A few days after finding out I was having twins, I began mourning the loss of my birth experience. Dramatic? Probably. But as a Doula and at the time, prospective, Childbirth Educator, and someone who’s frankly quite terrified of needles, I knew that medication, needles, scalpels and augmentation were not for me.
Coming to terms with the possibility that my birth was most likely going to be filled with things I didn’t want was very difficult. I agonized, cried and had panic attacks over it for weeks. After seeking the advice of other doulas and doing some serious soul searching, I finally started to feel peace about the possible ways I would birth these babies. However, I was very prepared to make informed decisions and fight for what I wanted and needed during my birth experience.
I knew that in order to have a birth that somewhat resembled the ideal I had envisioned, I would need to have a doctor who was ok and on board with at least some of my desires. Home birth was not an option for me so I chose a practice I was familiar with through both personal experience, and experience as a doula, who I knew would give me the best chance at a vaginal birth of twins in the area. That being said, out of the four doctors in the practice, only two were ok with the fact that I didn’t want an epidural or even want the catheter placed but only one of those two was ok with doing a breech extraction if needed, should baby B turn breech after baby A was born. While I knew I could make the decision to refuse any procedure, I also knew it was probably going to be an uphill journey and one I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to climb.
On the day I went into labor (around 34/35 weeks gestation), the doctor who didn’t mind if I refused the epidural but wouldn’t deliver a breech baby B was on call, but I felt at ease. We arrived at the hospital when I was 5 cm and 100% effaced. Within an hour, I had progressed to 6 cm and was hardly uncomfortable, despite the air conditioner in L&D being broken, and it being 82 degrees in my room. The rest of the labor progressed quickly, with minimal discomfort, and without any mention of pain meds, or epidurals from the nurses and the doctor.
At 9cm I was not feeling the typical transition-like contractions I had felt with my previous 2 labors and wasn’t quite sure what was happening with my body. I had prepared for something so much more intense! I had also prepared to defend my choices with the medical staff every step of the way, but none of that was necessary as they were in awe that I was completely in control of my contractions and pain management, and was willing to listen to and think about the choices I was presented with and decisions I had to make.
There were a few things I did agree to and ask for after making conscious and educated decisions, but they were MY decisions. I did ask for a bag of fluids when I arrived at the hospital, so I had an IV and I did ask for pitocin to be turned on during pushing if it was needed. Staying in the labor room to birth my babies was not an option because of hospital policy, but I was ok with that and we did move to the operating room at 9cm. Though it wasn’t a climate controlled, dimmed room, I was able to maintain my focus and feel at peace with being there.
Immediately after being checked and found “complete” I felt the urge to push, and 5 pound 13 ounce Baby A was born after a few pushes, 5 hours after arriving at the hospital. Not one nurse counted or yelled or told me how to push, which was exactly what I had asked for.
When Baby A was born I remember thinking she was tiny and had a great cry, but I didn’t get to actually see her face. She was passed to my nurse who started checking her over, who then had to passed her to the NICU nurses because the doctor needed her help. Baby B had flipped transverse as soon as her sister was born and she did it fast too.
Everything I had read about twin births said that the worst pain you would ever feel would take place if you had to have a version during labor without an epidural. And there I was, facing a version without an epidural. When I made the decision not to have an epidural I was very much aware of the possibility of the pain but I figured I would rather endure 5-10 minutes of intense pain than all of the risks and side effects associated with an epidural through a labor.
Somewhere between both the doctor and me “talking” to Baby B and begging her to turn and the doctor and nurses beginning the version, I went into a trance like state. I didn’t feel pain, just a lot of pressure. I spent the last minutes of labor fully aware of everything that was happening, but It felt like it was happening to someone else and I was just watching.
During the version there were about 5 hands on my belly, some holding the space where baby A had been, others turning baby B. They were able to turn her to be head down, but she then turned transverse again and her heart rate became rocky. The doctor decided it was best to do an internal version to try to get her into position to be born. He was holding the ultrasound transducer with one hand and internally moving the baby while trying to keep her cord from prolapsing with the other. He was able to move baby B into position to be born but then she moved her hands above her head. So we sat, and waited. Waited for her to move, waited for something, anything that would allow me to push for her birth. And we waited while the doctor still was holding her cord and her in place, internally.
After roughly 13 minutes of waiting, her heart rate plummeted and wasn’t showing any signs of recovering. She needed to be born right then, but that wasn’t going to be possible to do vaginally. I will never forget the look in the doctor’s eyes when he looked at me and told me he had to do a c-section. He knew how much I didn’t want one and how hard I had fought for this birth. I knew that he didn’t want to do a cesarean and had tried everything possible to get Baby B to be born vaginally. There just weren’t any other options.
Because I had chosen not to get an epidural I was going to go under general anesthesia, which I had never been under before. The anesthesiologist who was standing by quickly started preparing the anesthesia while the nurses were racing to put sensors on my chest. The pitocin was turned off, and the room was switched from a birthing room to a fully functioning operating room in less than 45 seconds.
