Of course you can, as long as both babies are normal and there are no other pregnancy problems. It is not uncommon for mothers who carry twins to deliver normally, although it is recorded that as many as 6 out of 10 twins are born by caesarean section.
The position of the baby in the womb is one of the determining factors for the birth process that the mother will undergo. Normal delivery can be done if at least the twin to be born first is in a head down position and the placenta is not blocking the cervix.
In addition, environmental factors of residence and hospital policies also influence the delivery process recommendations. Some hospitals will recommend caesarean section for mothers with twins in one placenta. The reason is, identical twins are at risk of experiencing complications during birth. Whatever decision is made, the safety of the mother and baby will be closely monitored.
Talk to your doctor and midwife about your chosen medical condition and delivery process. Ask about hospital policies and doctors' experiences in treating twins through normal delivery. Make sure the hospital you choose follows the NICE guidelines for twin births.
The doctor or midwife will discuss follow-up actions if the mother has not yet delivered when:
- Gestational age of 36 weeks with identical twins
- Gestational age 37-38 weeks with fraternal twins
Your doctor or midwife may recommend induction or cesarean delivery.
After 38 weeks, the placenta cannot function optimally as it used to. Therefore, the delivery of twins should be done at or before the gestational age of 38 weeks to reduce the risk of the baby dying at birth.
Normal delivery for twins, of course, requires more intensive care than normal delivery for one baby. This can increase the likelihood of a caesarean section for the safety of both mother and child.
During labor, the doctor will monitor the baby (EFM) and recommend epidurals for pain relief. After mothers get painkillers, doctors will find it easier and faster to help the baby's birth process.
Discuss with your doctor or midwife about painkillers when examining the womb. That way, you will have time to consider the best options for you and your baby.
Remember! Even though you have planned a normal delivery, you may have an emergency caesarean section because:
- One or both babies become depressed
- Descent (prolapse)
- Labor was slow
- Normal delivery was unsuccessful
In some cases, one of the twins can be born normally, while the other baby is removed by caesarean section. This case is recorded as a rare case which only occurs in less than 5% of multiple births.
Ask your midwife about special prenatal classes for mothers with twins. In this class, you can meet many pregnant women who are pregnant with twins, or who already have twins.
x
