So many of the labour/birth stories I have read/heard are 'horror' stories - I hope my story will give reassurance to some of you, that it can be a good experience.....

by Sally McCabe

We already had a wonderful son (2 years old) and had been trying, for what seemed like ages, for another child. I was only about 4 weeks gone when I did a test & saw the blue line. Waiting 8 weeks for the first scan was the worst bit of the pregnancy. I felt really tired and was suffering a little heartburn & nausea. I kept thinking 'maybe it's a girl!?', because with my son I'd had nothing at all. I felt my clothes tightening around my waist from about 10 weeks. My husband kept saying "You're bigger than you were last time - have you got your dates right?!" Of course I had! I was fanatical about checking my period dates and doing tests! He also kept saying "Could be twins!" to wind me up. How right he was!!!

The day of the scan arrived. Along we went, son as well. Onto the bed I hopped and got comfy. The sonographer was a man - not that that makes a difference! He put the monitor on my stomach, wiggled it a little & said "Oh!" in a surprised tone. I immediately thought 'What does 'Oh!' mean!?!' He got the monitor placed correctly and said, "There we go. Do you see the heartbeat there?". "Yes!" I said - relieved that there was actually a baby there! He moved the monitor slightly, "And do you see that heartbeat there?!". "OH MY GOD!" I said, putting my hand over my mouth (my son was there & I didn't know what would come out!) I'm glad I was lying down, otherwise I may have collapsed. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! My husband hadn't said anything - he was trying to keep our son occupied - and I wasn't sure if he realised. Just to clarify (for myself as well!), I asked the sonographer, "Are you saying it's twins?". "Yes!"

In the car on the way home, I kept laughing (in a nervous kind of way) & saying, "Oh my God!". You could hear mine & my husband's brains ticking over & over - 'What now?', 'Where's the money going to come from?', ' How will we cope?', 'We didn't expect this!'. I immediately got onto the internet, looking at everything I could about twins. Bought a book. I wanted to find out as much as I could - without numbing my brain too much! Anyway, that's enough about finding out. The pregnancy progressed very well. No problems. They were non-identical and growing fine. My due date (40 weeks) was 29th October, so we were anticipating 8th October. On 23rd September I met with a friend who said my 'belly looked low'. I felt fine - a little more tired again and had noticed my ankles were a bit swollen. I'd made an appointment for the midwife to come & see me at home the following afternoon.

I woke at 4:15am (same time I woke when my waters broke first time - but I didn't take the hint straight away!!) on 24th September. I was 35 weeks exactly - done well I'd thought!! Just needed a wee. Felt a little uncomfortable. Had small crampy feelings in my stomach. I'd been feeling like this for a few nights - nothing strange. For the next 2 hours I kept going to the loo, couldn't get comfortable. Didn't need to wake hubby though! At 6:15am I went to the loo (again) & noticed a tiny bit of blood. Maybe I should wake hubby!? Trying to remain calm, I said quietly, "Paul - nothing to worry about, but maybe you should call your Mum!" She was going to look after our son for us when it was time. She was about 40mins away. I phoned the hospital who advised I should get my little boy sorted out and get there asap (I think she could hear my breathing, as the contractions had now kicked in!). I have no idea how far apart the contractions were - Paul was getting our son's stuff together & I was busy pacing! Luckily I had my bags all organised (had done since about 29/30 weeks - you never know!).

By this time, I was dressed, ready to go, pacing around, trying not to swear. My son had woken up & thought it was a great game following me around. At one point, I was saying, "Ow! Ow! Ow!", he said, "What's happening Mummy?". Then it hit me... "I think the babies are coming!" Luckily, we had a Plan B in case of emergency - Paul's mate lives 10 minutes away, so I got Paul to get on the phone to him. I didn't want to wait - couldn't!! At 6:45 we left the house. The 15 minute drive proceeded with me giving Paul instructions - "Go slow! SLOW!" while I was contracting & "Go! GO! PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN!" when it had passed. We got to the delivery suite and were shown to a small room, with 1 resuscitation unit - "It is twins!" I said, just to make sure they were aware. A little later I moved to a bigger room and was able to relax a little - now I could get comfy on the bed. In came the midwife - a familiar face! I had met her at the Twins Antenatal Classes held at the hospital, 2 months earlier. She had a male student with her and asked if I minded. No - I'd been anticipating about 20 people in the room, so 1 male didn't make a difference (although, at the time I didn't realise he was a student, but I had other things on my mind!).

