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Multiples
speaking of delivery.. natural delivery of twins?
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Re: speaking of delivery.. natural delivery of twins?
I'm sure it's possible lol we did just have shivNY deliver on the side of a freeway
pretty sure she wasn't carrying an epidural in her car.
I think I'm going with a local again, not just to relieve the stress, but to avoid the chance of being gassed if I end up needing an emergency CS
I definitely don't want to be put under and miss their birth if something goes wrong.
Right ovary removed 09.04.2012 via vertical laparotomy
Essure implant placed on remaining tube 06.13.2013; successful followup scan 09.30.2013
I've read that about 30% of multiples are delivered vaginally, while the other 70% end up being CS (whether scheduled or emergency). My OB says that if twin A is head down, she's absolutely letting me go vaginal, but she did stress that if I chose to go natural without an epidural that an emergency CS would mean getting general anesthesia and missing out on watching the delivery. She said it's really sucky to try and recover from that, too. But beyond the risk of CS she didn't give me any other reasons why I'd have to do pain meds. I had epidurals with both my girls just because I hit that pain thresh hold and stopped progressing in labor - the locals helped the labor re-start when my body relaxed a little.
If your OB says that you're really low risk, they might let you go natural. I'm sure other ladies here have more experience with it tho
Right ovary removed 09.04.2012 via vertical laparotomy
Essure implant placed on remaining tube 06.13.2013; successful followup scan 09.30.2013
yep, i had a med-free birth with my babies! My labor was very fast. I went from 3cm to 10cm in an hour. I had no choice but to go med-free (although I wanted to, my daughter was also born med-free). The Dr's highly recommended an epidural, but since I wasn't really contracting when I got to the hospital after my water had broken and then the next time I was checked I was already at 10, there was no chance!
It was intense and painful being that my Baby B was a breech extraction, but my recovery was non-existant. I even felt better than I did after I had my daughter since my labor with her was super long.
If you go on YouTube there are a some videos of unmediated twin deliveries. Although I did this with my son (and he was full term and 9lbs), I'm starting to freak out a little at the "what happens to Baby B" possibilities. I know I can handle the pain of natural labor, but there's nothing natural about a doctor sticking his arm up inside your uterus! That possibility is starting to freak me out. Relaxing and breathing can only get a girl so far! Having said that, my first labor was only 6 hours long, so if this one goes faster, as second labors typically do, an epi might not be a possibility. I want to go natural, but I don't know....
I delivered my twins naturally, no epi or other pain meds; I also had an internal and external version of Baby B. As I said in the previous thread, my OB assured me that if I needed a c-section after laboring without an epi they would have time to put in a spinal; he said that in a truly emergent situation even with an epi in place I would still have to be under general anesthesia.
I was told by my MFM (also the on-call 24/7 OB only for my CNM practice) that I can have a natural birth as long as Baby A is not breech (other than frank breech). The position of Baby B is of no concern to them, it all depends on Baby A.
I think the higher 70% stat probably stems from most OB practices (at least around my city) all just schedule a C/S for twins at 37 - 38 weeks. It was hard to find someone that wasn't induction or C/S happy... at least where I live.
Our Twin Baby + a Big Girl Blog
And with the delivery trifecra of one twin vaginal, one c-section with general anesthesia for twin B, Spencer and Sidney joined us at 35 weeks exactly on June 18.
The stat I have always read is about 50% of twins are delivered vaginally, unless it's really changed that much just in 3.5 years. Of the 50% that are delivered by C-section, a fair number of those are elective. I know the OBs in the practice I was originally with all encouraged a C-section for twins. They admitted to being especially high-intervention in general, and as one of them put it, "When you *can* get the babies out in 10 minutes rather than laboring for hours, I just don't see why you wouldn't want to" and several of the others cited the possibility of ending up with a "double whammy" ... without mentioning that only happens in 5% of twin births. I think there was definitely a bias there and that may be true of some other OB practices as well, which drives up the C-section rates. That wasn't the approach I wanted--I'm all for necessary interventions but didn't want unnecessary ones--so I switched practices.
