C-section versus vaginal delivery -what would you do? (long)

Family hopes

Hello ladies. I usually post on the high risk board and just lurk over here but it was suggested I ask you this question as many probably faced the same dilemma. Baby A is vertex but baby B is breech on our ultrasound last week (done at 34 weeks 2days). My doctor said I could have a choice of delivery depending on which partner is on when I go into labor (currently dilated to 4cm and 90% effaced - had preterm labor and have been on bedrest). The thing is if I choose vaginal, I have to be prepared for a possible c-section with baby B. Baby B has measured larger on all but the last ultrasound. They could try to deliver breech or do an inversion but if it doesn't work than onto a c-section. This practice generally doesnt do breech deliveries unless it is a situation like mine. Again, only certain partners feel comfortable doing this about 2/3rds out of the practice. While I would love to avoid surgery, I would really prefer to not have both types of delivery at the same time. What are your thoughts? TIA

MeL2185

do the section. I was scared to death of it b/c I had vaginal with my oldest DD and wanted the same, but things changed a few weeks towards the end and had to have a section, and as scared as I was I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Loved having it planned, loved that it was all said and done in like 45 minutes then like 2 hours of resting after and loved that I felt NOTHING..

DO IT!

mdearrington

I was in a situtation similar to yours. I opted for planned c section. All the bad storied I heard about c sections were because they were emergency. Mine was planned and it was so amazing. I have nothing but good things to say about a c section. Please don't fall for the can't breastfeed, can't move drama. I breast fed, was able to hold my babies all after a c section.

Maybe c section is not  the ideal birth you wanted or expected but that doesn't matter. Having a planned c section is better for your babies (if he or she is breech) Why would you want to put your body through the trama of two types of births.

Of course this is just my honest opinion and am not a doctor. Good luck with your decision!

LALASEPT05

I was in the same situation as you and thought for a while that I really wanted to try vaginal birth. DH and I went back and forth about it and he was just very uncomfortable with the safety of the babies doing a transverse delivery. On the day of their birth I had developed HELLP and they did give me a choice of trying vaginal or just doing the section. Given that I just wanted to get them out as quickly and safely as possible and I felt that c section was the best chance for that. We went with the section and they were out so quickly. The recovery can be tough but looking back I am very happy with my decision. Good luck to you.

mdearrington

isn't the birth you expected or wanted***

j&j508

I haven't BTDT yet, but we have a c-section scheduled for next week.  We went back and forth like you are, and in the end, having it not be an emergency situation, having my doctor, and getting them both out safely won out.  Plus, they've decided to both be breech, so that helps-- I have no choice now. I can't speak to recovery,  but I've talked to plenty of people who did it and were glad they did.

Haven1

C/s all the way!  I agree that so many of the c/s horror stories you hear followed hours of labor.  I planned c/s is calm, organized, and you're not exhausted, defeated, and desperate for it just to end.  I always say that anyone who looks down on an elective c/s has clearly never had one.

Family hopes

Thanks ladies! I've been leaning towered the c-section because I don't want to have the emergency c-section when one of my babies isn't doing well. It helps so much to hear others opinions who have been there. I was worried about the recovery since my only comparison is previous laparotomies plus the breastfeeding issue. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences.

schoolsoutbride

I had a vaginal with DS and a c-section because of a breech twin A.  I'd much prefer the vaginal.  The c-section thing sucked, IMO. The "double whammy" is always a possability, but a rare one.  ETA: just wrote my birth story in blog, but it doesn't include the recovery part.

SoldiersGreenBean

Had I been presented with the option, I would have chosen a vaginal delivery knowing the potential risk of a double whammy.  Even though it's routine, it's still MAJOR surgery, with all of the potential complications that come with it.

piccolina09

My situation was EXACTLY like yours, baby b breech and bigger. I chose the c-section. Recovery was easier than I expected.

monkski

I would totally do the c-section. I was in a similar situation and opted for the c-section. It was so fast and easy. I got to hold DD while they stitched me up and they never left my sight from the time they were born until I sent them to the nursery for the night. I breastfed right away in the recovery room and it was all just a very relaxed atmosphere. I would do it again in a second.

schoolsoutbride

monkski:

I would totally do the c-section. I was in a similar situation and opted for the c-section. It was so fast and easy. I got to hold DD while they stitched me up and they never left my sight from the time they were born until I sent them to the nursery for the night. I breastfed right away in the recovery room and it was all just a very relaxed atmosphere. I would do it again in a second.

