C or vaginal delivery? what's your decision

Hello, I am 36 wks 4 days now and my OB prefer me to deliver the twins (b/g) no later than week 39. He let me decide if I want to do vaginally or C section.

Both my babies are head down and Baby A (a boy) is bigger than Baby B (a Girl). So, they can be vaginally delivered in theory. My babies have big heads, esp Baby A (several weeks ahead of his gestational age in 35wks ultrasound though tech told me it is not very accurate due to the position. His head is always big in past ultrasound, 2 wks ahead). I am afraid it is hard to deliver him vaginally at week 38.

Lots of my friends suggest me to do C section just to be safe. I wonder any twins moms have similar situation and can share your opinion with me. I am more concerning about the baby B's condition. I heard during vaginally delivery, baby B may be stressed.

Thank you!

 

This is just my opinion, but a vaginal delivery is the way to go. Most people are not given the option since both head are not always down. Ultrasound measurements can be off as much as 2-3 weeks in the gestational age and 2-3 pounds off in weight.

I was happy to have had a vaginal birth in retrospect because of how busy I was after they were born and not having a tough recovery period to go through. I have never had a C-section as the twins are my only children, but from what I hear recovery can be really tough and it would be more stressful having to deal with that and having to deal with being a new mommy to two!

Good luck and reaching a decision! Remember to trust your instincts...you are the one that knows best!

 

The BEST thing for the babies is to come through the birth canal. It clears their lungs and introduces them to some helpful bacteria. That said, there are risks... but a c-section also has risks. A c-section is major surgery. I would have prefered not to have had my c-section (which went fine) but my babies had a lot to say about that... twin A was breech. Good luck with your decision. I remember reading here a long time ago about a woman who asked the doctor which is best for the babies. The answer was: as long as everything looked favorable (as it does in your case), a vaginal delivery is best.

 

Vaginal! I too had the option, and chose vaginal. Baby A paves the way for baby B. Baby B should not get that stressed as usually they come soon after baby A. Mine followed within two minutes, and I too had fraternal boy/girl twins. I agree with the reasons listed above by other posters, better for the baby and so much easier to recover from. I was up and showering within the hour, walking around within two hours, and I had a huge lunch with 30 minutes of delivering! I have had some pain, albeit minimal compared to surgery on the abdomen, but it's to be expected when you deliver two babies!

 

Mine are both head down and I am opting for vaginal. I am nervous about Baby B going into distress and also the possibility of having to deliver B via c-section if something goes wrong - that would be a nightmare to recover from both vaginal and caesarian. However, I think there are health benefits to the babies of vaginal and that is the way nature intended. There can be issues with recovery either way so I'm just basing it on what I think will be best for the babies and that is vaginal.

 

I know it's a difficult decision to make. I am 36 weeks today and both of our babies are head down. I have not been given a choice (we have to do it vaginally because they are both head down) but if it were indeed up to me, I would still go vaginally. I have read so much about the recuperation time being much quicker with a vaginal delivery and given the fact that I will need to be on my game to care for twins, I'd rather not have major abdominal surgery if I can avoid it.

Best of luck with your decision. Let us know how it goes!

 

I'm a huge fan of the c-section - both my singletons were elective c-sections and I thought they were super easy, easy recovery, etc. You'll hear horror stories both ways, as well as fabulous experiences both ways. My experience both times was 100% positive.

I am scheduled for my twins' c-section on 9/1 at nearly 39 weeks.

 

I have a c-section scheduled for next Thursday (yaaaayyyy). I could have gone either way since both are head-down and would probably elect for a vaginal delivery if I go in earlier on my own and am already dilated. However, I have heard nothing but good experiences from friends and relatives about C-sections and will do that (don't want to have baby B flip once A is out and then have to go for both!). But that's me... Good luck with your decision either way!

Erin

 

If both of your babies are head down, I would say vaginally!! My baby A is head down and my baby B is transferse and I still want to deliver vaginally or at least try. I know there is a risk of of having baby B emergency csection, but I know a vaginally delivery is better for the babies, and for mom. That is awesome both of your babies are head down and ready to go. I pray you have a great delivery no matter what you decide! I just figure our bodies were made to have babies, so why not go that route if possible. Also I have been having all these braxton hicks and it is my body preparing for labor

Either way you will do great!! I can't wait to hear about your babies arrival!