I did initially want a med-free birth and the OB I switched to was fine with that. However, I did end up getting induced, and getting an epi; if I'd gone into labor naturally I may have been able to get through without? With needing a breech extraction in the end, I was glad I had the epi but I was also glad I waited as long as possible to get it since that can help you progress faster.
My dr told me the percentage of vaginal births/c-sections was 50/50 with twins.
I was very scared about having a c-section too. I had a relatively easy delivery and recovery with DD1. My dr told me early on that he was would attempt a breech extraction for Baby B if Baby A was head down. I had just accepted the fact that I was having a C-section but my babies switched positions between 34 and 36 weeks to head down/breech and that's how they were born. I feel extremely lucky that my dr was willing to deliver Baby B breech. Ultimately, the positions of your babies is completely out of your control. Just know what your dr's policy is regarding vaginal vs C-sections if Baby B is breech.
As far as I know, your chances of the babies being in a safe position for vaginal delivery with twins is 50/50 - but that isn't the actual rate.
https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/28/us-twins-csection-idUSTRE79R6AP20111028 - says 3/4 (75%) are delivered by CS as of 2008.
https://www.memorialhealth.com/womenservices/perinataloutreach/2010/Twins.pdf - says 67% of twins were delivered by CS in 2003
But, again, the majority of those CS procedures are elective. Just trust your OB to give you the best guess possible for your unique situation, and listen closely to their opinions. They've been through this more often than any of us have, and they have a more objective perspective
Right ovary removed 09.04.2012 via vertical laparotomy
Essure implant placed on remaining tube 06.13.2013; successful followup scan 09.30.2013
Etta Jane and Claire Elaine are here! Born March 28, 2012.
my blog
What it's like to cloth diaper twins, Part I.
Cloth diapering twins, Part II.
Interesting! I have seen the 50% stat quoted countless times by various MoMs on here who were told it by their drs, as well as hearing it from my drs. Sounds from that first article like 50/50ish was the rate in the mid-90s but I guess it makes sense that the twin C-section rate would've climbed along with the general elective C-section rate in this country.
I agree with listening to your OBs' advice for sure, since each situation is different, but they don't necessarily have a more objective perspective (though certainly more informed, of course
) so I do think it's good to do some of your own research as well and make sure you're comfortable with your OB's approach. They can have their personal preferences, too. I definitely experienced that with the first practice I was with. Like I said, the one OB told me she just couldn't imagine why you'd want to go through labor when you could have a C-section and "get it over with" faster; definitely a personal bias and not something all moms or all OBs would agree with, since there are certainly risks and benefits to both. 
Emerson Lily 6 lbs 13 oz & Ellis Willow 6 lbs 9 oz
I have a friend who delivered her twins naturally. However, she had done hypno-birthing with her first son and had been working with a doula. She knew what to expect when it came time to do it again.
She did say this... the second time was much harder, but not because it was twins. The first time she was a model student and was very focused and very prepared. She breezed through it. The second (and third) times, she knew what to expect and didn't feel like she had the same "edge" she dd the first time around. She said it was almost like she got "bored" the second time. Kind of a "been there, done that" which actually made it harder and more painful.
I thought it was an interesting perspective.
I had a natural birth with my twins and wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING! I can't imagine taking care of twin newborns and recovering from major abdominal surgery! I barely needed a motrin after having them and they were 6 lb 6 oz and 6 lb 9 oz at birth.
I would definitely say to have this conversation early with your OB if it's something that's really important to you. Every OB and hospital is different and has different plans of care for MoM's. Some require delivery in the OR, some require an IV, an epidural, an epidural without meds running, etc etc. I knew my doctor well and she knew well that I wanted a natural delivery and I am convinced that our relationship saved me from the "double whammy." (Baby A was born in a hurry after 2.5 hour labor but then baby B's cord prolapsed which she had to manually push back and then he decided not to make his entrance for another 2.5 hours!) Many doctors would have c-sectioned me in a heartbeat but she was patient and waited it out. I owe her big time!
I did this with DD. I hummed instead of breathed. I was concerned about that. I do like the idea of putting the Catheter in with no meds ahead of time and then just have the the meds added later. I will totally bring this up at my docs appt. ty!