Welcoming twins means preparing for a birth experience that can look a little different from a singleton delivery. Creating a twin birth plan helps you understand your options, communicate your preferences, and feel more confident as you approach labor and delivery.
From deciding on pain management to preparing for the possibility of a C-section, a clear plan ensures your care team knows what matters most to you. As a twin mom myself, I have created a simple twin birth preferences checklist to walk you through the key decisions and help you create a flexible, thoughtful birth plan for your twins. Let’s get started reviewing what is on the checklist and how creating a birth plan for twins can help reduce stress and overwhelm.
Please note, there are affiliate links in this post. Read my privacy & disclosure policy at the bottom of this page to learn more.
Do Expecting Twin Moms Need a Birth Plan?
Whether you create a birth plan or not, I’ve got news for you, your twins will be arriving. That means you don’t technically need one, but creating a birth plan is likely to make the birthing process smoother and better for both you and your two little ones.
When you to set aside time to think about what you want to happen during labor and delivery, it will make the whole ordeal of going to the hospital and what happens there more comfortable. There could be some surprises and unplanned circumstances during your twins birth. In fact, you should expect the unexpected to happen.
With all that said, I highly recommend creating a twin birth plan because it will help you understand what to expect, plus you will know what you want when questions are asked of you at the hospital. So, let’s review my recommendation for a very simple way to create a twin birth plan that is perfect for your family’s personal needs.
Easily Write a Twin Birth Plan Using a Checklist
Personally, I had a written paragraph of what my birth plan was for my twins. It was short and simple. But, I spent a very long time stressing over what it should say. I definitely missed out on a few items that I just didn’t know the answer to once I was at the hospital and in labor.
To avoid my situation of not really knowing what to do, I recommend using a Twins Birth Preferences Checklist. I wish I had known about these when I was pregnant (I’m not 100% sure they existed yet though).
When you work your way through a checklist, you will find things you already know the answer to and that you can easily fill out. However, you might find a couple sections that you have not decided or even thought about yet.
For those items you can take time to research and talk to your doctor before checking off your preferences. Once you have filled out the checklist, voila you are done! Print at least 3 copies to bring to the hospital with you.
When you get my Twin Birth Plan template, you get access to the twin birth preferences checklist in the 3 different colors and a nice, structured page to write your plan out in paragraph form. You don’t have to use this page, but it’s there if you would like to use it. I recommend filling out the checklist first, and then if you opt to use it, writing out what you checked off on your list in 1-2 paragraphs.
Things That Should Be Included in a Birth Plan for Twins
You will find the following sections on the birth preferences checklist that has been created specifically for twins. These are all items you will want to include as part of your twin birth plan.
- Personal information (name, support people, due date, baby A sex, baby B sex)
- Health info (allergies, etc.)
- Atmosphere preferences
- Pain management preferences
- Pain medication preferences
- Delivery preferences (vaginal, C-section, etc.)
- Birth positions preferences
- After delivery preferences
Special Considerations for Twin Births
Delivering twins comes with unique considerations that are important to understand as you prepare for birth. First of all, each baby may be positioned differently.
Your provider will closely monitor Twin A’s position to help determine whether a vaginal delivery is possible. It’s also a possibility for twins to be born in different ways, such as Twin A vaginally and Twin B by C-section.
This is a huge consideration for your birth plan. Depending on baby A’s position, you will need to decide if you want to attempt a vaginal delivery or to have a C-section in order to avoid the possibility of having two different types of delivery. If you end up having both a vaginal delivery and a C-section, recovery will be much, much harder.
The second item of note is that twin births involve extra monitoring, a larger medical team, and a higher chance of NICU care. Planning ahead, knowing your options, and discussing scenarios with your provider can help you feel calm and prepared for whatever your twins’ birth brings.
Finally, since twins are born earlier on average than a singleton pregnancy, you will want to complete your birth plan earlier than is considered the norm. I recommend having it ready to go by 30 weeks of pregnancy.
Other Things You Need to Prepare for Labor and Delivery of Twins
Besides a twin birth plan, you will also need to know what to pack for the hospital. I actually provide a twins hospital bag checklist for FREE, along with a twin baby registry checklist and twins checklist by trimester. You can get them all now by clicking the button below!
In addition to understanding what goes in a hospital bag for twins, I also recommend taking a birthing class. You can either take an in-person class at your local hospital or do an online class from the comfort of home.
For an online class, I recommend this one for twins. It is taught by a very experienced labor and delivery nurse, you will pick the type of birth you are having and take that class, and finally there is a module dedicated to the birth of twins. Whichever type of class you choose, just ensure you do take one.
Creating a twin birth plan helps you feel more confident, informed, and prepared for the unique experience of delivering twins.
While every birth comes with unpredictable moments, outlining your preferences ensures your care team understands what matters most to you. Remember to keep your plan flexible, review it with your provider, and bring printed copies to the hospital. With the right preparation and support, you can approach your twin delivery with clarity and peace of mind.