I think you were lucky.  I fought and fought for a more "natural" c-section and still didn't get to hold my kids for over an hour.

Temp6313048411121614

Section.  There's already a chance for a "double whamy" when both babies are lined up perfectly as far as position and size, with having a strike against you already, I wouldn't chance it.  My section wasn't worse than my vaginal delivery, just different (though it would suck to heal from both at the same time).

browneyedgrl4282

I had c/s with all my kids, the recovery is not bad. The twins I did go into labor a few days before my scheduled date so it was crazy but it all worked out, it was late on saturday! Brady was scheduled and it was very calm and I felt fine by the time I went home.

 

My fear with vaginally was ending delivering one vaginally and one c/s, THat recovery would have sucked!

babydontforget

I delivered vaginally and loved it, and in general my personal belief is that vaginal is the optimal choice. But in your scenario I would have chosen surgery. My practice considered the size of baby B when it allowed for a "vaginal trial" (their words)--if B had been bigger, they would have recommended a c-section. In my case B was smaller, but since in yours your B is bigger...I wouldn't be OK with the increased risk for a double whammy. 

MrsLnt

Haven1:

C/s all the way!  I agree that so many of the c/s horror stories you hear followed hours of labor.  I planned c/s is calm, organized, and you're not exhausted, defeated, and desperate for it just to end.  I always say that anyone who looks down on an elective c/s has clearly never had one.

This!  I had 2 breech babies so I didn't really have a choice in the matter but, even had they both been vertex, I think I would have gone for a scheduled C anyway, since my doctor was not into breech extractions and I didn't want a double whammy. 

I was scared of surgery and the recovery but it was really very easy.  I told my doctor that I went to work many days in my pregnancy feeling worse than I did the day after my c-section.  

I say they call it "major abdominal surgery" to dissuade people from begging for one because it's totally the way to go.  

nikinikinine

I delivered vaginally and wouldn't change a thing about it! Both babies were vertex, but I was prepared to do a breech extraction of Baby B if she flipped. An epidural and a breech extraction IMO is way better and safer than major surgery. I'd never intentionally choose a c/s if I had the choice.

adoubleu12

I am another victim of the dreaded "Double Whammy".  Both of my babies were vertex at delivery, but the chord decided to come down and start prolapsing with baby B after I vaginally delivered baby A, so we had to do the emergency C-section.  Even though I much much preferred the vaginal delivery. If baby B is breech, I would think that your chances for a section on baby B are greater than if the baby were vertex.  I would opt for the C-section.  Another think that really sucked about having to do the emergency  C-section was that my epi didn't work all of the way so I had to be put under general..so I missed the birth of baby B.  If both of your babies were vertex, I would say go for vaginal...but Since B is breech, I would suggest C-section!

lkstor

I'm a Pedi and go to deliveries all the time. I would/will try for vaginal delivery if both babies are vertex. I will have a c-section if one or both are breech. Twin vaginal deliveries are a little scary to me. Breech vaginal deliveries are terrifying. Please note I'm not an OB and not claiming to be an expert on the subject. Just freaks me out to watch them deliver the body and then yank the head out.

Family hopes

A big thank you to everyone for sharing with me. I appreciate the benefit if each of your experiences. You ladies are fantastic!

macchiatto

I had a vertex Baby A and a Baby B that kept flipping back and forth between vertex and breech. My OB was comfortable and experienced with doing breech extractions so we agreed that he would try that if B was breech during labor. At the start of my induction, both babies were head-down but after A came out, the OB did a u/s and discovered that B had flipped to breech again, so he did a breech extraction and Baby B was born just 7 minutes after his brother. I have no regrets at all and am glad that the babies and I all had the benefits of vaginal delivery, since in most cases it is better for both the mother and the baby/ies. When I was weighing my options, another MoM pointed me to some medical journal articles and similar resources that helped me feel very comfortable with the breech extraction option:

https://rootbeertwins.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-if-baby-b-is-breech.html

I would really encourage you to take a look at the studies linked to in my blog post, because I think you can hear a lot of "Oh but X might happen," but I found it helpful to be able to base my decision on facts rather than fear as I saw what the research supported.