Twin Update!

JAck5209 · January 2014

I had my 33 week appointment yesterday and things didn't really go as planned. Baby B is suddenly growing a lot faster than Baby A so we are now being monitored twice a week to ensure that A is getting enough nourishment. According to a growth ultrasound they currently weight 4lbs 3oz and 5lbs 10oz. Am I wrong in thinking that Baby B seems huge for 33 weeks?! According to my weekly Bump emails, single babies are typically around 4lbs at this point in the pregnancy. I'm growing a giant!

Anyways, my doctor told me that a vaginal birth is no longer on the table because of the growth discordance so I'll have a scheduled c-section. We're aiming for 36 weeks but the doctor specifically told me to make sure we're ready because they could send me anytime. Luckily, the babies have great weights and should be fine on the outside. The only real problem is that if we're sent for a c-section before 36 weeks I'll be sent to the big hospital downtown because the Air Force base doesn't have a NICU. That means new doctors and an unfamiliar environment. Just the thought of that is stressing me out. I have a great relationship with my MFM and I don't want to leave her!

Wow, this got long. Do you ladies have any advice for someone facing a c-section? I had a lovely unmedicated birth with Olivia and was hoping and praying for the same with the twins. I'm feeling a lot of disappointment about losing that option. I know I could do it!

ThePinkSuperhero · January 2014

I really didn't want a c-section, but that's what happened and it ended up going very well! The recovery was quick and the drugs they give you in the hospital make you feel aweeeeesome
=D>

nesenotes · January 2014

Buy yourself a tummy binder!! It will save your life. It helps you get up without straining your stomach too much. And a girdle doesn't cut it.

Also colace is your best friend! Start taking it as soon as they let you eat. My first poo my legs went numb.

And walk. Get up and walk as often as possible. Helps you heal quicker!

JAck5209 · January 2014

@nesenotes Thanks for the advice. I hadn't thought about a tummy binder but I'll check amazon right now. Did you have one that you liked? I'm all over the Colace thing. I was so worried about my first BM after Olivia that I took it religiously. It's a life saver!

gonggirl_98 · January 2014

I had a scheduled c-section with K. Scariest moment was them putting the spinal in (all the horror stories flooded my brain). Awkwardest was the tech shaving me down there and then using this giant sticker-mitt to get all the hair off...

Recovery was a breeze because I didn't have to do any work with laboring - I wasn't exhausted, I did throwup afterwards, but I got to enjoy my baby right away. I would suggest learning some good meditation techniques and don't be afraid to take your pain meds! It's easier to control/manage pain before it gets painful.

I hope you make it to 36 weeks! I would have been more nervous if I hadn't had my own doctor doing the procedure. You're in my thoughts.

nesenotes · January 2014

JAck5209 said:
@nesenotes Thanks for the advice. I hadn't thought about a tummy binder but I'll check amazon right now. Did you have one that you liked? I'm all over the Colace thing. I was so worried about my first BM after Olivia that I took it religiously. It's a life saver!

I used 2. One from BRU and one from the hospital. They will tell you not to use it all day, and that's bologna! I had that surgery twice and both times I wore it pretty much 24/7 for 2 weeks. I only took it off for baths. You will need someone to help you bind it at first to get it nice and tight. It really helped me a lot. If I didn't use it I felt like my stomach was coming apart.

cwm11985 · January 2014

I don't have the experience but I hope they stay put a while longer!!

ashleynaka · January 2014

I did not have a c-section, but can agree that getting up as soon as you can to walk around helps a lot with the healing and relieving all of the gas that gets trapped. I second Colace to help with your first BM (c-section or vag). I used a binder that the hospital gave and even without a c-section, it helped a ton! I know Belly Bandit is popular, but not sure it is better than the others and it's pretty pricey.

I will pray that baby A catches up and both babies stay put a bit longer. I know they are telling you that you have to have a c-section, but can you get a second opinion? Since you had a very uncomplicated experience last time, another MD might be willing to at least let you try to have the birth you want. Either way, so long as they are healthy, that's all that I would be concerned about in the end. Good luck and good vibes to you!

