Anyone else ever feel pressure to have a C section

My husband, my husband's boss, my boss, my friends, everyone I tell that I am having twins keeps asking me when I am having my c section or if I have one scheduled. I have cried about it because I think its waaay to early to even be considering one since I have had no complications and it doesn't look like I am ready to have them anytime soon. Plus, its surgery, not something I want to have unless I can avoid it. It not like I am scheduling a hair appoint, geez. Anyone else ever feel the pressure to decide on a c section??

 

I am just going for it.. I just figure get them out and get them to me! Plus my biggest fear would be having to recover from BOTH a vaginal and a c section birth..

 

but how do you "just go for it?" Do you say, "hey doc, I think we should just go ahead and cut em out"

It just seems like such a wierd thing to assume. Plus I am terrified, like sick to my stomach wanting to pass out, of the thought of having a needle stuck in my back and being awake during major surgery, and make no mistake it is considered major surgery no matter how common or "safe" it may seem.

 

I totally agree with you! It is a major surgery and unless it cannot be avoided because of a medical reason, I have no intention of having an ELECTIVE major surgery.

 

QUOTE(Twinsylvania April @ Oct 8 2007, 10:00 PM) [snapback]441694[/snapback]
but how do you "just go for it?" Do you say, "hey doc, I think we should just go ahead and cut em out"

It just seems like such a wierd thing to assume. Plus I am terrified, like sick to my stomach wanting to pass out, of the thought of having a needle stuck in my back and being awake during major surgery, and make no mistake it is considered major surgery no matter how common or "safe" it may seem.


I know what you mean here...That is the part that I would like to avoid as well. I had two very easy vaginal births....my oldest son is 17 now...he weighed 8lbs...and I had him 2 hours from the time I started labor....and my younger son, 16 next week...he weighed 4 lbs. and 10 oz....(at 29 weeks) I had him in just over 2 hours from the time I woke up in labor....I had hoped to have a vaginal delivery with these guys....but because of the Placenta abrution that I had earlier in this pregnancy...that is no longer an option....they are going to do a c-section no later than 37 weeks...although they don't expect me to carry them that long.

Your delivery options are something that I would speak to your Dr. about at EACH visit...if you feel strongly about it....and the babies are in position when the time comes...>GO FOR IT! I wish you well.

Missy

 

I had circumstances which prevented me from delivering vaginally. And I was aware of that from very early in my pregnancy.

I would talk to your doctor at your next visit about your delivery options. The position and size of the babies will be a factor. Your doctor will advise you on what he/she thinks is best for you and the babies.

 

QUOTE(moski @ Oct 9 2007, 07:44 AM) [snapback]441996[/snapback]
I had circumstances which prevented me from delivering vaginally. And I was aware of that from very early in my pregnancy.

I would talk to your doctor at your next visit about your delivery options. The position and size of the babies will be a factor. Your doctor will advise you on what he/she thinks is best for you and the babies.



A very good suggestion.

My situation was the exact opposite as moski's - I looked ripe and ready for a vaginal delivery throughout my whole pregnancy. But when the big day came, complications with pre-e meant that I had to deliver immediately and couldn't afford the time it would take to deliver vaginally. So i had a csection and honestly, while i understand the fears and concerns that you may have about it, it really wasn't bad at all. IMHO, it certainly beats pushing out two babies and would be my preferred delivery method any day. In any event, regardless of what your doctor/neighbor/boss/frend thinks at this point, you really should be prepared to go either way on this. B/c you just never know for sure . . .

 

I had c/s with the twins due to both of them being transverse...now I'm going for vbac with my singleton...My word of advice...if you think you feel pressure to c/s now, just wait and see what happens if you have to go for vbac!! It's not easy these days to find doctors/hospitals which are truly supportive for vbac. So my main word for all twin moms...don't just jump into a c/s. Obviously there are lots of good reasons to have one, but if you don't have any good reason to have one versus vaginal then don't. It's major surgery...and in spite of what you Don't hear about it, c/s does carry more risk than vaginal delivery. Since you feel so strongly about vaginal, hopefully you have docs who are very confident and comfortable doing vaginal delivery of twins. Many young docs these days aren't all that confident or skilled at dealing with twin births when the second baby is in a non-vertex position. And if vaginal delivery is important to you then you want to go into it knowing you have a doctor who really knows what he/she is doing. Hope you get your vag delivery...just ignore what all those people say. And you know if it really bothers you look up the studies on c/s risks...and start informing people...that will shut them up. It's your body...you are the one that would have to live with scar tissue..adhesions...possible ramifications like a knicked bladder or bowels... possible need for blood transfusion even hysterectomy. Yes, most c/s will be routine and non-complicated...but the fact of the matter remains that each year there are more women who suffer complications during c/s, even death, than there are occurances of this with vaginal birth. The risk is low, but it's still higher than for vaginal delivery... and even the non-serious complications like scar tissue can impact you the rest of your life. My cycles after my c/s were never the same....and I do think it had to do with the scar tissue in there.

 

I didn't really get pressure from anyone but my ob! She told me repeatedly that it would just be simpler to have a c-section since there were possibilities for complications. I just told her that I really wanted to try for a vaginal delivery even if baby b was breech. Two days before I delivered, baby b flipped vertex and it all went incredibly smooth. Even though I got the outcome I wanted, I was prepared to do whatever it took to get healthy babies out. I hope you get the delivery you want.

Reyna

 

I guess I just looked at it like it was the doctor's call. My doctor did not want to do a vaginal deliver unless BOTH babies were head down. And Baby B was not; she was transverse. So I just went with what the doctor said.

