My Birth Story...by Jennifer Popham

I was booked for an induction on the Monday that I would have been 39 weeks pregnant with my identical twin boys Adam & Ben. I had been told to phone the hospital at 8.30 am to check they had a bed, then take my time getting ready and arriving at the hospital by around 10 am.

Only, it didn't happen like that - children being children they decided to do their own thing. At 2.20am (Monday morning) I felt a twinge, then another one 20 minutes later. No problem, my body had been 'twinging' for the last 20 weeks! Then at 3 am my waters went. Phoned the hospital, who weren't interested until I realised they hadn't heard me when I'd said I was expecting twins. Then they said I may as well head on in.

Got ready slowly, with my husband packing to my instructions as I felt I needed to go to the loo all the time. Managed to find time to clap on the TENS machine though. Drove in to the hospital - my body was doing something on a regular basis, but I hadn't done this before and surely this couldn't be labour as it didn't hurt much? 4.30 am by now. When it comes to anything medical I'd prefer not to undergo pain, so an epidural had always been a 'must have' for me.

However, the examination when I arrived caused the midwife to say that I couldn't have anything as the first baby was crowning. Guess that was why I'd felt the need to sit on the toilet lots! Used gas & air, but still not too much pain. My boys were delivered vaginally just before 5 am. Ben was 6lb 13oz and Adam was 7lb 11oz. Mild Twin-To-Twin Transfusion thought to have occurred but not so as it caused a problem. After my 2-hour labour I stayed in hospital for 2 days before I managed to escape.

I'm so glad they didn't decide to make their appearance in rush hour as I only got to the hospital 30 mins before they were born - my maternity notes begin with the heading "Written retrospectively"!

By Jennifer, Mum to Adam and Ben

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Page last updated: 29-Jan-2008

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