Doc gave us delivery options - how to decide?

D31

I am 36 weeks along with twins. Baby A is head down, smaller of the two. Baby B is transverse at the top of my uterus, the larger of the two. They are actually both rather large to begin with  (roughly 6lb 14oz, 7lb 6 oz as of last week's ultrasound). The doc initiated the conversation today only because of the size of baby B being the bigger one and coming out second, and that he's transverse. Here's what we were told today: 

1. While baby A can can probably come vaginally w/ no problem, we don't know what baby B will do. He will either turn head down once baby A is out of the way, go breech, or do neither. They will NOT do a breech extraction b/c baby B is bigger and his head will probably get stuck in my cervix. 

2. We can attempt vaginal, but because baby B is the bigger and would come out second, there's a possibility he will get stuck b/c baby A would not have opened the cervix enough - which means straight to C section for him. Also, it's possible the cervix will close a bit and labor will slow down once baby A is out while we are trying to get baby B into position.

3.  or, Baby B can just turn head down, with or without a little help, and everything goes fine. 

 I'm sure there are other details we were told, but my head was spinning as she was explaining all this, so I forget. I was kinda looking forward to a vaginal delivery, but wasn't a die hard about it. So, do I go for vaginal and pray for the best knowing that I can end up with a double whammy? Or do I just to straight for the C section with both and get it over with?  

 Thoughts?  

amanda31H

For me, if Baby B was not head down (which she is) the doctors did not want me to deliver vaignally b/c of the risk of having a c-section after a vaginal birth for Baby A.  

Right now, both my girls are head down.  When I go into labor, they'll check and make sure they are still head down.  If Baby B moves and is not, no question for me- I'll just do the c-section.

If I was you?  Get the c-section.  I wouldn't leave so much to chance since Baby B is not head down.

Haven1

Hmmm, such a tough call!  I'd probably try vaginally, but I can say that at only 27 weeks.  

BelleBaby

My boys were breech the entire time, so it wasn't an option for me.  I had to have a c/s.  It was actually a really good experience for me.  I made it to my scheduled date, so we just went in, got ready, did the surgery, had some babies, and that was it.  I know that's not how everyone's experience goes, but I had a good one.  I know for sure that I wouldn't want to do a vaginal delivery AND a c/s. 

I know there are some girls on here who had their Baby B's turned (by the OB) after delivering Baby A with some success.  They'd probably be better able to advise you on how that all goes.

I just thought I'd let you know that my c/s experience was pretty good.

ashleywebber

I would do a c/s out of fear of doing a vaginal and then having to have a c/s.  Double recovery with two newborns could be tough.  Of course you have to do what you think is right for you.  Good luck either way.  Great thing is the weights.  You are going to have some good sized twins.

kaiteedidit

amanda31H:

For me, if Baby B was not head down (which she is) the doctors did not want me to deliver vaignally b/c of the risk of having a c-section after a vaginal birth for Baby A.  

Right now, both my girls are head down.  When I go into labor, they'll check and make sure they are still head down.  If Baby B moves and is not, no question for me- I'll just do the c-section.

If I was you?  Get the c-section.  I wouldn't leave so much to chance since Baby B is not head down.

This exactly. I would not want to risk the double whammy.  

MoMandA

If your doctor is not comfortable with a breech extraction, and you want to stick with the doctor, then I would go for the c-section. 

But you can always wait and reassess closer to 38 weeks and see where the heads are. I asked about the double whammy. Both of my boys were head down at the time of induction, and my baby b was bigger, she said that larger babies are less likely to flip after their sibling is born.

mlkwmu

I'm in the same predictament as you..one's head down and baby b is transverse.  My doctor has given me no choice.  In the beginning she told me if they weren't both head down that I would be scheduled for a C-section since there was no way that that they would make me do both - one vaginally and the other by c-section. So I'm currently scheduled for a c-section as of 6/10 unless they decide to come sooner.  They will check on the positioning of the babies weekly.  I don't think it will change. Baby B has been sideways for a long time and I think there's little room for it to switch positions.. but I guess time will tell.  Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

 

Temp159135562506975

fwiw - my vaginal delivery of my singleton was MUCH harder to recover from than my c/s with the twins. I LOVED my c/s.

the whole issue with your baby B probably making you need a c/s on top of a vaginal delivery  --- ugh- that makes me shiver to think of recovering from both.

i'd go c/s - no doubt about it for me.

Carmela752

Mine were both breech, so there wasn't really any choice and I had the c/s. Earlier in the pregnancy, though, baby A was head down and baby B was transverse. My OB would have done a breech extraction. I still wanted the c/s though, because that's just what I felt was safer for me in my gut. I kept having bad dreams about baby B going into distress, and I didn't want to take a chance.

I think the double whammy happens about 5% of the time.

mamam

My OB requires baby B to be at or smaller than Baby A and I believe both head down to try vaginally.  In your case I'd probably go c-section.

MamaCrystal

Guess I'm in the minority here, but my pov is that if Baby A is head down (and your doc is leaving it up to you), you should try for vaginal.  Once A comes out, your doc should be able to help B move into a favorable position.  Our B was also the bigger baby (granted, I had 2 prior deliveries), and had a hand over her head.  Both my girls also came out posterior (face up), which is supposedly a more difficult delivery.  My twin vaginal delivery was much easier than my singleton deliveries (my singleton boys were 9 lbs.), and the recovery was a breeze.  I also got to leave the hospital with them the following day.  This is huge to me because I find it impossible to rest at the hospital.  It seems every time you or your babies finally fall asleep, someone is walking in to check on something.

I'm no doctor, but it also seems better to me that your B is transverse rather than breech.

Good luck whatever you decide! : )

ougrad1

section for sure.  They aren't bad at all.  I'm actually looking forward to this delivery because I know what to expect.  It'll be my second section.