If both babies are lying in a head down position then a vaginal birth of both babies is usually quite straightforward and very similar to a singleton baby's birth. The process of prelabour, a show, the waters breaking of Twin 1, how the contractions start and intensify, the phases of the 1st and 2nd stages of labour and the birth of first twin are similar to women having one baby. It starts to differ with the birth of the second twin.
After the first baby is born, the cord is clamped and cut immediately to prevent possible blood from the second twin being transferred to the first twin, in case the placenta is shared. Most women then experience a resting phase of about 15 to 30 minutes before the pushing starts again for the second twin. For a few women, the second baby moves down into place quite quickly and is born within a few minutes after their sibling.
Because the cervix is already open and the first twin has stretched the vaginal tissues, the second twin usually does not take long to be born and does not involve as much effort to push as the first twin, with many women surprised at how easy the birth of the second twin is.
Interventions for facilitating the birth of the second twin that is head down can include: