Triplet MoMs - Vaginal delivery?

LuvWIfootball · October 2012

Good morning, Triplet MoMs!

Did any of you have the option to deliver vaginally?

When I first my the MFM team, they said I'd deliver via c-section and I didn't think much of it. As my pregnancy progresses, I'd really love to be able to try to deliver vaginally. I think the recovery would be much better and I also hate the fact that I can't be with my babies right away after a c-section.

I think I'm going to have to start researching the pros/cons and see if I can discuss more in depth with my doctors.

lovekatespade · October 2012

I don't have the option for vaginal with my MFM, although I have heard of successful triplet vaginal deliveries. He used to do them, and said he "felt like he was playing with fire." Having been through several major surgeries, a CS was my worst fear going into pregnancy, but it surprised me how quickly it didn't matter any more once we learned there were 3. For me, if we can dodge all the potential issues of a triplet pregnancy, I'll be perfectly happy with a CS. I do think that if all goes well and you feel comfortable with it, its worth discussing the option with your MFM. GL!

LuvWIfootball · October 2012

lovekatespade:
I don't have the option for vaginal with my MFM, although I have heard of successful triplet vaginal deliveries. He used to do them, and said he "felt like he was playing with fire." Having been through several major surgeries, a CS was my worst fear going into pregnancy, but it surprised me how quickly it didn't matter any more once we learned there were 3. For me, if we can dodge all the potential issues of a triplet pregnancy, I'll be perfectly happy with a CS. I do think that if all goes well and you feel comfortable with it, its worth discussing the option with your MFM. GL!

At first I didn't think twice about it because it seemed like they were doing it because it was safest. Now I'm wondering if it's just because they like the control of it. Twin MoMs deliver vaginally all the time, so why would a 3rd baby make that much difference? Maybe it's just my stubborness coming out, but I'm just not happy anymore with taking what they say as the final word. I need facts to back it up.

Going_from_Miss_to_Mrs · October 2012

It was never even mentioned as an option by our MFM and I didn't even ask. I know so much can go wrong in the delivery room that I rather leave it up to the professionals. If it is the safest way to welcome the babies, then I am on board. I have read of successful triplet vaginal deliveries so if your MFM is comfortable doing it, that's great. I also am just such a nervous wreck about everything so I kind of like that the docs can do their thing that they have done so so many times before. GL!

keg · October 2012

It's possible...My new doctor delivered triplets vaginally (it was actually a VBA2C too). However, I'm guessing it's few and far between. You'd have to find an OB comfortable doing something other than a standard vertex delivery which is rare. Even with twins, the OBs I went to didn't want to deliver my twins vaginally and A was head down. Overall though, the c-section recovery wasn't that bad. Am a signing up for another one? Not if I can help it, but it wasn't bad in the situation.

Eriksgal · October 2012

There was one triplet mom on here that did but I am blanking on her name. It was also her 2nd pregnancy so that may have contributed to her success in being able to deliver vaginally. Another trip mom on here had the double whammy. My ob and MFM never gave me the option even early on. I had pre e and HELLP though so they would not have let me try. I was fine with a c section though and it was not bad at all. The painful part for me was all the gas pains I had for days after which Mylecon helped.

GypsyEsq · October 2012

It is possible but rare -- from your u/s you have identicals and a fraternal triplet? Right, I seriously doubt you'll have the option due to prolapsed cord concerns from the identicals. I was planning a RCS with triplets but then lost one and planned a VBAC and then had a footling breech baby A so had a RCS. Every step of my pregnancy was crazy trying to get my VBAC but I had a super supportive OB but even she wouldn't VBAC triplets.

1+tripsmom · October 2012

I had a csection I had no choice my first was a csection and my uterus was to thin for to do a VBAC.

There is a mom on here who did a vaginal of her triplets. I think in most cases they don't cause it is hard to monitor all the babies during labor. And also for mom safety and the babies.

pea-kay · October 2012

Talk to your doctor. I guess I would have been a good candidate, as all three of mine were head down when I delivered, but we didnt' know they were sharing a placenta, so in retrospect, I'm glad I didn't even ask. Overall, though, it just makes me nervous. Too many chances to end up with both kinds of delivery, but I don't think that's as big of a deal as people make out.