Right before I was put under general anesthesia, the doctor saw on the ultrasound screen that Baby B had moved her hands, and yelled for me to push. And in the confusion and haste of the OR, I pushed twice and our feisty 5 pound 8 ounce Baby B while the doctor guided her into the world, just 17 minutes after her sister was born.
I will forever be grateful to my doctor for trying so hard to give me the birth I wanted and what I needed. He respected me and my knowledge and trusted me and my body to do what it needed to do to birth these babies. Never once did he look down on or question my choices, he never made me feel like naive or pressured into anything. He went well outside his comfort zone and fought for me and fought for birth and in those 17 minutes, admittingly learned a lot.
Edited To Add:
Even though it’s been nearly seven years, the story of the birth of my twins will sometimes hit me and cause me to pause. I’ve never shared this picture before- I wasn’t ready to. I was honestly scared to. This picture captured and froze a moment so personal, and intense. The intensity and emotion are still fresh, even after all this time.
My sweet Baby B, being born into the hands of our extremely patient and incredible doctor. Her umbilical cord coming before her, after a nearly 15 minute internal version (without pain meds), seconds before I was going to be put under for a crash c-section. This moment, with our baby girl halfway between my womb, and the beginning of her life outside, before she’d even taken her first breath, was captured by my husband as he stood next to me, praying desperately for his wife and baby. He will tell you this moment defined and shaped him more than any single moment before, or since. And I don’t doubt that because it did for me too. But I can only imagine what he felt watching our baby’s birth unfold from his vantage point: the unknowns, the joy, the confusion in the chaos. Truly needing to trust, have faith, and let go.
Seven years later my perspective is changing. Instead of the uncertainty and a moment hanging in the balance, I am starting to see a joyous beginning, a triumphant entrance into the world and the perfect start to the life of our feisty Baby B.
The birth of my twins serves as a reminder of strength and courage that I hold within. If I can get through a nearly 15 minute internal version without pain medication, I can handle almost anything. I look back on that day with peace and a sound mind, knowing it went exactly the way it was supposed to go, with nothing to regret.
Recommended Reading
2 Videos of Twins and Triplets Born Naturally!
Surprise! It’s Twins!
Elena and Tobias Come Home: A Twin Birth Story
I Am Strong – MoMo Twins 
I’m Not Sorry
A Healing Home Birth After a Fourth Degree Tear: Part One
One Woman’s Successful Frank Breech Vaginal Hospital Birth
Wyatt’s Birth Story {Fast Birth Story}- Trust in the Birth Process – B/B Twins {With Photos}
- Birth Story of Ace {Homebirth Transfer to Cesarean}
26 Comments
Cata
What a beautiful and amazing story! My husband is one in a pair of twins and the other day my mother-in-law was telling me about their birth, I think it is so important to be fully informed as you were. Do you know if your girls shared a placenta and/or an amniotic sac? (they look like identical twins to me, are they?)
Brie Hammer
MY HERO! What an AMAZING woman!
SusanB
Yay! Good job, Mama! Two beautiful babies who entered the world on their own terms with the support of their mom and mom’s doctor.
Candiace
Your birth story is beautiful! Even after three years you tell it as though it was yesterday! I’m so happy you got to experience what you did.
Jacque
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. How amazing that this Dr. was so aware of your needs. Congrats on everything.
Lyn
My favorite part : “Right before I was put under general anesthesia, the doctor saw on the ultrasound screen that Baby B had moved her hands, and yelled for me to push.” Awesome birth story. 😀
Jennifer Valencia
Love this birth story. I’m so happy to hear about supporting and empowering care providers! Well done mama!
Elizabeth Quinn
What an amazing story! Thanks so much for sharing it! I hope at some point you write a letter to your doctor’s practice and to the hospital to thank him for the awesome care he provided you. Hospitals especially need to hear about the type of care women want, need, deserve, and appreciate. And he just deserves a big thumbs up! Your babies are mighty lucky to have a mama who who advocated for them so well and fought for the best birth for them! Great job and thanks again for sharing!! Love a vaginal twin story!!
stephanie mushonga
I delivered my twins this past January. I had had 3 completely natural singlton births before and fought for a natural birth if at all possible for my twins. I carried them to 39 weeks and then had to be induced because my baby b failed his NST. Simply breaking baby A’s water started my labor. Labor was only 1 hour and some minutes from first contraction to baby B out. My baby A was a very straight forward vaginal delivery in the operating room. Baby B flipped transverse. I too went through a very painful external/internal version but my baby B wouldn’t flip and then crashed. His heart rate was the pits and wouldn’t come up. I ended up under general anesthesia for my c section. I wish baby B would have cooperated but I am thankful for the birth experience that I did have. I had a doctor who was very knowledgeable and allowed me to try and deliver naturally and when things went wrong he did his best to flip my baby. When baby couldn’t take it anymore my c section was done and baby was born healthy.
Laney
Amazing story! Beautiful babies and mama. Wow. <3
Vanessa
Beautiful beautiful beautiful! I wanted to cry. How wonderful your doctor sounded and I am so happy for you too! Way to stay informed and work in harmony with all your lovely birthing team people. Just beautiful.
