Natural or C- section

I am 31 weeks and both babies have now turned and are vertex , giving me the option (if they stay that way) to have a natural child birth instead of c-section. I want to do what ever is in the best interest for the babies but am so confused. My ob pushes the c section, the high risk doctors push the c-section. so it makes me nervous to watch to try natural.
So I guess my question is how many where able to have both babies born natural with no complications
thanks for all your input .. Patty

 

I am all for natural. It is safer for you (statistically speaking) and better for the babies as it helps their lungs by being pushed through the birth canal. I know C sections are done every day, and the women are fine, but let's not forget it IS surgery and complications can happen. Lot's of people will tell you a c-section is the route to go, but really, it is all just personal preference. You need to decide based on which one you are more comfortable trying. You may try for a vaginal, but end up needing a c section.

I had my twins vaginally at 38 weeks and 2 days. Both were vertex. A was a little turned to the side and face up. My doc was able to turn him, right before I delivered. I had a relatively smooth and quick labor, induced and delivered within five hours. Baby B was born 2 minutes after baby A! I had a minor tear, which required a couple stitches. No other complications for myself or my babies. We all went home a couple days later. I was up and showering an hour after delivery, and walking around about an hour after that!

Honestly, whichever route is best for the babies AND you is the way you should go. Good luck! Don't worry, which ever route you choose, you will do just fine!

 

All for natural here too. I had them at 38w2d, one vertex, one breech, both close to 8lbs. There is no reason that twins cannot be born vaginally. I believe, if there are no medical reasons (!), go for natural and be prepared if things go differently. Often doctors make you believe c/s are safer. Vaginal deliveries are very safe. I come from a country whether c/s are the exception, not the rule. I live in a country where it's the other way around. In our twin club here, out of over 60 people, only 2 had their babies vaginally, including me, and I had them in the States. Twins are not high risk per se, my doctor has never said that, she said there is more to watch for but they're not high risk. My pregnancy was smooth and fairly easy. I know it's not the case for everybody, but twins don't automatically mean "pre-term", "small size" and "c/s".

Having said all this, it's your call, but I believe you need to do your own research, because not all doctors, especially here in HK (and also in the US) give you a proper presentation of your options. And your current doctors seem to be pro-c/s as well.

I love this video on You Tube: Natural Child Birth of Twins and Multiples (for some reason I can't watch b/c of copy right issues ...?!), but I am sure you can find it!

 

I had mine at 34 weeks 6 days due to pre-eclampsia. Both were head-down, ready to go! I delivered in the OR - which I think is standard, in case of an emergency C-Section. My doctor was so kind and really wanted to do what I wanted - which was no c-section if I could help it. During the delivery, it was a little touch and go as to whether I would have to have a C-Section...but we did great!

I say, go for the vaginal if you feel comfortable with that...and if you have to have an emergency C-Section, everything is in place for that to happen!

 

all things being equal, a vaginal delivery is always safest & healthiest for mom & babies. did your OB or other doctors say specifically WHY they're pushing for a c-section? i think you need to question them some more & get some more info before you can make an informed decision. don't let them "scare" you into a c-section - find out why they feel the way they do & get a second opinion if something feels fishy to you. at the end of the day though, i think you should trust your gut. you'll make the decision that is right for you & your babies.

i had unmedicated vag deliveries with both my girls at 34w1d. the only complications they had were from prematurity & even those were fairly minor. if you'd like i'd be happy to PM you my birth story (it's quite long). let me know.

 

I would love to read your story>

 

I wish I would have had the chance to birth my vaginally. A was breech and B was transverse. I attempted a VBAC with my most recent pregnancy, but I failed to progress so I ended up with another c-section. Do you want to have more children? If so, then you'll either have to have more c-sections or you will be attempting a VBAC. And not every Dr. is pro-vbac. Just something to consider if you plan to have more.

I would definitely in your situation try to have a vaginal birth.

 

I feel quite strongly in favor of a vaginal birth when possible. I think we are lead to believe a natural delivery is unsafe and a rouge way to go and that c-sections are too often reverted to for convience. Of course it is a personal call between doctor and pt. I recommend watching Ricki Lake's The Business of Being Born to learn more about the institution of child birth. I was fortunate enough to have an OB that was skilled in breech deliveries and valued the option of vaginal over c-section, though he gave me the choice between spontaneous labor and a planned c-sec. My babies were breech and transverse and both came out feet first! Feel free to read my birthstory at my blog: http://twinningboys.blogspot.com (it is just a few stories down as it was very recent) Good luck in deciding!

