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Multiples
CateElizabeth
member
If you had a vaginal delivery, your L&D details...
CateElizabeth
member
in Multiples
I have an induction scheduled for Monday morning, in case I don't go into labor on my own before then. I'm planning on a vaginal delivery, as both babies are head-down and I have had no complications in my pregnancy thus far. My cervix seems to be ripening, so we're hoping to just start with Pitocin and skip the Cervidil.
Here's my question: Who delivered your babies? Right now, we are scheduled to just be with a nurse midwife, with a doctor from our practice there at the hospital to assist, if needed. Is this normal? We thought that we would have a doctor delivering the twins (because they are twins) - we actually thought we HAD to, and that it was not an option (whereas the midwife is optional). Obviously, if there are any problems, the doctor will be called in. But what if s/he is busy with another birth? I'm trying not to be worried about this, because we are delivering at the highest-ranked OB hospital in the US, but I thought I'd ask you all about your experiences as a reference point. For some reason, we were previously under the impression that all twin births were doctor-assisted with an option for a midwife, and that most took place in the OR, (1) in case a C-section was needed, and (2) because there is more space for the numerous staff (one pediatrician per baby, etc.). But our doctor, who is an MFM, said this is not the case (and that peds are only required for C-sections). Just wanted to do some cross-checking...thanks, ladies!
7/2009 - Gonal-F cycle #2 with Ovidrel trigger and IUI #5 - BFP!
Twin boys born at 38 weeks 3 days!
8 months later...spontaneous BFP! And twins again!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: If you had a vaginal delivery, your L&D details...
My opinion is that as long as you're at a well-ranked hospital and you feel comfortable there, you should be in good hands no matter what happens.
I was supposed to deliver in an OR as a precaution (all multiples in our hospital do), but my labor progressed so quickly that we didn't make it there. My nurse checked when I was 5-6 cm and I was ready to push about 10 minutes later. All of the staff who was on hand ran into the room and we ended up with a lot of people in a very small room! : ) Everything ended up going fine, both girls were out in 5 minutes, and my doctor did make it in.
When I gave birth to my 2nd son, however, that labor also progressed quickly and my doc did NOT make it into the room! My nurse and a resident were the ones who delivered him.
I guess my point is that even though a midwife will be assisting you... if anything happens that needs attention there should be people available to help. : )
ETA: FWIW, my 1st son was delivered by the head of the OB dept. through our hospital and I did not have a good experience at all with him. I was pushing too early, my son got crooked, needed a vacuum delivery, and I was not stiched up well afterward. Even the best of doctors on paper don't necessarily mean a better delivery.
Interesting.
I think regulations vary by state. I know that in NY, an OB delivers, unless there is some unexpected situation that doesn't allow them to get to you in time.
Well, my experience is a little different b/c Baby B was breech until after Baby A was born, then she was nice and flipped for me
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It's also different b/c my labor progressed SO fast that there wasn't time for anything but me to push for baby A (I only labored for 2 hours from water breaking until both babies were born. I was 10cm when I got to the hospital and Baby A was crowning while I was still in triage and they were getting the OR ready).
At any rate, I delivered in an OR, in case they needed to do an Emergency C, depending on what Baby B did after her brother was delivered. She flipped, so both were delivered vaginally.
It was SUCH a blur that I hardly remember who was all in there...except for it felt like the entire hospital! I know the nursery staff was there and waiting, so a bunch of nurses and a pedi, etc (they were 36 weekers, but were perfect!). I know a midwife introduced herself to me and assisted w/ delivery. An OB did the actual delivery (not my OB, she wasn't there that night). There were a handful of residents and nurses as well. And an anesthesiologist, in case the C had to happen. So, a crowded OR, thats for sure. But if everythign hadn't been happening so fast, IDK if there would have been so many people standing by.
For you--I think you'll be fine w/ a midwife (who do deliveries all the time) if it looks like there will be no complications. I imagine they'll do a u/s just to determine both babies are still in position, make sure you are doing well and will call in a Dr. should there be a need.
GL!!!
I had an uncomplicated pregnancy and was induced at 37 weeks. It took 20 hours before I was fully dilated. (I also had one epidural fail to work and had to have a second epidural placed in the middle of the night.) When I started pushing the next morning, there were only my husband and a nurse in the room. I ended up pushing for three hours and during that time interns, residents, and attending OBs were in and out of the room (I'm no longer shy about my body thanks to that!). After three hours of pushing, they decided that Baby A just didn't want to budge and I had to have a c section. Both babies were head down and doing great, but they didn't want me to push for more than three hours.
I would say to prepare yourself for anything! I thought that with a fairly easy pregnancy and both babies head down that I would definitely have a vaginal delivery. I tried SO hard to push them out, but a c section was safer for all of us after so much time in labor.
I don't know if regulations vary by state, but I had the feeling that the nurse would have called the OB in if it seemed like I was about to deliver. I think the doctor wasn't there the whole time (even after I reached 10 cm) because she would have wasted three hours standing by my bed!
It will probably also depend on whether you're at a teaching hospital. Mine was, so there were all sorts of people around.
GL!!!
I was delivered by my OB via scheduled induction at 37w6d. (Took about 12 hrs not including starting Cervidil the night before; 3 hrs of pushing for Baby A then Baby B flipped to breech and the OB delivered him by breech extraction.) He did let me deliver in my LDR room but there was an OR team prepped and ready to go waiting out in the hallway during my pushing stage in case I needed to be rushed down the hall to the OR for an emergency C-section.
I'm honestly not sure that I would be comfortable having a midwife deliver me with twins but if as you said it's the highest-ranked OB hospital and they're OK with it I might feel better about that.