Missy
I love EVERYTHING about this story!!! I wish we could give awards to doctors like this <3 Something tells me it changed his world, and perspective for other deliveries, too. Thank you for sharing!
Sonia
What a beautiful story…thank you for sharing! What a blessing to have such supportive medical team! Awesome pictures. I would also like to congratulate Stephanie, you did absolutely amazing too! Blessings & best wishes to you all! Your stories will inspire and give courage and strength to many to trust and believe in themselves, their bodies and babies.
Stephanie
This was absolutely beautiful – and I’m tearing up. Such an amazing story!
Julia Valenzuela
Amazing Joanna !!! Beyond amazing !
Jenna
Beautiful! You are a warrior mama!!!
Michelle
This is amazing. May I ask who your doctor was?
Rebecca
That is an awesome doctor! I would write as many recommendations on websites, to the hospital, to the board, and to their superiors. That’s fantastic that he listened to you.
Heidi
Aw, yay! Such a great story to hear as I’m expecting twins. Thank you for sharing!
Lora
Wow I was holding back tears! I am thinking about getting a doula to be there with me for support of my decisions for my twin birth. I do not want a c section I’ve had 3 natural births minus the epidural. I am not scared of the epidural but c sections are major abdominal surgery (a lot of people do not know that) why we’re they so afraid of a breech delivery with baby b? I will fight for my rights. I want a doula there to make that easier. I had to get an attorney because of one of the doctors during a previous pregnancy trying to control the situation after I had spoke with everyone about it ahead of time. I’m a little nervous for that to happen again. I think the hospital knows better now but just in case. I’m so glad u had a doctor that fought with u and not against u like I did. I’m more aware that those kind of Dr’s exist since that was my first baby. But 4 pregnancies later I know what can and cannot be done. I want what’s best for everyone! So glad ur babies were healthy!!!
Joanna
what an amazing story! I am in due with twins soon and my biggest fear is not having a natural and unassisted birth like my other two singleton pregnancies. Thank you for sharing your story! It gives me hope:)
Cheyenne
Wow, what an amazing story and testament to female strength! Great job Momma and great job doctors. I teared up reading this story. Love.
Kelly
I thought I was the only one who had fought for my twins birth to be “normal”! My babies were # 5 & 6 for me and my husband and I knew this would be my last chance to labor and deliver my way! My Dr was on board and in 1998 he even convinced the hospital to allow me to deliver in an LDR w/ no meds, no IV. I went into the hospital to have my water broken at 39 weeks. My Dr had asked me to let him do that 2 weeks prior but I wanted NO interventions so he “let” me go to 39 weeks. My previous 4 births had been quick and intense. Urgesto push when only dilated to 5, etc. After 4 hours of mild labor, Dr checked me to see the progress. I was ready to go! It was my easiest birth yet, Baby A felt as though he fell out! LOL. He was perfect, weighing 7#1 oz! (whoa) Baby B, who was transverse, decided to stay thay way. Mind you, I have no meds, no epi, nada. So… let the internal version commence! Dr had his hand wrapped around baby’s ankles, trying to pull him down. He wouldn’t move and I couldn’t take the pain. Baby B was delivered 28 minutes later via c-sec, with me under a general. He weighed 7#4oz (huge twins!) Thankfully we all came through it ok. I cherish my drug-free birth experience(s) and now as a WIC peer counselor I can proudly tell women that we can have babies on our terms and without meds.
Emily
This is amazing! I am 37+4 today and have had a Doctor on my side for a breech B these last couple months. Baby A is now breech with B vertex. I have been mourning my natural birth the same way you did. But even though the likelihood I will end up with a cesarean is high your story gives me hope. Thank you for sharing!
Lisa
Wow, way to go momma! I am continually in awe of our body’s ability and all that we don’t know amidst what we do. My mo-di twins birth story is similar, fairly quick, pretty “easy”, included a moment of “oh crud if this doesn’t go well I’m going under general anesthesia for an emergency cs” followed by an internal version that surprisingly wasn’t as painful as I expected it to be. Your description of those moments put into words what I have been unable to. Thankfully my baby b was able to be flipped, cooperated with my push to engage him in my pelvis and resulted in his birth 8 minutes after his brother’s. I hope that births like ours and by our sharing, that healthcare providers, nurses, women and their partners will believe more and more that vaginal birth is possible and safe with twins. I’m thankful for the healthcare workers for when we do need them, but I want them to trust our bodies first.
Carmel Collins
I delivered twin babies naturally with no drugs and at 42 weeks. The doctor was very good at working with me to achieve the birth I wanted. Mostly I just had two midwives with me in the birth suit and the doctor popped in occasionally. As soon as baby A was born one midwife sat and held baby B in place so she couldn’t turn. She sat like this for 20 mins. I’m glad of her forward thinking. 25 mins after baby A was born, baby B was born. I was exhausted but happy. Baby b had been breech till 38 weeks. At 36 weeks they told me she didn’t have enough room to turn and suggested a c-section at that time. I held out and she did turn and they came naturally which was a huge blessing. Having twins and watching them grow together is a wonderful blessing.