And you may be able to be with your babies right after a c/s, if they don't go to the NICU. It's just likely that they will be in the NICU after birth, no matter how they're born.

pea-kay · October 2012

it was whitey'swife, i think, who had the vaginal delivery. (i might be getting her name wrong.)

the other issue when adding another baby to the mix is one of the placentas detaching before the third baby is out. or something like that.

SPerry0376 · October 2012

I know my MFM does triplet deliveries... and in the "Having Twins and More" book there is a birth story of a lady doing a home birth of triplets AND she is a VBAC.

LuvWIfootball · October 2012

GypsyEsq:
It is possible but rare -- from your u/s you have identicals and a fraternal triplet? Right, I seriously doubt you'll have the option due to prolapsed cord concerns from the identicals. I was planning a RCS with triplets but then lost one and planned a VBAC and then had a footling breech baby A so had a RCS. Every step of my pregnancy was crazy trying to get my VBAC but I had a super supportive OB but even she wouldn't VBAC triplets.

Yep, babies are di/tri. This was why I assumed they only will allow c-section. I'm sure it's hard to make sure all come out without any cords getting in the way. I've been fine with the idea of a c-section up to this point. But there's just something in me that wants to fight for a vaginal birth. It's probably just a control issue on my part and I'll get over it, lol.

LuvWIfootball · October 2012

I should also add that I had a very successful delivery with my first child. Contractions started on my due date and he was born two days later at 9lbs. It's just another reason why I thought having a vaginal birth could be possible with the triplets.

ytterp · October 2012

I haven't delivered yet, but I did ask my MFM about this. He said sometimes triplets come quickly and they do vaginal, sometimes one will come out and then they'll do a c/s, but usually they do c/s. There will probably be a team of about 20 in the room when I deliver.

There are many things that can go wrong with a triplet pregnancy, and most triplets end up going straight to the nicu. It isn't worth risking it to me. The issue with trying to force a vaginal is that the babies could get distressed, and they are already so small. It's not impossible, but it's probably naive to think that a perfect delivery with a singleton will amount to or allude to a perfect vaginal delivery for triplets.

If it's important to you, do research, but be open to the fact that triplet pregnancies are high risk and you may have to do a c/s like it or not.

LuvWIfootball · October 2012

ytterp:

I haven't delivered yet, but I did ask my MFM about this. He said sometimes triplets come quickly and they do vaginal, sometimes one will come out and then they'll do a c/s, but usually they do c/s. There will probably be a team of about 20 in the room when I deliver.

There are many things that can go wrong with a triplet pregnancy, and most triplets end up going straight to the nicu. It isn't worth risking it to me. The issue with trying to force a vaginal is that the babies could get distressed, and they are already so small. It's not impossible, but it's probably naive to think that a perfect delivery with a singleton will amount to or allude to a perfect vaginal delivery for triplets.

If it's important to you, do research, but be open to the fact that triplet pregnancies are high risk and you may have to do a c/s like it or not.

I know that delivering a singleton vaginally will in now way determine how a delivery w/triplets would be. Just thought I'd add in that I had done it before, so it's not like it would be my first time.

I've already come to terms with having a c-section. I just started to question why this had to be my only option, as I've heard of several triplet moms who've done it.

Thanks to all of you who have responded. It's always nice to have some extra insight into a situation.

notallisonmarie22 · October 2012

SPerry0376:

I know my MFM does triplet deliveries... and in the "Having Twins and More" book there is a birth story of a lady doing a home birth of triplets AND she is a VBAC.

That sounds like total insanity to me.

SaucySarie · October 2012

I did not have the option to have them vaginally. My doctor said it was too risky--but I ended up having them by emergency c/s anyway...so I wouldn't have had the choice anyway. C/S's aren't that bad

amamommy · October 2012

I had the "Double Whammy" as someone above put it! (Delivered Baby A vaginally, who was breech, and had C/S for the other two).

I think C-Sec is mostly for safety issues, getting premature babies out as quick as possible without causing any more stress on them than necessary being that they are not fully developed.

I had a vaginal delivery with my first daughter, and that sucked...so given the option, I agreed with c-section given our triplet status.

GL in whatever you choose, but be ready for things to unfold like you never imagined!!

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