Natural birth or caesarean?
Twin positions
Vaginal birth of twins
Caesarean birth of multiples
Support groups in Australia
For women with a multiple pregnancy, the way you give birth to your babies will depend on how many babies you are carrying, the position of the first baby closest to the cervix (or opening of the womb), if the babies are to be born prematurely, if the woman or her babies have any health complications, as well as yours and your caregiver's preferences.
Essentially the process involved, whether a Caesarean or vaginal birth, will be very much the same as for women having single babies, but there are some aspects that can vary. Being aware of the similarities and differences can help you prepare for the birth of your babies. You can read more about multiple pregnancies
here and in
twins, triplets or more - the pregnancy.
Natural birth or Caesarean?
The decision to plan a vaginal birth or have an elective Caesarean operation is often based on the same reasons for women having a single baby. These can include health complications such as the woman having very
high blood pressure,
placenta previa or
placental abruption,
fetal distress, problems with the labour not progressing, an
unsuccessful induction or an increased risk of a
cord prolapse. Multiples that are very
premature are more likely to be delivered by Caesarean. Caesarean birth is discussed in more depth in
Caesarean and VBAC.
Factors influencing the decision of how a woman with multiple babies gives birth tend to centre around how many babies there are, if the baby lying closest to the cervix is in a head down position and what position the other baby(s) are in.
Twins
Triplets
Quadruplets or more
Twins
Vaginal birth for twins is possible, but a less common occurrence when compared to women having only one baby. In Australia, the Caesarean rate for twins is about 50% of all multiple births (about twice the amount for single babies at 25%).