 

I also live in a country where c-sections are not the norm and are there for when a vaginal delivery is not possible. The doctors here will only discuss a c-section if there is a complication. Coming from north America I kept asking every doctor and midwife I asked about c-section with twins, because I have watched so many on the delivery / maternity programmes that air here from the states. They looked at me like I had a third eye or something. My last doctor told me that c-sections are not safer they just pose different problems and risks, and a c-section has to be weighed on that and which ever complications are facing the babies- I read recently that there was a Canadian study done showing that vaginal births are safer that c-sections, I wonder if anyone else has seen or read that study. To answer your question in short I think vaginal is the way to go as long as there is nothing that is pointing towards an advantage in the babies or your health for having one. Good luck on your choice :hug:

 

Before having my babies, I would have said try it naturally. Both of mine were head down, so I went for a vaginal delivery. The scariest part for me was when Baby A's cord prolapsed. I ended up with an emergency c-section/vertical incision and had to be put under general anesthesia. If I could have done it over, I would have scheduled a regular c-section. Luckily my doctor was able to ride the gurney with me, holding Ethan's head off the cord and we were able to avoid oxygen/blood supply being comprised. I can't put into words how terrified I was until I saw my happy, healthy babies.

That said, I also know prolapsed cords are not the norm - I've read several birth stories here where a vaginal delivery went very well. It is definitely a personal choice for you and your doctors.

For me personally, based on my experience, though - I would opt for the planned c-section.

Best to you!

 

I totaly agree with you. I had both my boy's c-section and wouldn't have changed a thing ,I will also be having my twins c-section. Recovery for me was not bad at all. People always talk how bad and dangerous c-sections are, but natural delievery has risk just as c-section. I think go with what your gut tells you and what the doctor thinks best. The doctor wont lead you in the wrong after all thats what there paid for.

 

It's a tough decision that's for sure. I ended up delivering baby a (head down) vaginally and having a c section for baby b since she had been breech and only turned transverse when the doc tried to turn her. We were going to discuss and hopefully decide what to do during the delivery about baby b but my labor was too quick to have any discussions about what to do with her or the option that maybe we should have just gone straight to the c sec instead of both. So my advice would be to try and have a plan in place before you go in, talk abut all the options and when perhaps to "pull the plug" on a vaginal delivery and go to a c sec so you don't end up with both if you really want to try vaginally.

Although my recovery is better than I thought it would be, having both was really not fun. One delivery is definitely better no matter what it is I think. So if it looks like it may end up being both I would definitely opt for the c sec. The worst part for my was my reaction to the pain meds the next day and of course missing being able to pick up my other dd.

GOOD LUCK!!

 

Taken abstractly, natural birth is better for the mom and the babies. There are obviously cases where c/s is necessary for health reasons, but I think this number is MUCH lower than the number of c/s performed. And then you have to consider your wishes and the circumstances. What you don't want is either to be coerced by your docs into a procedure which potentially caries more risk and is something you don't want. But, you also don't want to go through labor fighting with your care givers.

Personally, I knew from great prenatal care with an OB and peri that my health and my babies health were great. Both twins were head down and full term. I knew I didn't need a surgical birth. But I also knew I'd be put through stress and unnecessary procedures if I delivered with them. My docs would have induced me, as a first time mom I would have unsuccessful, my babies and I would be distressed and I would end with an "emergency" surgical birth. My hospital has an 80% twin c/s rate. This number is not in the best interests of the health of the women and babies involved. Now I like my docs, and know they would have done a good job. But I wouldn't have delivered in a hospital unless I either changed hospitals and found the one doc in the area who supported natural twin births, or came to peace with an unnecessary c/s.

Instead, I got an amazing midwife and gave birth at home. Uneventful delivery, perfect babes, short recovery.

All birth has risk, but all risks are not equal. This site compared the risks of c/s v. vaginal birth:
http://www.sciencebasedbirth.com/WebPublishing_05/ASPO_elect_cs_consequences_06.pdf

And here's a good site, with my birth story posted:
http://www.naturallyparentingtwins.com/

Now moms and their families have to make this decision on their own. Following your doctors advice is a totally reasonable choice to make. As a twin mom especially, scheduling a surgical birth is totally reasonable. But make sure it's your choice. Please do some research. Natural twin birth certainly isn't the norm, but it is a reasonable choice too and comes with many benefits.

