Giving birth - help!

Sunglow28 · September 2012

Hoping I can get some insights from all of you around the birth of my babies. I have a severe phobia of many medical procedures (not just a dislike or a fear - an actual phobia) and now that my dreams of a quiet, unmedicated birth will obviously not be happening, I'm trying to make the next best choice for myself and my children. I don't really know whether I should go for vaginal or c-section as right now, I have both options. I think the one that it ultimately less traumatic to me emotionally is the way to go, but I welcome any opinions on any of my questions.

I do see a really supportive therapist and have a great midwife and OB, so I will be bringing up these questions with them, but after a scary consult with an anesthesiolgist this morning, I'm incredibly anxious right now. I went in actually hoping I could get permission for a the general anesthetic birth, but my hospital will not allow it. So I really feel like I need some insights.

If you had a vaginal birth, were you able to labor in any other position than lying down? Did you end up needing an episiotomy?

What was different about having to deliver in the OR?

If you were induced, when did you receive the epidural for a vaginal birth? Right away, or well after labor started? Was it removed soon after the birth? Did you have much residual soreness from the epidural?

What is different about delivering twins vaginally? Are they more traumatic to deliver? Was breaking the water on Baby B frightening or painful?

How long did you need to have an IV in before or after, in either situation?

Did you have your hands or arms held down for the c-section?

Has anyone else delivered despite a phobia? Do you have any tips for me to get through this in one piece? I'm so worried about this!

Annabelle7 · September 2012

I have anxiety over anything medical; the sight of blood makes me lightheaded. In fact, your questions even make me nervous! lol. I guess what helps is tuning out everyone elses stories, and not reading anything that could bother me. I was educated when I had my son, but at the same time I refused to go to a birthing class, because anything can happen and I know the nurses and doctors will know what to do. I didn't watch a birthing video, because honestly, women don't look at their own vagina while giving birth and I didn't need to see what went on down there.

For my son, I had a vaginal delivery. At first, I was really nervous and started to get lightheaded and told them and they adjusted my fluids and gave me a cold facecloth for my face. After that I was fine the whole time. They gave me an epidural about 10 hours in. And honestly, that was no big deal. A few pricks of a needle. The hospital I deliver at won't cut you, but I did get a 3rd degree tear. That being said, I was literally cracking jokes while I pushed my son out. I feel like when your in the moment then there is no time to be anxious.

After I got home, all my friends where like, wow, if you can do it so can I, cause they know my medical fears. I think you'll be fine. I just don't focus on the delivery to be honest; I try not to think about it. Just think about the after. From a girl who almost blacked out from a picture of fake blood in elementary school, I think you'll be fine.

AmyJoy728 · September 2012

I was induced. I got my epi right before they broke my water. I had contractions before and after and they never bothered me, and my epi wasn't even working well. I never progressed beyond 6/7, so I got a c/s. Your arms are tied down. FYI, if both are head down you can't usually elect for a c/s, and insurance may not cover it.

pixiem38 · September 2012

Ugh....your question makes me think of all the things i would.rather not think about ever (yet i will have to sooner or later). For both my dd and ds, i had vaginal med free births. My biggest fear was having to need a c-section. I am also really afraid of.medical procedures (like epis and surgery). I did have a hernia repair surgery back.in April(a month before i got the bfp) and it was not bad at all. I was out for it, and whatever they gave me that put me out made me laugh and laugh. Before inknkw it i was awake. The thing that really scares me about c-sections is the fact that they do not.knock.you.out for them. I can't even stand to think.of it.....i get panicky to.do.so. no.advice from.me, but i really.do.understand how you feel about it. I am.trying to.not think.about it, because it gives me great anxiety.

LegallyBlonde217 · September 2012

I was on hospital bed rest for 3 1/2 weeks before I delivered and I met with one of the OBs from my practice every day that I was there. I was very conflicted on whether or not I should try for a vaginal delivery. I asked all 6 Drs in the practice and both of their residents what they thought I should do. Every single one of them said that in my situation they would at least attempt to deliver vaginally. Both of my babies were head down when I went into labor, but all of the Drs in my practice were comfortable doing a breech extraction if Baby B turned after Baby A was delivered. I was not induced and delivered both babies vaginally.

If you had a vaginal birth, were you able to labor in any other position than lying down? Not sure, I didn't try. Did you end up needing an episiotomy? NO! I didn't even tear.

What was different about having to deliver in the OR? It's cold in there and the table is hard and narrow, but that's about it. I was able to push in my L&D room for Twin A until she was close to coming out. Then they wheeled me to the OR so I could actually deliver here there. Not sure if other Drs/ hospitals allow that or not.

If you were induced, when did you receive the epidural for a vaginal birth? Right away, or well after labor started? Was it removed soon after the birth? Mine was removed when I got back to my L&D room to recover. Did you have much residual soreness from the epidural? I had no residual soreness from the epidural. Once it was in, I never felt it again.

What is different about delivering twins vaginally? Just the fact that once Twin A is out, you still have another baby to deliver. Are they more traumatic to deliver? I don't have anything to compare it to, but I assume each delivery was similar to the delivery of a singleton. Was breaking the water on Baby B frightening or painful? Not at all! I barely knew they did it.

How long did you need to have an IV in before or after, in either situation? I got the IV right when I got to L&D, which was around 6:30pm on Sunday. I delivered around 3:30 and 6:30am on Monday. My IV was removed right before I left the hospital on Wednesday, but I had some complications so they had to leave it in longer for me to get antibiotics.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

mysteriousmommy · September 2012

If you had a vaginal birth, were you able to labor in any other position than lying down? I could have but did not

Did you end up needing an episiotomy? no

What was different about having to deliver in the OR? Delivered in a standard delivery room...no OR

If you were induced, when did you receive the epidural for a vaginal birth? I didn't have an epi

What is different about delivering twins vaginally? Well, I had to push out two...

