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A Twin Homebirth
To some in our society - in the United States, a twin homebirth seems foolish. To others, a twin homebirth will be an encouragement. This birth story is for you...
...be encouraged. You can have a natural birth!
Twin Homebirth:
The Pregnancy March 2007 - breakfast noises in the background - I was staring at a plus sign on a home pregnancy test. Being somewhat familiar with those tests, I knew right away...
...a new baby was on the way.
Wow! My youngest 'birth child' being five - there is one adopted after him - it was a bit of a surprise. Everyone cheered at the news.
Quickly teams were drawn: the boys voted for a boy and the girls, a girl - even though they had no hope of getting even with boys. The boy-girl ratio being 5-2 at the time.
The First Trimester:
As long as I ate well and kept up my protein intake, I was okay. Morning sickness was manageable.
Around 9 weeks, I started to really gain weight...fast! As the numbers on the scale started going into the double digits, my suspicions started mounting as well. Were we having twins?
Could it be?
Again?
I had fraternal twin girls in 2000.
I mentioned my concerns to my midwife who said it was too early to tell and that I should wait. So I did...as long as I could!
The Second Trimester:
As I entered my second trimester, I was pretty certain. I requested an ultrasound. I must say that I usually do not have ultrasounds. I don't think they are safe and some recent studies show that indeed they are not. HOWEVER, I believed in this case the benefits out-weighed the risks.
If I was pregnant with twins, my midwife had made it clear that she would refer my care. Basically, she would dump me. I knew - from past experience with twins - that my options would be very limited and the more time I had the better.
At 16 weeks, my suspicions became fact - I was carrying twins!
We decided to have a homebirth.
I know the medical community would have labeled me as "high risk." A twin vaginal birth would have been a dream, and a twin homebirth out of the question. However, I was already high risk - over 35 AND more than 5 pregnancies. The twins made me "high high risk" I guess. Kidding aside, I did not want what was waiting for me under those conditions...
...C-section, and, if I was very lucky a "trial of labor."
I did NOT consider myself high-risk. Twins are not abnormal but rather a variation of normal. Yes, such a pregnancy comes with some added risks which - many I believe - are lessened through great nutrition and great supplementation.
As far as my husband and I were concerned, I was not high risk until proven otherwise. In that case, the babies would be born - after a natural birth - into our loving arms rather than in the high drama setting of a hospital.
I was religious - some would say fanatical - about my calories and protein intake.
I know many expect twins to be early. I don't.
I believe - science and experience are on my side - that a well nourished mother can and will sustain the life of the babies within her. I also know that a well nourished mother's blood volume will expand when it should and that would be good news for me and my babies.
The Third Trimester:
38 weeks came around, I was BIG! I had gained 80 pounds. I was doing well, albeit anxious, to meet those babies. Who would be right? Mama said boy-boy, daddy said girl-boy.
My singleton - one - babies have all been born between 38 and 40 weeks and have all been between 8 lbs 3 oz and 8 lbs 15 oz.
The Birth:
38 weeks 2 days, at 11:15 pm, I started having mild contractions. Since I have Braxton-Hicks - irregular contractions - for weeks, this was no big deal. Only time would tell. They kept going...
...Hummmm.....
I was very relaxed and they hardly seemed strong enough to birth those babies. I rocked back and forth while at the bathroom sink and as I did, I spoke to my presenting baby:
"Come on baby, come on." My husband started filing the pool. At 12:30 am, I got into the pool. I did not really want to. But, by now I was hanging on to my husband while rocking, and I knew that with 80 additional pounds on me it must have been hard. The pool was not as comfortable for me.
At about 12:45 am, I felt a "pop" and thought my bag of water had broken. I was wrong. Baby A had changed position. Labor picked up fast from there. I was now working hard and not liking it.
I labor best with just my husband - or alone. However, I felt the need for other women at this point - usually a good sign that the birth is very close.
At about 1:00 am, I started pushing Baby A. As he crowned he felt HUGE! Later, I found out that he was born with his fist - and therefore is whole arm - by his cheek. Our little boy entered the world at 1:08 am, weighing 7 lbs 12 oz and measuring 19.5".
I got out of the tub rather fast as I started having contractions right away. At 1:20 am (12 minutes apart) - I was determined the whole pregnancy to have them 15 minutes apart or less - our second little boy was born. He weighed 7 lbs 1 oz and measured 20.5".
So we did have a twin homebirth of fraternal boys!
Two hours from start to finish!
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