For those who are having or who have had twins...

JSM0801

Hey Ladies!  I hope all you twin mommas are doing well! Carrying two babies is certainly not easy!!

So, I am curious, what are your thoughts/plans in terms of natural delivery vs. c-section? Assuming you are in the position where both babies are head down & no reason not to, will you try naturally? Or do an elective c-section? The docs at my practice prefer natural first but they give you the option when delivering twins. I'm feeling really torn about this and hate having the choice! There is something that really scares me about pushing two babies out safely vs. c-section. I am a total planner and would rather have a scheduled section than something going wrong & needing an emergency one. I also have so many friends who went though hours and hours of labor to then have a c-section or tore in 5 places, etc. So part of me wants to go straight to the section, BUT then there's the whole recovery thing. And, everyone I know who has gone naturally asks why I would ever chose surgery, while everyone I know who has had sections has asked why I would ever want to go through labor & delivery. Ugh...which is the lesser of two evils? Thoughts?? 

DoublePortion

My thoughts are pretty much the same as PP. I would prefer a vaginal delivery because I really don't want to care for 2 newborns while recovering from a c/s. I had a laparotomy (basically same incisions as a c/s without cutting into the ute) in 2009 and remember thinking it would be so hard to take care of a baby when feeling like that. On the other hand the idea of a double whammy delivery is scarier than that of a c/s recovery! Chances are I won't get an option and will have to have a c/s. Baby A is almost always head down, but Baby B is transverse and even if she got into position she would probably flip as soon as A was out. She's quite the stinker!! My OB won't do a breech extraction.

Honestly, though there will be recovery needed for either type of delivery and there's just no way to know which one might be worse for you. If you feel more comfortable planning a c/s then go for it.

lcloffredo

I have had one natural already and plan on having these two the same way. There are a lot of health benefits to the baby going through labor and delivery as long as they tolerate it well. Going through the birth canal helps to expel fluid from the lungs. I will deliver in the OR but do not plan on even having an epidural placed if both babies are vertex. That's my personal choice though and I'm sure many would think it's crazy. I had an epidural with my last though and hated the before during and after of it so that adds to my choice.

missvolvo

I want a natural delivery more because I want to experience the birth.  Maybe I'm weird like that!  haha  My doctor is on board as well, as long as one baby is head down.  They will even deliver the second one breech as long as they got the first one out ok.  I had never planned on using an epidural, but I guess they use them for twin births because if they had to do an emergency C-section for the second they would want to be ready.  Delivery also takes place in the operating room just in case.  Even though I really really want a natural birth, I am also preparing myself for a possible C-section so that I don't get too disappointed if it comes down to that.  

chrissynena

I am having a RCS. I had a great recovery with DD, so hopefully I will with these babies also. My labor didn't go so well, 36 hours and only dialated to 4 and baby wasn't tolerating well.

Mrs.McIrish

I honestly haven't given it much thought at this point. Too much can happen and I know I'm not going to be running this show. I'm not that girl who will have a birth plan etc--just gets these babies out safe and sound and I'll deal with it.

katekat8721

I'm going for whatever is safer for the babies over whatever is easier for mommy. I'll only attempt a vaginal if they're both head down. Of course, my girls have been every which way BUT head down together lol. I do not want to labor for 10+ hours, exhaust myself, put the babies in distress, then end up needing a c-section. I don't want to labor, give birth vaginally, then have something distress baby B so she ends up needing a c-section. I don't feel comfortable having the OB attempt to deliver baby B vaginally if she's breech, since it's not a for sure that she'll flip and I've personally known twin moms where this didn't work out so great. So yeah. Plus there's something nice about having a scheduled c-section

xtina78

I'm going to prepare for a vaginal birth, but if my doctors advise against I will go for a c/s. Doc said he's fine with a vaginal birth all things being equal as long as baby A is vertex (which she is right now) and Baby B is vertex of transverse (which she is right now). Of course there could be a lot of things other than baby position that would cause need for a c/s so I won't be too surprised or upset if it goes that way.

Siona1976

My doctor discussed all the options, vaginal with both even if the second is breached, c-section, or vaginal followed by c-section. He mentioned no matter what, I'll be in an OR to hold the two teams. Although my preference is for a vaginal delivery, at the end of the day it comes down to what is best for the babies. My birth plan is to have no plan, the babies will dictate what we do.

