I Gave Birth to Twins at a Birthing Center

Last updated on January 24th, 2024 at 05:13 pm

It was early September. My husband and I were driving to our anatomy scan at our local birth center, excitedly discussing if we thought our second child would be a boy or a girl, nervously hoping for a report of good health from the ultrasound tech.

The pregnancy had been eventful so far. As with my first singleton, I had severe hyperemesis gravidarum, only this time around it was much worse. At 5 weeks, I was put on heavy medication in an attempt to stop my constant vomiting and dehydration. By 11 weeks, I had lost 25lbs with no signs of letting up. My care team decided that a PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) line was the best solution so that I would be able to receive daily hydration and vitamins intravenously.

Despite the complications with my hyperemesis, my pregnancy was still considered low-risk which meant that I was able to deliver under the supervision of midwives. The midwifery model of care was exactly in line with my own birth philosophy – low intervention with an emphasis on not only physical care, but emotional care as well. At each appointment, I spent over an hour with my midwife, getting to know one another, asking questions, laughing, and even crying together. I trusted her implicitly with myself and my growing family. She was exactly what I had been looking for in a care provider – someone who really knew me and listened to me. I had done extensive research during my singleton pregnancy and was surprised to find research showed that a birth center or at home was actually the safest place to deliver for a normal pregnancy. After a wonderful experience at the birth center with my son’s delivery, I was excited to be able to deliver with her again.

Fast-forward to 21 weeks. We arrived at the birth center around 5 pm for the ultrasound. l laid on the bed in the cozy, dimly lit room, ready to see my baby for the first time. The tech began the ultrasound and a couple minutes in she gave a strange look.

“Is this your first ultrasound?” she asked. A little apprehensively, I replied that I had one at 5 weeks to confirm pregnancy and get medication for my hyperemesis, but it was very early on. My mind began racing with all the possibilities of what could be wrong with our little one. She said, “Well… I don’t know how to tell you this…” My heart skipped a beat. I squeezed my husband’s hand. “Well…. Do you know what I’m going to say?”

Then suddenly, it all made sense. She was trying to tell me there were two. Two babies! What on Earth?! I gasped and looked at my husband, who was staring into space with his mouth wide open. I demanded to see the screen for myself and the tech proceeded to show me two perfect little girls. I began to cry. My husband and I had decided it would be my last pregnancy due to my health issues, so two babies for one pregnancy felt like the most wonderful blessing.

My next question immediately went to my midwife, “Can I still deliver here?” I knew that having twins automatically put me at high-risk in California and therefore I was ineligible to deliver with her. She reassured me that we would work it out. I could still deliver out of hospital if I hired an OBGYN to supervise who specialized in out-of-hospital twin birth – enter Dr. Stu, the only obstetrician in my area who delivered twin and breech babies out of hospital. We met with him and hired him the next week. He and my midwife agreed to concurrent care and the pregnancy proceeded without complications.

While we were overjoyed to have found a way to deliver out of hospital with our trusted care team, others had misgivings. I had many comments ranging from discouraging to downright hurtful. Many people told me that it was foolish to even try because I would go into labor early. Their reasoning, “Aren’t all twins early?” Others accused me of harming my children because I wasn’t putting them in what they saw as the safest situation – delivery in a hospital. People told me horror stories of twins and/or their mother dying (even though the stories were of twins who were delivered at the hospital).

pregnant mom holding toddler twins at a birthing center

These comments made the last 4 months difficult. I was completely confident in my choice – that it was best for me and best for my babies. My first vaginal delivery was fast and uncomplicated, my twins were healthy and growing well, my doctor fully capable of delivering twins and babies presenting breech. I was an ideal candidate for an out of hospital twin birth. While most people were well-meaning, they were unresearched. They came from a place of fear, not facts. They then tried to put that fear on me as well.

I was aware of the various risks that could develop, but I was also fully confident in my care team’s ability to assess any issues that arose as we went along, and I had faith in God’s plan for whatever came my way. Despite the negativity, I stayed strong. I knew my body had the ability to carry my twins to full-term and deliver them vaginally, unmedicated, just like my son.

At 38.5 weeks, my water broke. It was 3:30 am. I didn’t have any contractions yet but I knew from my first birth that it was probably going to be quick. I called my midwife and told her I was coming in to labor at the birth center and got ready to go (as fast as humanly possible when you are gigantic with twins.) Half an hour later, the contractions started coming 5 minutes apart. We left for the birth center around 4:30 am. As many moms will tell you, the drive is one of the most difficult parts. I was laboring hard at that point, with contractions right on top of each other, unable to speak or do anything but try and breathe through the pain. My husband gently encouraged me as he sped down the freeway.

When we arrived at the birth center, I could barely walk. I began making low guttural sounds as I tried to amble up the steps. My midwife came over and gently placed her hand on my back – I screamed at her to stop – I just wanted to be left alone. We all gathered in the birthing room. Two midwives, two midwives assistants, the doctor, my husband, and me. It was quite the party in there. Everyone was excited for the rare chance to assist with an out of hospital twin birth.

pregnant mom in birthing tub twins in a birthing center

The environment in the room was one of quiet anticipation. Dimmed lights, hushed tones, the rush of water filling the tub. I leaned over the tub as intense contractions pulsed through my lower back. At around 5 am, I asked my doctor if I could begin pushing. He checked me, telling me that I was fully dilated and able to push. I got into the tub and after a few pushes, my daughter was born at 5:08 am. I was shaking so hard that I could barely hold her. Having been in labor for just over an hour, my body was in complete shock, struggling to catch up with all that had so quickly transpired.

I tried to enjoy the beautiful baby girl in my arms, but my only thought was that I had to do this one more time. Throughout this period of “downtime,” my doctor had been listening to baby B’s heart rate. I could hear a sense of urgency when he announced that baby B’s heart rate sounded low and that we needed to get her out. He had warned me in our appointments that this sometimes happened with twins because of the pressure drop after baby A comes out, so I was completely confident in his expertise in that moment.

After my husband cut the cord for baby A, all concentration went to getting her sister out. My contractions hadn’t come back as strongly, so my doctor began pressing on my stomach while I pushed so we could get her out faster. The pain was overwhelming, the intensity of the moment pulling me over the finish line when all I wanted was to give up. As her head came out, he asked if I wanted to catch her, and with the final push, I reached down to grab my baby and bring her up to my chest. A mere 16 minutes later, less than two hours since my contractions began, my second daughter had been born. No tearing, no complications, babies completely healthy. I was a happy, thankful twin mama.

mom holding newborn twins in birthing tub twins in a birthing center

Birth can be scary, twin birth doubly so. More potential risks, more possibilities of things that could go wrong, but as my midwife constantly reminded me – twins are a variation of normal. God meant for my body to conceive these babies, to carry them – which was why I wanted to try and deliver them vaginally, unmedicated.

Not all pregnancies are the same, not all births are the same. There are many variations of normal. At the end of the day, it comes down to you and your birth values – the ability to CHOOSE. Research for yourself. Dig for information. Ask questions. Find a care provider who aligns with your philosophy and goals. Maybe that is at the hospital with a scheduled C-section, or maybe it is at a birthing center with a competent care team. But we should have choices. We should be able to start the conversation.