Twins

prettypennies

If you havn't an epidural in situ, then a spinal can be done rather than a GA.[/QUOTE]


I found this out after I'd had my twins. I was annoyed that I was not told about this beforehand.

Why are hospitals so keen to push epidurals onto twin mothers?

I remember when we went for a tour of the labour ward. As they showed us around it was basically "here's the waterbirth room, but you probably won't get to use that...here's the home from home room, but not big enough to accommodate equipment for multiple births.. etc etc

trafalgar_2

inkie wrote:

Otherwise they would need to have an anaesthetist on standby the whole time.

In a Consultant unit you would have an anaesthetist on stand by all the time anyway - this is a must, and is why there is one allocated to labour ward 24 hrs per day.

If you havn't an epidural in situ, then a spinal can be done rather than a GA.

whats a spinal if you don't mind me asking

Pink.

trafalgar wrote:

whats a spinal if you don't mind me asking

Hi traf,

It's a spinal block...have a look here for more info. My sister has twin girls and they're adorable. From memory they were born about four weeks early. Enjoy your new grandchildren.

Pink

Sallys_Savings

inkie wrote:

Otherwise they would need to have an anaesthetist on standby the whole time.

In a Consultant unit you would have an anaesthetist on stand by all the time anyway - this is a must, and is why there is one allocated to labour ward 24 hrs per day.

If you havn't an epidural in situ, then a spinal can be done rather than a GA.

arrggghhh!!! I wish I had known this at the time of my twin boys being born.

I was made to feel "awkard" for not wanting an epidural as I thought I'd manage without it. The staff (particuarly the consultant) all turned against me ....well they seemed as if they did anyway lol (I thought it was just me, but my husband said he felt it too). Because I refused the epidural they didnt offer me any other pain relief, so I had the boys with no pain relief at all.

One twin was head down and the other breech. Once the first finally arrived the second baby twisted around but laid across instead of head down ..so attempting to come out with an arm and leg at the same time lol The consultant guided him back in, twisted him around and pulled him out by his legs (I still have this image now as if a lamb was being born lol)

I think it would definitely help to be able to talk about the choices of pain relief before your daughter gos in

trafalgar_2

Pink-winged wrote:

Hi traf,

It's a spinal block...have a look here for more info. My sister has twin girls and they're adorable. From memory they were born about four weeks early. Enjoy your new grandchildren.

Pink

Thanks so much Pink-winged and thanks for the link too

ka7e

inkie wrote:

Otherwise they would need to have an anaesthetist on standby the whole time.

In a Consultant unit you would have an anaesthetist on stand by all the time anyway - this is a must, and is why there is one allocated to labour ward 24 hrs per day.

If you havn't an epidural in situ, then a spinal can be done rather than a GA.

17 years ago, when I had my twins, there was definitely no guarantee that an anaesthetist would be available. The ordinary ORs had priority - especially if there was an emergency. After that, emergency C-sections had priority, then epidurals for twin deliveries, then straightforward deliveries!
Because my labour was slow to start, my epidural and induction which were scheduled for early morning, were pushed back until teatime. Other cases came in during the day that meant the midwives and anaesthetist were too busy to get me started.

inkie

Consultant units these days have an anaesthetist of registrar grade and above allocated to them. This same anaesthetist does not cover general theatre sessions at the same time - this is done by a separate person. There has to be someone immediately availbale to deal with obstetric emergencies.

Most Obstetric consultants would favour an epidural, not necessarily for pain relief, but so that if intervention needs to be done, then this can go ahead - but if a section is needed, note that a spinal could be used instead. However, I must say, that the majority of mums with twins who labour, go on to deliver vaginally - Providing that they have been assessed properly). The one's who for a vaginal birth would be risky, then they should be sectioned electively anyway.

bella4uk

I had an epidural with my twins which was great...although the anaethatist was very late to come and the midwife was furious as I was minutes from giving birth and expected to lie still whilst I was in agony. The second twin was breech and the doctor tried to turn him....I'm afraid I couldn't have coped with that with out an epidural.
I don't recall being forced to have one but was adviced and I'm of the thinking they know better than me.

ayla261

mine came at 38 weeks, healthy boy 6 lb 6 and girl 4 lb 4

magoogy

this totally brings back memories - my boy/girl twins are 18 on the 29th september and were born very early - they were due on christmas eve. my boy was born first, was breach and weighed just under 2lb, my girl was normal delivery at 1 over 2lb - they are both very healthy - had to spent a couple of months in scbu but no afteraffects - daughter hardly even gets a cold......my son was born with a dysfunctional kidney because his kidney hadnt formed fully, but, it doesnt really affect him - he just drinks/wees a lot.

some people say prem babies are slower than normal babies in i.q and that, but, mine are definitely at the top scale in that department (my daughter doing psychology at college) son is an apprentice technician in a lab.

they were and still are very mischevious together and i dont know how idve coped without the reigns because it really was a case of YOU GO THAT WAY AND I WILL GO THIS - they still gang up on me too.

i am the only one in about 5 generations of our family to have surviving twins which gladly noone told me while i was still pregnant.

oh - and as i was so premature having them there was no time to have an epidural and never really wanted one anyway - i just had the gas and air and they were born within 14minutes of me going into labour - 9 minutes apart. very easy.....