She examined me. I still wasn't 100% certain that my waters had broken. She confirmed they had and I was 9cms dilated already. My son had been a fairly quick delivery (6hrs) for a first child, so I thought this one would be fast too! I was coping well with the contractions & breathing - something I hadn't really been taught with my first. The midwife came over and put this thing in my hand that looked a bit like a hoover tube. I had no idea what it was. I looked quizzically at Paul, who said, "I think it's the gas & air!". I'd had my son naturally with no pain relief and really had no interest in it at all. I looked around for somewhere to put it down, but couldn't see anywhere - so I kind of dropped it & Paul kind of caught it! I'd had a scan the week before and both babies were cephalic (head-down), so we confidently told the midwife this. The student attempted to put a line in ready for a drip or pain relief if required. He did it wrong & messed my arm up a bit - not that I noticed. Midwife came over to help him, then went back to the other side of the room. So, there I was, legs akimbo, at 7:50am, midwife with her back to me - she hadn't even looked at my birth plan yet!

A contraction came, and with it I could feel the first baby coming. "Don't push yet!" the midwife said, still turned away. "IT'S COMING!" I said. Didn't have to push, & couldn't stop it. The midwife turned round & saw the head. A couple of minutes, a contraction & a push later our first twin was born at 7:53am and placed on my chest. A girl. The cord was cut & she was checked over quickly & given to Daddy to hold for a minute. Then it was time for twin 2's appearance. At some point, the midwife tried to give me the gas & air again - almost put it into my mouth. Paul stepped in and said, "I really don't think she wants it!". The midwife did an internal and my second waters broke. Not sure when it happened (before or during labour), but twin 2 had turned and was now breech. Surprised all of us. Luckily, midwife was fully trained and experienced in delivering breech babies, so we proceeded. A couple of other people had entered the room, but I wasn't really aware of them. Too busy giving birth. Legs & body had been delivered and I said, "Is that the head out?" - I'd already forgotten that it was breech and that the head was the last bit I still had to deliver.

Another midwife (or nurse or doctor, I'm not sure) put her hand on my stomach and said, "You're having a contraction now - PUSH!". I could no longer feel the contractions. It was the hardest bit to push out - this baby turned out to have the larger head of the two. At 08:06, twin 2 was born - another girl. The weights & checks were all done - 4lb 5oz and 5lb ½oz, nothing major to panic about. Midwife decided to take twin 1 to SCBU, as she was a little hypothermic. We were left with twin 2 for a while, then she was also taken to SCBU as she was grunting. They were also both a little jaundiced - twin 2 needed a little treatment for that. So, that was that! Placentas out, no stitches, had a bath, some tea & toast. I felt great. Couldn't believe I'd just given birth to two babies!! Had a chat with the student - who couldn't quite believe what he'd just witnessed. I think I squeezed his hand rather hard at one point, poor fella. We'd taken the midwife by surprise, too. Afterwards she said many other midwives would've seen the breech coming and panicked - probably opting for a caesarean.

I was desperate to go and see my daughters - about an hour later we did. They were beautiful - but we were still calling them 'Twin 1' & 'Twin 2'. We hadn't known what sex they were, so hadn't decided on names. It didn't take long after seeing them. Amelia Jane & Caitlin Ruth stayed in SCBU for 1 week, then came home. They're almost 8 months old now and thriving. And big brother Aiden adores them - & they adore him! It's a lot of work, but I wouldn't change a thing!!! If I haven't gone on too much, I hope you've enjoyed reading my story & may have gained something positive from it. I found giving birth a marvellous experience both times (should I say all three times?!) & wouldn't hesitate doing it again!!
Good Luck, Mums!

Sally - Mum to Aiden (3½yrs), Amelia & Caitlin (8mths)

l to r Amelia, Caitlin

PS. I run a business from home designing & printing personalised stationery (announcements, invitations, cards, etc.) As a mother of twins, I've noticed how hard it is to find "twin" products on the high street and therefore have a dedicated "twin" section. Please check out my website at www.photations.co.uk

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Page last updated: 29-Jan-2008

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