 

I had all of my boys by c-section, not by choice and I wouldn't choose to do it again. I was planning to have my twins vaginally but ended up having placenta previa and had to have an early emergency c section. A thinking womens guide to pregnancy is a really good book that goes through comparisons between medical internention deliveries and natural deliveries. I found it very informative.
I feel really ripped off with the whole bonding experience after my c sections. You are numb and in pain and can't really hold them or feed them early. Then there is the whole recovery thing, it is more painful and if you have complications like an infection or if your incision rips open(mine did) then you can have weeks more of pain and discomfort. I really regret having to have them by c section but sometimes you don't have a choice. I know everyones experience is different. I would say look into all the info you can find on both and make a informed decision if you have a choice.

 

I just had my third elective c-section with my twins and couldn't be happier! They turned three weeks old yesterday and I feel 100% recovered - my OB confirmed as well. Zero pain, my scar looks incredible (already nearly invisible - I love my OB!) - and I am chasing my four-year-old and two-year-old around as well.

I did I ton of research prior to signing up for my first elective c-section - the truth is, you can find research to support both methods of delivery. In the end, I decided that the c-section was for me - I had an OB that was supportive of my decision and my insurance covered it. Each of my recoveries has been easier than the last - it's really been a piece of cake (except for that first time they make you stand up and walk around!).

Best of luck as you make your decision!

 

I've had 2 sets of twins, both vag, no drugs. I wouldn't change a thing, both times things went perfectly. I think it boils down to a matter of personal choice. I'm pretty "crunchy" so I wouldn't do a c-section unless I HAD to, but other people swear by them. I will say, I wouldn't want a dr to do a vag birth if they weren't comfortable. With my last set I had to shop docs because we had moved from the progressive west coast to the stone ages of the mid-west, to find one that would do a vag birth AND seemed confident about it. I didn't want my doc to panic if things didn't go textbook for him. FWIW, I've found older doc's to be more comfortable with the idea of vag twins births. Good luck!

 

I had mine vaginally 54 mins apart. I loved it the only complication was prematurity and while that is not the norm with twins it does happen more frequently. I wanted vaginally bc my babies ended up being life flighted to the NICU an hour away from me. If I had had a c-sect. I would have had to stay in the hospital for a couple days however with the vag. delivery I had my babies at 10:30pm and 11:24pm and was discharged at 12p the next day---12 hours later!!!

 

My babies were also vertex, and we were planning on a vaginal delivery. My water even broke on its own, and I was 37.4 weeks. I ended up with a c-section because I never progressed, despite a day on pitocin up to the maximum they wanted to give me. I never dilated past 1-2cm, and I never felt a contraction. My c-section went well, and I felt like recovery was good, and I have no regrets. I won't try for a VBAC in the future because they scare me. So, I guess in your situation I would definitely try for a vaginal delivery, but just be aware that even in the best case scenario sometimes you end up with a c-section anyway.

 

My girls were nth transverse and Jessy was too delicate to have naturally anyway but if they had been vertex and farther along I would have tried for natural. My mm had one of each a natural with me and 9 years later a c-sect with my sister who was breech and as a birth defect did not have fully formed hipsockets

 

I was planning a vaginal birth until the day before I went into labor when my growth scan measured baby B 1 lb 7 oz bigger so my doctor couldnt do a breech extraction. I was pretty devastated. My c-section was not a pleasant experience at all. I shook the whole time, felt so antsy, and afterwards I was completely numb from the neck down so I couldn't hold my babies. The nurse had to hold Kaydee up to me so she could nurse and get her blood sugar up. I am really sensitive to medication so I assume that was my problem, but I definitely didn't enjoy the experience even though the recovery (after the first day) wasn't bad at all

 

Congrats!!!

I had my girls naturally at 34w5d due to eclampsia. I was very set in my mind I was going to have them naturally NO MATTER WHAT... and of course the drs just laughed. I was lucky that both babies where head down and I was able to have them naturally. I did deliever in a OR just in case, but aside from that and 101 people being in the room to watch it was a pretty normal delivery. My biggest fear was not being able to have them naturally and having to heal from a c-section and have to take care of twins. I was stubborn and lucked out. Good luck on your choice! And good luck with your babies!!

