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Multiples
Babies head down & elective c-section????
I am 32w4d pregnant with twins & last appt. both continued to be head down, whih makes me a candidate to attempt a vaginal birth. This is my 2nd pregnancy & I gave birth vaginally to DD. While i am glad to have had the experience, it was not the easiest delivery or pleasant experience. My OB, who will deliver, said that with the twins, they will do what I want as far a vaginal vs. c-section delivery, but said that c-section is safer for the babies. My peri advocates going for a c-section. At this point I chose to have a c-section & it is scheduled for 37w6d. But everything I read seems to indicate that most people whose babies are both head down opt to try for a vaginal delivery. I am also concerned about the c-section recovery being worse (although the recovery from my previous vaginal birth was no picnic). I just wonder if I am making the right decision. Anyone in my position opt for a c-section also? why or why not???
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Re: Babies head down & elective c-section????
My babies flip-flopped several times during my pregnancy. At my last u/s at 32w (I delivered 6 days later) they were both head down. I had decided very early on to have a c/s no matter what and my dr was very supportive of this -- I had a VERY difficult pregnancy and knew in my gut I'd end up one of the lucky ones to push one out and cut out the other and I wasn't too excited about that. I wanted to be able to prepare mentally for a c/s and I had no desire to go the vag route (these are my only children). When I went into labor I was asked several times if I wanted to try vag and I insisted on a c/s and in the end I'm so glad I did . . . while in L&D my DD (baby
turned breech again and during the c/s she became a little stuck & it took them almost 3 min to get her out (and she came out feet first)!
I will say that the c/s - for me - was the easiest part of the whole pregnancy. I had a pretty quick & easy recovery, but I'm sure everyone's pain tolerance / experience is different.
Best of luck with your decision!
At my OBs office, you can't elect a section. I was in your position too, at mt 36w5d appt, both the girls were head down (we had all ready scheduled my section for the week before when B was breech). I kept the section appointment because mentally, I was ready for it. I had not been getting myself ready for a double vaginal birth. The day of my section, they gave me an US and sure enough, B had flipped back over, so I had to be sectioned any how. I had a great section experience and while the recovery wasn't super, it wasn't any thing worse than I experienced in pregnancy.
If you are allowed to opt for a section, don't let anyone make you feel like less of a mother for not going for the vaginal birth. Just because that's what they have thier hearts set on doesn't mean you are a bad person for not choosing it (should you decide not to).
I had to have a c-section because my girls were breech. All along, I didn't think a c-section would be bad and was almost relieved (in a weird way) that I didn't have to make a decision and a c/s it was.
In hindsight, I would have much rather tried for vaginal delivery. C/S aren't BAD at all, but it is major surgery. Just today (7 months pp), I got out of bed and felt my scar pull - ugh. I guess I didn't realize what surgery really entailed. Good luck either way!
Baby #3 due September 12, 2014!
I had a 4th degree tear from vaginal birth with my DS - so even if i wasn't having twins- i was going to have an elective c/s... because I wanted it - and also - a friend of mine who is a colorectal surgeon told me I should b/c tearing that badly again would put me at serious risk for fecal/urinary incontinence for the rest of my life -- NO WAY!!!
My vaginal birth recovery was HORRIBLE!!! 8+weeks of pain, misery, crying every night as i soaked in the tub.... lost time i could have been bonding with my DS, etc. I still have some issues down there - and I will in no way ever do that again.
I have had abdominal surgery before and know it's no picnic- but I'd rather have pain in my stomach than in my vag/butt any day.
My OB was surprised i said i wanted a c/s - he said "even if they are both head down?" and then I reminded himi about the 4th deg tear i had and he said "Oh yeah- you need a c/s" - so even he is on board.
only you can decide what is best for you - but don't feel bad choosing the c/s by any means!!
Everyone is so different. I ended up with a c-section after my singleton delivery so I'm going the same route with the twins. From what you've written I can tell my recovery was nothing compared to yours. I never needed any pain meds once I got home and hardly used them in the hospital. Anyway, the kicker for me would be to give birth to one via vaginal and then have the other flip (because they suddenly have so much room) and have to give birth to the other via c-section.
Were this a singleton board I'd probably push for a vaginal birth but ... with twins even the doctors are saying c-sections are safer. I'm on another board with 14 ladies who are having twins in Nov/December. As of today 12 have delivered and only one ended up going vaginally with both babies.
From the research I've read, the idea of a C-section being "safer" with twins (in general, not specific questions) is pretty shaky at best. It's something that's being studied further. One initial study indicated there was a slightly increased rate of fetal mortality for Baby B's who were delivered vaginally compared to those delivered by C-section. However, the sample size of the C-section group was MUCH smaller, which is why more study is needed. (And I'm not sure if that was controlling for extraneous variables.) Bear in mind that overall, 50% of twins are delivered by C-section 50% vaginally, so it's not a given either way. And in only 5% of twin deliveries does the "double whammy" (a vaginal birth followed by an emergency C-section for Baby
occur.
That said, I do agree with the pp's that it's a very personal decision. I'd much rather have a vaginal delivery--even if my Baby B stays breech--because of quicker recovery time for me, it's generally better for both me and the babies (e.g. the fluid is squeezed out of their lungs by traveling through the birth canal and no drug side effects to worry about), and in the case of a breech Baby B, studies I read in two high-risk OB textbooks and a medical journal abstract indicate that breech extraction is actually the safest method of delivery for a breech Baby B. But it really depends on you and what you're most comfortable with, scared of, etc. I really don't think either is a bad or risky decision; there are pros and cons to both. I'd say go with your gut.
I also had a very difficult vaginal delivery with my daughter and the recovery was terrible. I had a bad tear, severe hemorrhoids from all the pushing (for 3 hours!) and I developed a uterine infection.
On the other hand, the c-section recovery was realy nothing. The incision hurt but everything else was simple and recovery time was minimal!
My boys were never both head down. But baby A was all along. Both my MFM and my OB were confident I could do a vaginal delivery and did not want to have to do c-section unless absolutely necessary. I'm sort of surprised yours are saying to go with c-section.
I did do vaginal delivery and they turned baby b inside me. With all that being said my delivery wasn't any where near as bad as I expected, so that's where I'm coming from.
No one can tell you what to do. But it's known fact that recovery from a c-section is going to take longer and you will have 3 kids to take care of. But you need to make a decision that you are comfortable with.
Two Mc Peas In a Pod
Kayla's Grace