 

In Holland they only do a c-sec if there is a medical reason.
For twins you always have to go to hospital and seen by a gyn.
With singeton you see a midwife and have a home-birth, ofcourse if there are no problems

 

I had a c section after having 2 vaginal births. Being that I have had both I'd say that if conditions are favorable for a vaginal go vaginal. I didn't have any problems with my c section but like someone else said vaginal is better. If you do go with a c section, make sure that you are up and moving around don't rely on meds and don't sip from a straw...it'll give you painful gas (air in the abdomen) Good luck!

 

I vote vaginally for sure! It's better for the baby and there is no reason why you couldnt' deliver that way! Quicker recovery time for sure!!

 

Hello,

I am currently 29 weeks and both babies have been head down for about 4 weeks. If they stay like that we will go with a vaginal birth! I have had 2 successful, uncomplicated vaginal births so I think that will be the way to go!

 

I had a vaginal delivery at 35 weeks, with Baby B breach. My doc wanted to do it that way, and I delivered in a surgical room just in case there were any complications. My recovery was incredibly easy -- even better than vaginal delivery of my first child.

The doc couldn't turn Baby B, so he delivered him breach, and everything was just fine.

 

The best mode of delivery is the one that's right for you. If you approach either type of delivery with solid research, confidence and calm, that will be the best one for you and your babes. This is not a decision to make by default - sure, circumstances change and you'll have to adjust - but this is a big life event for you. Don't be swayed by other peoples opinions. Think it over careful and come to peace with how you want to welcome your babes.

FWIW, I couldn't come to terms with the idea of surgical delivery. It really upset me, because I was being pressured into it by a hospital with an 80% twin c/s rate. I KNEW I didn't need a c/s. My babies and I were healthy, well monitored all through the pregnancy and both head down. Because my situation was so favorable for a vag. delivery, my doctors agreed to let me "try." That would have been the worst: trying to fall in the 20% that manages to do everything right and gets the delivery I wanted. So I found a midwife and had a homebirth. Everything went smoothly, and my girls were born alert at 39 weeks. There was an hour between births, but my Baby B never showed any stress. Her water was intact until my MW broke it right before I pushed her out. Her heart rate was perfect all the way through. No tearing or problems for me either!

As you can tell, I'm a huge fan and advocate of vaginal twin births. And I have some good reasons to be. There are also some good reasons for elective c/s, especially for twin moms. BUT, way more important than the differences between the two types of delivery is your outlook. You've got to decide what's right for you.

Best wishes!

 

I told my OB at my first visit that there was no way on God's green Earth that I was pushing two babies out and she didn't argue. She delivered my first and knows first hand how difficult delivery and recovery was for me...I was out of it for about 10 weeks. My friend who had a c-section w/ her twins was in much better shape a lot sooner than I was. I think it depends on the individual but for me, I really want to enjoy my babies a lot sooner than I was able to enjoy my first since I'll have to go back to work in 3 months. I also don't want to risk pushing one out and then having to have a c-section for the 2nd...that would be my worst nightmare.

 

I would choose a vaginal birth if I can but at the end of the day I've told my midwife what ever is best for the babies.

 

With my boys I was not given a choice as their cords were very tangled and knotted. A vaginal deliver most likely would have been fatal for one or both of them.

However - if we'd not had that complication, I would have tried absolutely everything in my power to have a vaginal delivery, especially knowing what I went through after my c-section with them. I will be completely honest and say that it was awful. I had complications - needed a blood transfusion, was sick for days, had a hematoma and had to be attached to a wound vac for 4 weeks. I was miserable.

But - the most important thing is that you do what is right for #1 your babies and #2 you. Good luck with your decision!!

 

I agree 100% with Gena - above. I'm the crazy one on here who loves c-sections, but I honestly believe that attitude is a HUGE factor in what your experience will be ... Sure, there are things that can and may happen that are beyond your control - crazy reactions to anesthesia or awful post-op gas with a c, significant tearing with lasting effects with the other method - but I am a big believer in researching your options and choosing what is best for you and coming up with a plan with your dr., midwife, peri.