent of the women delivered both twins vaginally, while roughly 40 percent had a C-section. The remaining 4 percent had a combination of vaginal and cesarean delivery.
How painful is it to give birth to twins?
“However, giving birth to twins is not more painful than giving birth to one baby,” Ditte Toft Heskjær says. Below she offers her advice on how to prepare for a twin birth.