C-Section vs. Vaginal Birth: Did you get a choice?

agrundman · June 2010

I went to my regular OB yesterday and I brought up delivery options. She told me straight out that there was a 90% chance I'd have a c-section. I was so taken aback by this that I didn't even ask her why she thought this (definitely on the list for next time). I've had a pretty easy pregnancy. I did spend one day in L&D for contractions that were not diagnosed as preterm labor. Also, so far both babies are head down, which I know can change over the course of the next ten weeks.

I guess I was just a little put-off because she made seem like it wasn't open for discussion. I honestly don't know which route I would like to go, but I don't like not having the option.

Anyone else experience this or have different insight?

Thanks!

kelliwill · June 2010

I didn't have a choice because of the position of my babies, not because of what the OB said. I was more pushing for a c-section beacuse I was scared of labor (bad I know....but true!) and my OB kept saying that we won't know until we get there. I ended up having a scheduled c-section at 36 weeks due to placenta sharing issues and Gracie's rear end was on my cervix. If I ever have another baby I really want a VBAC...but we'll see. There are women on here who gave birth vaginally with twins.

agrundman · June 2010

Thanks for your input! I'm terrified of labor, which is one of the reasons why I'm on the fence about which direction I would choose.

My sister-in-law gave birth to her twins vaginally, which is why I thought there would be more discussion about it from my OB.

Haven1 · June 2010

Depends on your doctor. I believe the stats are 50%.

Mine said A had to be head down and bigger and then we'd talk about it. (Some docs are comfortable with a breech extraction and some are not.) Both mine have been head up for several weeks, so I don't anticipate anyone flipping. I really wanted vaginal, but probably a c/s for me.

Temp159135562506975 · June 2010

some OBs are ok with vaginal, some are not. Even if you do deliver vaginally they will usually do it in the OR in case you need an emergency C/s for baby B.

I had a choice- but did not want one I wanted a c/s no matter what - b/c i had a horrible 4th degree tear with my singleton birth - i wanted a c/s even if I was only having one baby the next time. I LOVED my c/s - felt so much better so much faster than recovery from my vag birth.

E&RMommy · June 2010

Sorry this is just now coming up for you. I actually switched from a regular OB at 6 weeks (my very own colleague mind you) to an MFM partially because of delivery. I have personally watched my MFM deliver at least a dozen set of twins vaginally, and I myself have also delivered many sets of twins vaginally (my patients...not me!). Having the option of a twin vaginal delivery was extremely important to me, and I sought out an expert in it.

Now I am 30 1/2 weeks and both babies are breech. Only if baby A is cephalic will I be allowed a vaginal delivery. So all I can do sit here and hope baby A turns. It's truly disappointing to be an ob/gyn and possibly never get to experience a vaginal delivery. That's life!

In the end, it all depends on the experience and skill of your ob. Cephalic/cephalic twins really should get a vaginal delivery....unless there is some other factor besides that precluding vaginal delivery. That's just my personal opinion. If you want a vaginal delivery....it's not too late to find someone else!!

BelleBaby · June 2010

It would have been my choice except the boys stayed breech the entire time. Schedule c/s for me.

Just ask your OB about options. Most have some kind of office "policy" that they use for multiples. Some prefer c/s, others will let you decide if the babies are both in a good position for a vaginal delivery.

SMILEYD · June 2010

Yes- My OB was for what I wanted. Why I love him. I think he was def a little more sided with the c-section just due to experience and what he has dealt with.

If both were head down, we were going vaginally. Esp with my past exp with my 1st. I have no health issues, no complications at all (*knock on wood*) He agreed I was a good candidate for a twin vaginal delivery.

at 36wks, its decided for me, c-section it is. Baby A is breech. Scheduled for July 6th and truth is Im super nervous and scared of the whole process.

kaiteedidit · June 2010

I asked my doctor this question right after we found out we were having twins, I was told that as long as both babies are head down then a vaginal birth was definitely an option for me. Luckily, both babies are head down and at this point I don't think anyone will be turning so we will be trying to a vaginal birth, my doctors are very encouraging about it.

They did tell me that I would be moved to the OR to deliver in case I needed an emergency c-section.

macchiatto · June 2010

I ended up switching OBs at 31w (started looking at 16w but it took a while to find someone), largely because the practice I was with was very high-intervention and I found out later the C-section rate at that hospital in general is 50%, let alone for twins! Craziness. I wanted someone who was willing and experienced with breech extractions for Baby B in case that was necessary (he kept flipping back and forth) and was very happy with my decision. Like a pp said, nationally 50% of twins are delivered vaginally so it doesn't need to be a foregone conclusion unless your OB is just not experienced with doing vaginal deliveries for twins.

tmbuchmann · June 2010

DS was so large (10lbs 12oz) that he did quite a number on all of my lady bits that it took about 2 weeks before I could sit in a chair normally. But for these two I did want a vaginally delivery again, but due to other complications we've already scheduled my section for 8/13. I'm looking forward to the recovery actually, I'm convinced that it will go better than it did with DS.

Ecarr38 · June 2010

Ok, this was something that I felt very stronly about. Like you, I went in for a routine appt and my Dr. basically made it seem like he was just going to go the c/s route, but I did not want a c/s from the time I found out that I was pregnant. At 36 weeks, baby A was head down, baby B was head up so my Dr. said "so you know that's a c/s"; however I knew better that as long as baby A was head down, you could try a vaginal delivery (even his partner told me that at my first OB appt). I didn't say anything, b/c I knew that there was still time for baby B to move, and he did at my 38 week appt. So, I was then given the choice, he suggested just going ahead with the scheduled c/s but I told him that I wanted to attempt a vaginal delivery.