I think all in all, I was more nervous about having to care for two newborns than having a needle stuck in my back. And by the time I had my epidural, I had been given so many stinkin' shots I was a regular 'ol pincushion. So it was a breeze.

 

It is very important to remind others that this is your birth, not theirs. They will not have to recover from major abdominal surgery. They will not have to wait for their bowels to get back in order and then not have the abdominal muscles to help rid them selves of their waste, Graphic, yes but true.
They will also not have to deal with having a cath in their bladdler and have to recover from that. Since my section and having that stupid cath, I have horrible bladder control.
They will not have to try to care for a baby, let alone 2 babies while recovering from the pain. It may be a full day or more after a section that you can walk, while after a vaginal birth I have seen moms get up with in a half hour or hour of birth to take them selves to the toilet.
Vaginal birth is the best on the body in many situations, as that is the way birth was intended to be.

I had to search and go through some trial and error to find a doc that would even consider me as a VBAC candidate! Sad, there is actually less risk to VBAC than there is to walk accross the street safely!

I would also encourage you to find a Doula, they can be wonderful in births, yes even multiples. The doula will be a great extra support person for both you the mom and for the dad! Doula's Rock!

 

Hi, (warning, this is not for the sensitive, TMI)

I did it both ways and believe me, natural is wayyyyyy better. I gave birth to my daughter at 35 weeks naturally without medication and it was a wonderful experience, she did very well, it was so much easier then the second time around with my twins being delivered c-section. Yes natural is incredibly painful but the pain didn't last long and the sense of accomplishment is so fullfulling. I will just fill you in on my personal experience because no one did this for me. My twins came early at 33 weeks and I had to do a c-section with them. With a c-section the pain of recovery was so long lasting and sooooo painful I was doubled over most of the time. I went into shock two times, had lots of problems healing and had so much bleeding. (I am a healthy and fit 28 year old with no health issues whatsoever) Sure the scar shrinks and it is getting better now but this is 5 months later! I just think people don't tell you stuff like this, and I want you to be informed,

C-section:
1. The area around your incision will loose all feeling (about 1 cm from the cut all the way around it) possibly permanently.
2. You can get infections even in today's advanced hospitals
3. It hurts so bad that you can't even laugh afterwards.
4. After 5 months, if I get stressed or bend the wrong way, or if I think a lot about my experience my scar actually hurts again!

Natural:
1. It hurts like crazy, but afterwards I healed very fast
2. Some vomit from the pain of contractions (I did)
3. You will be amazed at the empowerment you have from giving birth to a baby.
4. You can bond immediately with baby
5. Tearing hurts, but that pain goes away fast too.
6. I had no lingering afterpains by 6 weeks after delivery. (already up and excersing by then)

I hope this helps, and too many people (many who haven't done either one yet) are pushing c-section. Just do what is going to be right for you (medically and philisophically). If you are perfectly healthy don't listen to anyone but you, they are your babies and it's your body and you will live with that, no one else will.

hth

 

First of all, it's your decision. I don't know understand why people feel the need to ask questions like that anyway. I think next time someone asked, I'd give them the most graphic answer possible. But, that's me and I tend to be a little passive-aggressive at times. :lol:

I've had two c-sections and one vaginal birth (a VBAC with DS2). Both c-sections were terrible experiences, soley based on the circumstances of the births, NOT because anything horrible happened during or after surgery. It takes a lot of time to heal. After DS1 was born, it was at least a year before I felt anywhere close to normal again. This time, it's been a lot easier to recover and get back into my normal routine.

Giving birth is not easy, no matter how you choose to do it. For some women, facing labor and delivery is very scary. For others, it isn't that big of a deal (I labored for about seven hours and DS2 was out in three pushes at 9lbs 7oz). Either way, you'll have to weigh the pros and cons yourself and make the best decision based on what you know about yourself and your body.

 

thank you for the support guys, and the personal experiences. :love0028: I am going to push (no pun intended, haha) for a vaginal birth, and prepare for anything. And if anyone asks me about scheduling a c section who isn't my doc again, I will tell them kindy that is none of their concern. :blbl:

 

Sorry to weigh in after you've checked back, but just wanted to add one more opinion to your mix. You need to do what is right for you. I had vaginal with first daughter, and c-section with twins. I labored for 23 hours with her. It was awful. My twins were both transverse, and I was so glad I was not going to have to labor again. Even being scared to death of surgery, I was glad. I still have issues 3 years later from the vaginal birth, but none from the c-section. With my hospital, and delivering healthy babies at 39 weeks, I was able to bond with my babies while they were stitching me up.

No matter which option you end up going with, you will have some people who had a wonderful experience with the way you are going, or an awful experience. And then the opposite is true, too. Good luck whichever way you decide, and hopefully you will have a great birth experience!

 

I was pressured by one of the doctors in my ob's practice to have a c-section, his reasoning was "you've been through so much to get pregnant (ivf), why not just ensure they arrive safely via c-section". That just made me mad b/c in a "normal" twin delivery with head down presentation, there is no more risk of complications with c-section vs. vaginal delivery. Luckily he was not my primary doctor and my ob was all about a vaginal delivery if possible. Obviously if I would have needed a c-section, I would have done it, but there was no reason in my case, I delivered vaginally, which was way easier than I thought it would be and went home less than 48 hours later with my babies in tow. Like all the pp have said, it's your decision, don't let anyone pressure you.

Good luck!