Are they more traumatic to deliver? No

Was breaking the water on Baby B frightening or painful?Both A & B's water were broken. I didn't even feel it.

How long did you need to have an IV in before or after, in either situation? I was GBS positive so I had to have an IV. It was taken out 1 hour after delivery.

Did you have your hands or arms held down for the c-section?

My best advice is to arm yourself with knowledge. Learn about your options and possible outcomes so you feel more in control. I think a birth plan is a great place to start!

flgator · September 2012

I have only given birth to single babies. I do not like medical stuff either and was pretty nervous before having DS1. But it's such a short amount of time compared to the pregnancy and what you get from it. I still turn my head away when I get blood taken.

Sunglow28:

If you had a vaginal birth, were you able to labor in any other position than lying down? Didn't try.
Did you end up needing an episiotomy? Yes w/ my first. I was cut and I ripped w/my 1st. My epi was pretty light the first time so I could feel it without being in terrible pain. I only ripped a little bit the 2nd time.

What was different about having to deliver in the OR? can't answer

If you were induced, when did you receive the epidural for a vaginal birth? Right away, or well after labor started? I was about 5-7 cm when I got it w/my 1st. I didn't think I was that far along. I was induced both times but the whole thing took about 4 hours w/my first and less than 2 hrs with my 2nd. I don't remember how far along I was with my 2nd. They told me I could ask whenever I felt like I needed it.
Was it removed soon after the birth? yes
Did you have much residual soreness from the epidural? None

What is different about delivering twins vaginally? Are they more traumatic to deliver? Was breaking the water on Baby B frightening or painful? Don't know yet. I had my water broken w/my 2nd birth and didn't feel it - just felt the water coming out.

How long did you need to have an IV in before or after, in either situation? I had an IV when I arrived at the hospital both times.

Did you have your hands or arms held down for the c-section? n/a

Has anyone else delivered despite a phobia? Do you have any tips for me to get through this in one piece? I'm so worried about this! It will be over with and you get to have a baby to take home. It's so worth it. Part of the scariness the 1st time was just not knowing what was going to happen. Taking a class and reading a lot helped. If it was that bad, everyone would be an only child.

angelfire02 · September 2012

I had a scheduled c-section but we didn't make it to that because my bp got too high. I had a c-section with an epidural and I was scared out of my mind, but honestly it was way more scarier in my head than in reality.

The epidural freaked me out, but it was just a part of it that I had to do and then that was done. The IV had to stay in longer for me because I had complications that lead to other issues but if I wouldn't have had those I would have gotten it out in a day or two. The catheter was another thing I was all worked up about but it was nothing. Taking it out was painless. I was up getting into a wheelchair the same night of my surgery (which was more than just a c-section) so that wasn't horrible, just really slow. The recovery was way easier than I had heard it would be, my incision is still numb after 4 months so I didn't have any incision pain. I had no residual issues with the epidural. My arms were not pinned down during my surgery, I could move them around if I had wanted to. In all honesty the fear of the unknown is the hardest part. If you can work mind over matter about that, and know that it seriously is ALL worth it in the end. I had a lot going on and even after all of it, I would do it over again in a heartbeat. And the bottom line is you can do this. You can do this. And you will so love your babies.

emilyec1 · September 2012

If you had a vaginal birth, were you able to labor in any other position than lying down? Did you end up needing an episiotomy?

Lying down for me...My hospital delivers most twins in the OR so alternative positions are probably pretty rare. I had a second degree tear but didn't really feel a thing.

What was different about having to deliver in the OR?

There were lots of people in there...2 nurses with me and then at least 2 people per twin waiting to tend to each.

If you were induced, when did you receive the epidural for a vaginal birth? Right away, or well after labor started? Was it removed soon after the birth? Did you have much residual soreness from the epidural?

About 8 hours after pitocin started, a little sore after, nothing bad

What is different about delivering twins vaginally? Are they more traumatic to deliver? Was breaking the water on Baby B frightening or painful?

My water broke initially, it just felt like i peed myself

How long did you need to have an IV in before or after, in either situation?

They started IV once i was admitted and continued through delivery i think

Did you have your hands or arms held down for the c-section?

Has anyone else delivered despite a phobia? Do you have any tips for me to get through this in one piece? I'm so worried about this!

AliciaMomof4 · September 2012

I was induced at 36 wks. Both boys were head to head down so dr. Broke baby a's water after I dilated to 3 and I got the epidural when I was dilated to 5 when I asked for it. I was wheeled to the OR as baby a crowned. It is sterile and I was transferred to an OR table to give birth. There were more nurses and an extra dr. Setting up in case of an emergency c section. I pushed once and Noah was born. Then baby b descends and they did not want to break his waters as he would have more room to flip. They held him in place on my stomach to help avoid that too. Ethan was born 41 min. Later and the only difference was they followed him closely on a sono to see his position coming down. They never broke his water and he was born in his sac. With two in there they may let you walk around a bit at the beginning of labor but then they want to monitor them very closely for heart decals and or any signs of trauma. Good luck! Btw, I hate needles but when or if you are in extreme pain from contrax. You will not notice or care.

AliciaMomof4 · September 2012

Also, I had no effects from the epi. Afterwards and they did remove it right away. I was walking again a few hrs. After birth all 3 times. And I did get an IV on arrival each time for pitocin .

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