Can you naturally deliver twins?

About one third of all twins are born vaginally and the process is similar to that of giving birth to a single baby. If you're planning a vaginal delivery, it's usually recommended that you have an epidural for pain relief.


How can I have twin babies naturally?

Conception happens when a sperm fertilizes an egg to form an embryo. However, if there are two eggs present in the womb at the time of fertilization or the fertilized egg splits into two separate embryos, a woman can become pregnant with twins.

Are twins delivered naturally or C section?

You may have heard that being pregnant with twins means an automatic C-section, but that isn't always the case. When it comes to twins these days, about half come into the world vaginally.


How early can you deliver twins safely?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), for example, recommends delivery between 34 and 37 weeks for twins with a shared placenta and at 38 weeks for twins with separate placentas. Some other physician groups recommend delivery closer to 39 weeks with separate placentas.

Can you carry twins full term?

A little more than half of twin pregnancies end in preterm delivery (before 37 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).


Expecting twins? Here’s what you need to know about your delivery options



Are twins harder to deliver?

Vaginal Birth of Twins

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.

Do most twin pregnancies end in C-section?

It's common for twins to be born by 38 weeks, and roughly 60% of twins are born via c-section.

Do you have to get induced with twins?

You may be offered an induction (starting labour artificially) or a caesarean section. Exactly when this will be will depend on your circumstances. But if your pregnancy has been uncomplicated, this may be at: 37-38 weeks if you are carrying twins with their own placentas (dichorionic)


Can you have twins if they don't run in your family?

Identical twinning and family heredity

Since embryo splitting is a random spontaneous event that happens by chance, it doesn't run in families. Genes are not involved and there's no scientific evidence that being from a family with identical multiples has any impact on your odds of having twins.

Who carries the gene for twins?

However, for a given pregnancy, only the mother's genetics matter. Fraternal twins happen when two eggs are simultaneously fertilized instead of just one. A father's genes can't make a woman release two eggs.

What can cause twins pregnancy?

What causes you to get pregnant with multiples? A multiple pregnancy means you're pregnant with more than one baby. Multiple pregnancy usually happens when more than one egg is fertilized. It also can happen when one egg is fertilized and then splits into 2 or more embryos that grow into 2 or more babies.


Who is most likely to have twins?

People over 30, and particularly those over age 35, are more likely to conceive twins. 4 This is because the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) rises as birthing parents get older. FSH is responsible for the development of eggs in the ovaries before they are released.

What are the 7 types of twins?

Some unique sets of twins follow a different path.
  • Mirror twins. Mirror twins are exactly what they sound like! ...
  • Conjoined twins. Conjoined twins are a rare twin type in which the two siblings are physically connected. ...
  • Parasitic twins. ...
  • Semi-identical twins. ...
  • Female and male identical twins.


Can you Freebirth twins?

“While a completely drug-free twin birth in a hospital setting is possible [if both babies are presenting head-first], many obstetricians will encourage their patients to have an epidural for pain management due to the possible need for breech delivery or cesarean delivery for the second twin.”


What are the odds of delivering twins?

It is estimated that 1 in 250 natural pregnancies will naturally result in twins. While twin pregnancies can happen by chance, there are some factors that may increase your odds of having two babies at the same time.

How long do you stay in the hospital after birthing twins?

This could be as little as two or three days or maybe three or four days if mom has had a c-section. This was the case with our twin girls. My wife had a c-section delivery for our twin girls and she was in the hospital for about four days.

What is the longest time between twins being born?

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.


Do twin pregnancies go on bed rest?

Women with a multiple pregnancy are often advised to rest in bed at home or in hospital to reduce the risk of preterm birth and other pregnancy complications. Why is this important?

What is the hardest thing about having twins?

The hardest thing about having twins is…

“Managing the movement of two babies. Carrying them both up and down the stairs, getting them into the car, etc.” —Simeon R. “Often having to make one baby wait!” —Catharine D. “Being outnumbered—the logistics of two on one is definitely the hardest.

How hard is carrying twins?

Rob Atlas, M.D., an ob-gyn at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, calls twin pregnancies "double trouble." Moms carrying twins are at higher risk for premature birth, high blood pressure, and—especially in the case of identical twins—fetal abnormalities.


Are most twins born healthy?

Most twins are born healthy. A twin pregnancy can mean a higher chance of health complications so you'll need extra check-ups. Twins that share a placenta or inner sac need to be checked more closely. It's good to know whether twins are fraternal or identical for health reasons later in life.

What gender twins are most common?

And because the death rate in the womb is higher for twins than for singleton births, female twins are more common than male twins.

What twins skip a generation?

The notion that twins always skip a generation is also a myth. The illusion may have arisen because men who inherit the gene from their mothers are unaffected by it ( they do not ovulate), but can still pass it on to their daughters, who, in turn, will have an increased likelihood of conceiving twins.


What are early signs of twin pregnancy?

Twin pregnancy symptoms are similar to those of a single fetus (singleton) pregnancy but may be more intense.
...
You may experience:
  • Breast tenderness.
  • Fatigue.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Increased appetite.
  • Morning sickness.


Can you have twins if it runs on the father's side?

While men can carry the gene and pass it on to their daughters, a family history of twins doesn't make them any more likely to have twins themselves. 3 But, if a father passes on the "twin gene" to his daughter, then she may have a higher chance than normal of having fraternal twins.