SallySunrise · January 2014

Have you considered a doula? There are many that specialize in c/s and/or multiples, and there are also many who give discounts (often even free service) to military families. I would very highly recommend finding one- you deserve constant support!

I'm terribly sorry that your birth plans aren't panning out the way you'd hoped. Healthy mom, healthy babies, blah blah, OF COURSE that's your goal. Duh. Smack anyone who says that to you. The details of what happens to you and your body are incredibly important too. You are allowed to feel disappointed, angry, or whatever it is you are feeling. Don't let anyone make you feel like you shouldn't. Feel it, embrace it, work through it.

In whatever way is necessary- you can do this. Go in with confidence! You're gonna give birth to two babies in one day. Two! Holy crap, you're incredible!!

bumpuser1509193 · January 2014

I can't believe you are this close!!!! In regards to the u/s measurements, it is very possible that B is not as big as she is measuring... U/s measurements are not exact. I'm sorry this threw a wrench in your birth plan.

pinkangelmoon · January 2014

I'm sorry you got disappointing news. Great weights though! I think mine measured over 6lbs each at 36 weeks. They ended up weighing in at 5lbs11oz and 6lbs7oz at 37w4d. Hoping their weights even out and you make it a few more weeks! Are your twins mono-di? As for the c-section, I can understand your disappointment. I was also upset when I was told I'd need a c-section since baby B was breech (my doctor only did vaginal if BOTH were head down). At the same time it was also a bit of a relief because I always worried about a "double whammy"- delivering one vaginal and needing a c-section for the other. Not gonna lie, my recovery was pretty rough. My abs did not do well with all the stretching and I could not stand or walk for long without the belly binder. I got one at the hospital but I'd suggest getting a nicer/more comfortable one before hand. I wore that thing almost 24/7 for 6 weeks (even nights). It's the only way I felt comfortable moving around. Good luck! You can do this!

zyas · January 2014

I'm so excited for you that the twins will be here soon!

As far as the csection goes, it was a breeze for me. The most painful part of the entire thing was when they put my IV in. They blew one of my veins and had to poke me a bunch of times before getting it in.

I second that on getting a tummy binder! They gave me one in the hospital and I also bought one of the baboosh baby ones online. Those things were life savers!

I never needed the colace, I was able to poop normally the next day. But I did react badly to the painkillers and I was sick the entire day after the surgery. They had to take me off the painkillers for at least 8 hours - so no pain killers at ALL before they put me on a different one. Surprisingly I was ok during that time even without the meds as the constant throwing up was far worse.

Just like the others said, get up and walk as soon as you can.

Good luck! I can't wait to see pictures of the twins!

zyas · January 2014

I just wanted to add that for the 2 days before my surgery I went on a liquids only diet. I read that this would help with the pooping issue afterwards and make things easier on my body for the surgery. I basically just made really healthy smoothies with a lot of greens added in. It worked as I never had any issues

Barefoot84 · January 2014

I have no advice, just wanted to say that I'm excited for you that the twins will be here soon!! Hopefully they'll stay put till 36 weeks!

JAck5209 · January 2014

Thank you everyone! I'll definitely be on the lookout for a belly binder. I'll do anything to help myself get mobile quicker. Thankfully, my mom is taking a month off of work to come and stay with us so I'll have a lot of help. DH only has a week off so my mom will be a lifesaver. I think she'll make Olivia's transition a little easier since she'll have the full attention of her grandma.

As for seeking a second opinion on my c-section, my doctor is very liberal and has been very supportive of my wish to try a vaginal delivery. She's willing to do breech extractions with twin births but baby B's size makes that too risky. Baby A won't clear enough of a path for B to be pulled out safety. I was recently told that a lot of doctors automatically order a c-section with all twin births! Crazy!

