Q&A: Always a C-Section With Multiples?

Not necessarily. It depends on your babies’ size and position. If they are both head-down, then you can deliver vaginally, and many twin moms do. There is a higher risk of complications, so you’ll need to be in a hospital and have a doctor skilled in twin deliveries. When you arrive, you’ll probably have an ultrasound to confirm that your babies are head-down and ready to go. Your labor will proceed much like a singleton mom’s, but when it’s time for delivery, you’ll probably be wheeled into an operating room instead of a regular delivery room. This is in case an emergency c-section becomes necessary for one or both twins (sometimes the first twin can be born vaginally but the second one has to come by cesarean). After your first twin arrives — congratulations! — your doctor will check on your second to see if he’s positioned well for delivery. If so, the doctor may break your water to encourage #2 to move along. Your contractions will restart soon (or you’ll get some Pitocin to help them along), and you can then start pushing, just the same way as before. It may only be matter of minutes before you greet your second child!