BellaLux

@JSM0801 Hii!!! Sorry to crash your post but wanted to say congrats and I'm sooooo happy for you! Twins!!!!! Crossing Fx and toes that you have a happy and healthy pregnancy and healthy babies!! I just started stims for IVF#2 (finally), hoping to join you over here next month! Take care!

anations

Seems like everyone's choice is so personal. I am trying vaginally. Baby a is head down and b is breach, but OB doesn't seem to be phases by this. As others have said, I know there is a good chance a c-section will be needed, so I have come to terms with it. I, too, am worried about recovery with twins. My older sister tried vaginally for 14 hrs with her twins and ended up with csection. Strangely enough, she was glad she did it. She was glad to experience each. Good luck. People have great outcomes each way!

mmhopeful

Hi!  My dr. prefers a vaginal delivery but also let me know she won't deliver vaginally if one is breech.  I also have to be in an operating room for either kind of delivery and heard there will be at least 12 people in that room.  What a team to welcome my twin sons!  Either way, c-section or vaginal, I trust my dr. and can only hope for a safe, and happy/healthy delivery for me AND my babies.  I know there will be a recovery period with either one and frankly I am just so excited to think of them being here!  

I am headed to the dr. today for my anatomy scan!  I'm 19 weeks and 3 days today.  Can't wait to see them!   Good luck to all!

JSM0801

Thanks for all your replies! It is very helpful to hear your thoughts on this, since we're all in the same boat here. Most important is getting these babies out safely, so I guess it really doesn't matter which way they come out. Some things in life you just can't plan. But after reading all your responses, I am leaning towards attempting vaginally first if possible. It is comforting to know twins are delivered in an operating room with a large staff in case of an emergency. 

@IntuitiveBlue- I am totally with you on the nightmare scenario of having a vaginal delivery for A followed by an emergency c-section for B. With my luck, that will happen! Eeek!!

I can't wait for us all to get to meet our babies soon!  

JSM0801

BellaLux said:

@JSM0801 Hii!!! Sorry to crash your post but wanted to say congrats and I'm sooooo happy for you! Twins!!!!! Crossing Fx and toes that you have a happy and healthy pregnancy and healthy babies!! I just started stims for IVF#2 (finally), hoping to join you over here next month! Take care!

Hey Bella!! It's been so long! You are absolutely not crashing my post. I am so happy to hear from you and "see" you back on TB. I am so excited for you to finally be cycling again!! I really really hope you are joining us over here soon too! I will be checking up on you over on the IF board and cheering you on! Lots & lots of good luck to you!!!!!! 

BabyKsMommy

I'm only 11 wks with twins so idiot know what positions they will be in or anything. I do know with my first child I was a little scared of labor and open to a c section so I wouldn't have to push.

After giving birth vaginally to my 8lb 15 oz DS I know I can do it just fine. So I'm really hoping to have a vag birth with the twins. I am open to whatever needs to happen though and I think that's te best attitude to have.

I also just found out my OB is leaving so I need to pick a new one which scares me because I don't know about the diff drs perspectives towards vag birth for twins. But hopefully it will work out well.

absolutelymaybe

I'm probably an oddball here, but I have absolutely no attachment to having a vaginal birth. I never had, but infertility has probably made me more against it. Trying things the "natural" way failed us when trying to conceive these babies, so I don't totally trust it when it comes to bringing them into this world. 

With that said, I will do what my doctor tells me. If he thinks that I can and SHOULD deliver vaginally two healthy babies with little chance of having to labor (or even birth one) and THEN have a C-section, I'll go for it. If he thinks yanking these puppies out through an incision is my best bet, then I will show up for a C-section wearing my party pants (okay, party hospital gown?). 

My goal is delivering SAFE babies and I will give birth standing on my head if that's what my doctor says I need to do to have them. 

Aurora1181

My doc recommended a scheduled c-section for my twins. I don't really consider it "elective" from the point of view that I'm just setting a date for the heck of it, or for my convenience, or because of a doctor's vacation, etc. I'm going to schedule it because it will be the most controlled environment to bring these two into the world. I'm also on blood thinners for a blood clotting issue, and having twins, and as PP's said, I don't particularly trust my body to do things correctly, so a scheduled c-section is the best choice for me and my family. I think, like any parenting decision, you just gotta do what's best for you and yours! Haters gonna hate, no matter what.

Ylvelill

I want a natural birth if possible

jezebel57

My boys are 4 months old now so
Hope you don't mind if I jump in. They were mono di so I opted for a planned c section (36 weeks). Very glad I did. I had a painful recovery because the nurses sucked at pain management but aside from that everything went well. No surprises!

danalawrence

I had an emergency c-sec w mine at 31w5d, and the recovery was actually pretty easy!

megs3084

We were a scheduled section at 37w. Initially I was sad I didn't get to deliver vaginally but ultimately I needed us all to be safe. Plus one was breech & the other was transverse so they decided for me lol. Recovery wasn't too bad either. Good luck! You're getting close!

anations

Just posted my birth story, but going through it right now, csection is no joke. Painful to move, can't get much done and feel useless. Guess it is getting a little better each day, and I don't have vaginal to compare it too. Procedure and hospital stay were painful, stressful and wouldn't want to do it again. Had no choice, as we tried vaginal, but I wouldn't take csection lightly. Good luck guys.