The Precipitous Home Birth of Twins at 41 Weeks

September 3rd, 41 weeks pregnant on the dot, the expansions (my version of the word “contractions”) had started up again in the morning hours, but weren’t quite strong enough for my liking. This would total the 4th time I had expansions like these- strong enough to get my attention, but not strong enough to take away my attention. I had been through childbirth 2 times prior and knew what my active labor felt like, and this wasn’t it. They were coming every 2-3 minutes apart lasting around 45 seconds. This went on for hours.

I decided to get ahold of my midwife & the rest of my birth team just to let them know what was happening, except this time I asked that my midwife come see me & also asked that she do a membrane sweep to see if this would help intensify my expansions. Around 3:00pm, she came over. To my surprise, I was dilated to a 7. Dilation doesn’t always mean a whole lot, and quite frankly I am not a fan of cervical checks or using them to gauge where you’re at in labor- I could sit at a 7 for another day or more, or I could give birth within the hour. My midwife left to give me some space, and I decided to get on the birth ball for a bit, hydrate, and snack some more. Once again, I contacted my birth team to let them know what was going on. Around 4pm, I decided to do the miles circuit to encourage baby A into optimal position if she wasn’t already there. My expansions were still coming at the same frequency and intensity, nothing had changed. I wasn’t convinced yet that it was baby day. 6pm came

around, I tried using the breast pump for nipple stimulation to encourage the expansions to pick up. (I also managed to sneak in a 41 week bump photo of my belly, just in case this was the last time I’d have it!)

Around 6:30pm, my birth team arrived. My midwife popped in to check on me and see how I was doing. I still felt the same. Expansions weren’t enough to take my attention away- I could still walk & talk & smile & think through them. I felt fully present. I had my midwife check for dilation again, out of curiosity to see if any progression had been made, I was still dilated to a 7 with more pressure from baby.

As I was laying in bed, my youngest, 2 years old, came to nurse. She had nursed throughout my entire pregnancy. As we lay there together nursing, I could feel my expansions get a little more intense & I started to breathe through them. After about 10 minutes of nursing, my sweet girl fell asleep at my breast. I asked her to get down while I lay there for a moment longer. Suddenly, much to my surprise, at 7:14pm, I felt my waters rupture inside of me. I called out that my waters just broke. I knew this meant it was time. Active labor was here & I would meet my babies soon. I just didn’t know how soon that would actually be! My husband worked fast and hard to begin to blow up the birth pool, and my midwife quickly phoned her assistant.

I stood up out of bed & this is when my expansions took control. Immediately, I began moaning and swaying my hips through the expansions- singing the song and dancing the dance that was so uniquely created for my baby & I. A song and a dance that so many women before me had sung and danced, but never had this particular one been performed. I made my way to the bathroom, because I felt nauseas. I figured that while I was in there, I might as well empty my bladder, as this aids in labor progression, and possibly poop really quick! (Emptying bowels usually happens before labor really ramps up.)

To my surprise, I sat down on the toilet and I felt a head descending. I did my best to call out to my birth team that the baby was coming. I stood up while my baby’s head was being born into my hands. My husband and midwife rushed in just in time to see my baby be fully born. At 7:25, after just 11 minutes of active labor, my baby girl was born. I was in such shock, overcome with relief and joy, I couldn’t even pick her up at first. I just could stare and laugh and take her in. “So beautiful. A head full of hair. She looks like her oldest sister. She is perfect. She is here. Praise God. Thank you, Lord.” I thought.

Her umbilical cord put pressure on my placenta when I grabbed her up and tried putting her to my chest, so I left her on my belly, with my other baby still safely inside. After her cord had

stopped pulsating, we cut her cord and handed her to daddy while I worked with my body to bring my 2nd baby earth side.

I had a few expansions I moaned through before I could feel my other baby wanting to be born. I remember thinking at this point that I really wish we had the birth pool set up because water sounded so lovely.

I began to feel pushy, so daddy gently lay our baby girl on our bed, near where I was at, so he could catch our baby. Our 2nd baby was born, en caul, with the waters still surrounding him, at 7:51pm. A boy! Our first son. And he looked so much like his daddy. Once again, I couldn’t do anything but laugh in such joy & relief. It was a high that is so indescribable. I felt so giddy, I felt so shaky, so light, like I was floating. The utmost of oxytocin rushing throughout my entire being. He was perfect. My babies were here! I did it. “Thank you, God.” was all I could say.

My other two children came rushing in after playing outside, missing the birth it happened so quickly. They greeted their siblings with delight as we all climbed into bed, soaking in and examining every last detail of our two new children. They were here. The moment we had all been anticipating, preparing for, and praying fervently for. Our babies were so beautifully born.

We completed the separation of Baby B & his placenta with a cord burning ceremony, the whole family taking part. Nothing went according to my plan, as if we can really plan our births, but it went exactly how it was supposed to. I couldn’t have asked for a better birth experience. All glory to God. I serve such a good Father.

Eden Salome - 7:25pm - 6lbs 6oz - 19” long Silas Valor - 7:51pm - 7lbs 2oz - 21” long