Birth story - Katie and babies Alexander and Theodore

*Trigger* - Tear & forceps

Although the birth of my twins did not go as planned it was an overall positive experience and I stayed as true to my plan as was possible.

At 6 weeks pregnant we went for an early scan to check there was a heartbeat (I thought I was 8 weeks at the time). We had an absolute shock to discover there were actually two! The sonographer actually hovered over a third shadow for a few seconds too, but quickly concluded there were ‘just two.’ We were having MCDA twins, which is where the egg spontaneously splits into two for no known reason.

My pregnancy went very smoothly I just had regular scans to ensure the babies were growing equally as they were sharing a placenta (they’re checking for twin to twin transfusion syndrome). I’d planned a natural home water birth so wanted to get to 36/37 weeks. I’d started hypnobirthing practices from week 20. For a bit of a worrier with a seemingly low pain threshold I was feeling confident and calm about the upcoming birth.

As I approached week 35 I started to feel very constipated, it gradually got worse and I tried a lot of natural remedies to try and relieve the discomfort. At 4am on the fourth day of feeling like this things really ramped up (I was sick and the discomfort was pretty intense). By 7:30am my husband said he was taking me to hospital to get me checked over. I was in a bit of a daze but vaguely remember him frantically trying to pack a hospital bag (as I wasn’t prepared for this scenario).

At 8am I got checked over and to my shock discovered I was 9cm dilated and not going back home. I asked the hospital for a water birth but this was not an option unfortunately. By now I realised I was experiencing surges and they were getting stronger.

I was taken to my own room with dimmed lights and my husband started making the room as calm as possible (fairy lights, music etc). The next 3 hours are a bit of a blur despite not taking any medication, I was ‘in the zone’ and now I knew this was labour I squatted and leant over the bed ensuring I was up breathing and trying to keep calm and in control. The twins were being monitored but I could move around. I accepted gas and air for a short time during the surges.

At around 11:30 I was told the twins were in distress and that I needed to lie on my back. I fought against this for as long as I could remaining squatting but when a midwife said (quite sternly) I was risking the babies being deprived of oxygen and being brain damaged my husband said I needed to listen. Despite knowing this was far from the ideal birthing position I knew the hospital had let me remain squatting for as long as they could.

Once I was on my back I pushed with each surge. Despite my best efforts I did have to accept an episiotomy and during the final push the doctor did use forceps (minimally I was told), I really wanted to avoid both so it was disappointing.

Alexander was born at 11:47, I had delayed cord clamping and he was immediately placed on my chest. Then the surges came back and my husband held him against his bare chest while I gave birth to Theodore who was born at 12:25pm. There was no invention with the second birth. I then held both twins against my chest, I was in such shock as it all happened so quickly.

I did need some stitches but it was absolutely fine and I had the boys in my arms. I healed very quickly.

The four of us remained together (both twins on my chest) until the early evening I felt so lucky. After a quick bath I was back with my twins and stayed up all night watching and soothing them. Despite being premature they’ve not left my side since birth and now at 5 weeks old are getting stronger and stronger

Anyone else having twins that would like reassurance or advice please do reach out, the hospital / NHS do tend to evoke panic but using BRAIN I always felt in control and sure of my decisions.