@SallySunrise I hadn't even considered a doula. I didn't realize that they assisted in c-section births. Have you been there for a section birth? I've been meeting on the side with the midwife who delivered my daughter and she's been great for pep talks and advice. She was going to be there for my potential vaginal birth so I hope she'll still be there for me. I love her!

JAck5209 · January 2014

@pinkangelmoon yes, they're mono/di twins. I was also concerned about the double whammy but I was trying no to think about it. Haha

lewispm · January 2014

I was terrified at the thought of a C-section before I had to have mine, and although it wasn't fun, the actual surgery was not as terrifying as I imagined. From reading people's experiences on here, I have found that the recovery for a C-section varies greatly and some had an easy time while others (me) had a rough go at it. One thing is for sure though, you will definitely need help the first 2 weeks caring for twins with a C-section! Be prepared to need someone there with you and try to make arrangements for that (if you haven't already).

Also, if your bed is high, be prepared to sleep on the couch or a lower bed if you have one. I was unable to climb in and out of bed for feedings and found that the couch was a much better option.

Don't overdo it. I did, and I paid for it. Also, go easy on the pain killers as they will make you think you are fine, when you really might be overdoing it.

My biggest advice: Start taking stool softeners days before the surgery. Straining is pretty impossible with a C-section incision and it was 2 weeks before I could go. Not fun!

SallySunrise · January 2014

JAck5209 said:

Thank you everyone! I'll definitely be on the lookout for a belly binder. I'll do anything to help myself get mobile quicker. Thankfully, my mom is taking a month off of work to come and stay with us so I'll have a lot of help. DH only has a week off so my mom will be a lifesaver. I think she'll make Olivia's transition a little easier since she'll have the full attention of her grandma.

As for seeking a second opinion on my c-section, my doctor is very liberal and has been very supportive of my wish to try a vaginal delivery. She's willing to do breech extractions with twin births but baby B's size makes that too risky. Baby A won't clear enough of a path for B to be pulled out safety. I was recently told that a lot of doctors automatically order a c-section with all twin births! Crazy!

@SallySunrise I hadn't even considered a doula. I didn't realize that they assisted in c-section births. Have you been there for a section birth? I've been meeting on the side with the midwife who delivered my daughter and she's been great for pep talks and advice. She was going to be there for my potential vaginal birth so I hope she'll still be there for me. I love her!

I'm not an OB, obviously, but I'm a little confused by this logic. If she's a supporter of vaginal breech birth, she would then support a mom having ONE breech baby, yes? And in that case there's not another baby to "pave the way"... I don't get what difference that makes. Singleton babies are born every day without a sibling clearing the path.

I have not attended a section yet, but I am sure the day will come whether scheduled or "emergency". I know lots of doulas who have attended lots of sections though; some who even work ONLY with section mamas. Some hospitals won't allow a second support person in the OR (which is a bunch of bullshit if you ask me), but many will. Some require special advanced permission from both the OB and the anesthesiologist. Even if your hospital allows only one support person in the OR, your doula would be with you the whole prep time, support your hubby in times that even he isn't allowed in (if there are those times), and she'd wait right outside the door until the second she's allowed to be with you again, supporting you through recovery as well. If the babies had to leave to go to nursery, NICU, or recovery before you could, your H could go with the babies and your doula could stay with you so you'd never be alone.

sarahandeddiejune212008 · January 2014

I highly recommend the post partum undies that motherhood has. The will hold everything nice and tight so your incision doesn't pull. They were a life saver. I wish I had gotten them the first time around.

Also, take the meds on a schedule. Don't wait until you're in pain to ask. I only took the high dose motrin and was fine.

You'll want to try walking as soon as possible. It will be uncomfortable, but it's better to do while the really good pain meds are still in your system. Keep walking small bits, it'll make your recovery much easier.

Finally, don't try and do to much. Let your DH do the laundry, dishes, diaper changes for lo #1. You don't want to be lifting anything heavy for a few weeks.

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