Giving Birth to Twins
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Multiple births
If you are expecting twins, triplets or more (a multiple birth), labour may start early because the womb becomes very stretched with two babies. It is unusual for multiple pregnancies to go beyond 38 weeks. More health professionals will usually be present at the birth, for example there may be a midwife, an obstetrician and two paediatricians - one for each baby. For more information on who's who, read about the antenatal team.
If you're having twins or more, the process of labour is the same but the babies will be closely monitored. To do this, an electronic monitor and a scalp clip might be fitted on the first baby once your waters have broken. You will be given a drip in case it is needed later, and an epidural is usually recommended.
Once the first baby has been born, the midwife or doctor will check the position of the second by feeling your tummy and doing a vaginal examination.
If the second baby is in a good position to be born, the waters surrounding the baby will be broken, and the second baby should be born very soon after the first because the cervix is already fully dilated. If contractions stop after the first birth, hormones will be added to the drip to restart them.
Triplets or more babies are almost always delivered by elective caesarean section.
