Multiple births: Twins

Twins account for over 90% of multiple births and far outnumber triplets or quads in the multiple birth stakes. Currently almost 3% of all the babies born come in multiples.

Pre-Labour

According to the medical textbooks, labour has three distinct stages:

• The first stage of labour involves the full dilation – or opening – of the cervix, the muscle between the womb and the birth canal
• In the second stage of labour (delivery), the baby is pushed out of the womb, through the cervix and birth canal, and is born
• In the third stage the placenta is delivered 

Birth choice

Birth partner

If you are the partner of someone who is pregnant or you have been asked to be a birth support person, you have been given a privilege and a responsibility: to provide emotional and physical support to a woman who will need your help through one of the most significant and vulnerable experiences of her life. 

The first stages of labour

The first stage of labour is usually the longest part of the birthing process by far. With your first child, labour is generally longer than your second and subsequent births, with an ‘average’ labour for first-time mothers around 12-14 hours, although anything from 2-20 hours is pretty normal.

Inducing labour

Induction is most often used if your baby is overdue or if your doctor feels that your health or your baby’s health are at risk. Your placenta starts to decrease in efficiency after about 41 weeks and may compromise your baby’s health by not delivering enough oxygen and food.