Well, in the end, I knew all the risks and benefits and I delivered baby A vaginally and then baby B flipped and stood straight up, and his feet were ready to come out, so I had a crash c/s as well.

Not the best of outcomes, I did have to heal in both places, but I would still have made the same decision if I knew what the outcome was going to be in the end. Delivering my baby vaginally was a miracle to me, and I wouldn't change it for anything. The c/s incision became a little infected on me, and it was harder to recover and take care of my twins.

GL to you, and remember that YOU are in charge when there are options available.

Ecarr38 · June 2010

Ok, this was something that I felt very strongly about. Like you, I went in for a routine appt and my Dr. basically made it seem like he was just going to go the c/s route, but I did not want a c/s from the time I found out that I was pregnant. At 36 weeks, baby A was head down, baby B was head up so my Dr. said "so you know that's a c/s"; however I knew better that as long as baby A was head down, you could try a vaginal delivery (even his partner told me that at my first OB appt). I didn't say anything, b/c I knew that there was still time for baby B to move, and he did at my 38 week appt. So, I was then given the choice, he suggested just going ahead with the scheduled c/s but I told him that I wanted to attempt a vaginal delivery.

Well, in the end, I knew all the risks and benefits and I delivered baby A vaginally and then baby B flipped and stood straight up, and his feet were ready to come out, so I had a crash c/s as well.

Not the best of outcomes, I did have to heal in both places, but I would still have made the same decision if I knew what the outcome was going to be in the end. Delivering my baby vaginally was a miracle to me, and I wouldn't change it for anything. The c/s incision became a little infected on me, and it was harder to recover and take care of my twins.

GL to you, and remember that YOU are in charge when there are options available.

jennie13 · June 2010

The only way I don't get a choice is if Baby A is breech. As long as she ends up head down, I can attempt a vaginal delivery, which is very important to me. Even if Baby B is breech, all of the OBs in my practice will attempt to flip her after Baby A is out, and one of them will even attempt a breech extraction of Baby B.

You might want to talk to other OBs - a c-section should not be automatic if you don't want that.

kimarino13 · June 2010

Yes, I had a choice. I chose c-section.

Melin086 · June 2010

My OB definitely gave me the choice. She was actually much more pro vaginal which is what I preferred anyways. She told me that she was going to do what she could to avoid a c-section. We were going to do a breech extraction if baby b was breech, but he was pretty much always head down. But obviously if it was needed I had no issue with a c-section. I was able to deliver both my boys vaginally with absolutely no issues.

blondek8 · June 2010

I don't get a choice. My OB is pro vag delivery unless a c-section is warranted for other reasons. I'd rather have a section (yes, you may all flame me now) but I trust my physician and I'm just going with the flow when delivery time comes.

AppleBear · June 2010

For a 1st pregnancy with vertex/vertex (both head down) twins and an uncomplicated pregnancy I'm not sure why the quote would be 90%. I would think that would be the ideal situation for a TOL-trial of labor.

I was hoping to VBAC my mono/di twins, but I have one vertex and one breech and I had arrest of descent/dsytocia/stalled labor during my first labor and this poses a grave concern of reoccurence, since I pushed for two hours and my baby stayed in +2 station, and 1 and 1/2 hours of that I pushed in a squatting position so I was working with gravity.

The positioning of my babies, combined with the shared placenta, my previous labor experience and my scar all points towards a scheduled c-section being the safest option for me.

Shannonlea · June 2010

I switched OBs when I found out I was having twins to an OB who would be supportive of my desire to go vaginal. I was open to C-section if it was best for my babies but I wanted the choice. I ended up delivering both babies vaginally.

BizEB · June 2010

I would be given a choice if I meet certain conditions (over 34 weeks gestation, both head down, no apparent stress to me or babies) but I've been getting strong pressure to do a c-section and I will choose to have a c-section no matter what happens with my babies. Flame away but it's my body and I feel better about having a c-section with twins.

jbl126 · June 2010

I had a choice but my decision was made for me. Baby B was transverse pretty much the whole pregnancy. And I did not want a vag and c section. When I went into PTL, the resident kept making sure I really wanted a c section. I am glad I had one, my recovery was pretty good.

katsblaze · June 2010

I have a choice. Both my babies are currently head down, and if they stay that way (which I think they will) I am going for it vaginally. However Baby B has moved into the first position and is smaller, so I am not sure if that effects anything or not. I would prefer vaginal, but am ok if I have to go in for a c-section.

busybea · June 2010

I, like you, wasn't given a choice. My OB immediately mentioned c-section, which most likely has to do more with the fact that I had a c/s the first time (I guess), but I don't mind at all, my 1st c/s was fantastic and I was a quick healer.

meldoo2002 · June 2010

The first midwife I was seeing told me as soon as I found out it was twins she did not deliver twins and gave me the name of 2 offices in my town that did. Well come to find out that the hospital in my city.. that I would have delivered at with a singleton ONLY does c-sections for multiples. So I opted to go to the next bigger city with the level III NICU and had a vaginal birth with my twins. Baby A was head down (a requirement from our OB) and baby B was transverse... they turned him head down once A was out. The only other requirement was that baby A not be alot smaller... not sure the percentage because I delivered so early... than baby B.

CrazeyJaneyR · June 2010

I had a VBAC with my twins. My OB was all for it. Other Dr's in the practice indicated that I would probably have a c/s, so did a few nurses. I felt like they were trying to convince me not to try. I knew in the back of my mind that these babies are probably my last, and my first was a c/s b/c she was breech. I really wanted to experience vaginal birth, and I'm glad I did. HOWEVER... in hindsight, I think I would have chosen a c/s. REcovery for my c/s was much faster, no lnog term effects like peeing and sneezing, etc.