We’re back and we’re here to share more of our home birth story with not just one, but two humans!
Pregnancy Progress and Decisions
In the last video on this topic, we discussed Dr. Ama’s pregnancies: the first in the hospital, the second in our condo, and the third at a friend’s house. This time, let me take you through the roller coaster ride of our twins’ home birth. While I share this, remember, you don’t have to follow in my footsteps—what matters is what’s right for you and your family.
At 35 weeks with twins, we had an unforgettable appointment with our specialist, who, although slightly exasperated with our plans, was nonetheless professional about it. By then, Baby B had settled into a fantastic head-down position. The following week was a whirlwind of appointments, decisions, and emotions.
Preparing for the Big Day
During the 36th week, I managed to see my OB after a long break. To my surprise, he was ready to schedule an induction the following Monday. I had to muster the courage to give him the news that I wanted to have a home birth for my twins.
Despite feeling nervous without Matt by my side, I explained my reasoning and the constraints: My midwife would only support a home birth at 37 weeks. Encouragingly, the OB asked how he could assist, setting in place non-stress testing at the hospital to monitor the twins closely.
A Few Bumps in the Road
As excited as I was about labor, I faced the reality of contractions consistently. Climbing stairs too quickly or engaging in usual activities would trigger them, but I was determined to reach that 37-week benchmark. With each contraction, I knew my body was preparing for what lay ahead. I also had to reconcile the mixed signals around medical terminology, such as “biweekly,” which seems to mean both twice a week and every other week. Through frequent hospital visits, Baby B maintained its head-down position, which kept me optimistic.
Tending to my children’s needs (in sickness and in health!) added another layer of stress but I learned to listen to my body and rest at every chance I got.
Countdown and Labor Begins
As I reached the 37-week mark, my reflexologist visited, initiating sorely needed relaxation with a memorable treatment that I shared with my daughters. A few days later, my OB was yet again keen on scheduling an induction, but I was headstrong on letting nature take its course.
That night, as exhaustion overtook both me and my sick children, my body began signaling the onset of labor. Waking Matt up, I called our midwife Suzanne, explaining to her over the phone how overwhelmed I felt because of my lack of sleep and contractions. Suzanne, in her calm and assuring manner, decided to come over, promising to carry out a checkup regardless.
Matt, initially skeptical, quickly came to terms with the situation after I threw up—an experience that happens during my labors.