 

I think that this must be the most popular topic on the site and the one that everyone has such strong opinions about, but I have to tell you, it has always rather perplexed me. I think that the OP's actual question is a very reasonable one for a confused and concerned mother to ask -- "how many where able to have both babies born natural with no complications." We are all scared and trying to make the best decisions for our little ones. I have to say though that some of the responses make me personally uncomfortable because the sharing of experience is so often accompanied by someone's strong opinion about which way is the best way. Thats not really the question, nor is it in my opinion an appropriate answer. We forget that what works for us is not necessarily what works for the next person. There are good and bad vaginal birth stories as well as good and bad c-section stories. There are so many factors that go into what makes a particular method right for a mother and her babies in any given situation (mother's health, health of the babies, timing, position, available technology, experience of the doctor, etc). Some women are good healers who bounce back quickly from surgery and react well to medication. Others are not such fast healers and may be more prone to adverse reactions. Some women psychologically and/or physically will not react well to labour and natural child birth -- it really just all depends. There is so much ideology and propoganda surrounding this topic and it just always makes me uneasy when I see it being thrown around, especially given that this is an issue that has such serious implications for a woman's health and the safety of her babies. I think we all know that there is research out there supporting both sides and it is up to each individual mother to figure out whats the best information for her given situation.

Furthermore, I think its unfortunate that so many women who have been forced by circumstance to have unplanned emergency c-sections spend so much time later feeling guilty and like they somehow failed because they were not able to deliver their babies vaginally. There are no prizes for delivery method -- the prize is a healthy baby (or set of babies). I wish that we could all share and be supportive without making judgments about what is better, safest or best (the added pressure is not really what a mother needs).

I am not trying to cause offense or poke at anyone in particular, I just wanted to share my thoughts on the subject. And to the OP, I wish you a wonderful and healthy birth experience -- whatever you decide.

 

I completely agree with pp - Well said!!!!!!!

 

Very nicely put!!! :good:

 

Sparkle 77, you make good points, that none of us can know what will come in the last few weeks of pregnancy or in labor and delivery. On top of that uncertainty, every mother approaches birth differently.

But Sparkle, it seems like you're from the UK, where although health care has its problems, mothers still have the RIGHT to a home birth, and may be less pressured than American moms. I don't really know what the situation is like in the UK, but I doubt it's the same as in the US.

The reason for me that this is such a heated issue, is that living in a big metropolitan area of the US, I had almost no choice in birthing. The default - a preterm induction and/or c/s - carried health risks I did not find acceptable.

Mothers in the US are under massive pressure to have a medically managed birth. Sure, we can accept that sometimes circumstances require intervention and I can be glad care is so advanced. But I could not stay with my OBs for delivery and birth my twins at term naturally, and I'm still fuming mad about that. I paid out of pocket to have a home birth, and feel like I ransomed my body from those who would have cut into me without my consent. I know that sounds inflammatory, but all the issues with birthing in the US are exponentially increased for twin moms. Doctors threatened me and other moms I know with fetal death every time we question the non-evidence based party line. It's really wrong. My husband and I are intelligent and thoughtful people. My pregnancy was well monitored. I knew my health and the health of my twins were strong, and I knew research supported my desire to have a spontaneous, vaginal birth. No, I did not go to med school, but neither are my OBs infallible. Actually, my MW, with an extensive history of attending Amish homebirths, had more experience with natural twin births than any of my doctors. And it was her experience which brought my girls into the world safely.

Every mom has to decide for herself, and accept that circumstances may change. But for those Americans who are inclined to birth their twins vaginally, which is a legitimate and defensible choice, extra support and preparation are necessary.

 

Hey Gena,

I live in the UK but I'm American and almost all of my healthcare is undertaken in the States and I'm actually having my babies privately (not on the NHS) partly because I was the opposite and preferred my care be consultant-led rather than MW led. Due to my medical history (I had a myomectomy last year to remove fibroids and my uterus has already been butchered) I wanted more involvement of doctors, which is harder to get here, even when it may be medically necessary (all systems have their flaws).

I do not for one second criticize or question your passion and I applaud your diligence and persistence in insisting on the birth and care that YOU wanted. I think that your birth experience is amazing and compelling and certainly something to be shared with other mothers. I just think that some of the zeal that I read around this topic is a bit much for an expecting forum where mothers have enough questions and doubts to deal with and where they are just trying to decide for themselves what works best for them and their babies. It is a very very loaded issue and one that women have such strong feelings about, but I think that in a place like this, it may be better to tread lightly because it may be that when the time comes, some of these women may need medical intervention and I would hate to think that anyone was encouraged to go against serious advice of their doctors because of something that they read in a forum like this (with adverse consequences). That's all I'm saying.

 

Sparkle, you're right again. Many good points.

Best luck for your pregnancy and birth!

 

Well, if I wasn't such a sissy with a bum uterus I might have tried a more natural approach. One of my best friends says that when her time comes, she wants to be locked in a padded room with a bottle of jack daniels and a midwife . . . . :rotflmbo:

Thanks for the good wishes!!