C-section or vaginal delivery?

Ladies,what do you think is it better C-section or vaginal delivery for babies and mom?
My doctro said that is better vaginal delivery if the both babies are heads down.
I know that a lot of women choose c-section,but I want vaginal delivery if both babies are heads down.
What is your opinion and your experience?
Thanks
Warmly,
Vesna

 

My baby A was head down and baby B was transverse. My OB said we could do vaginal as long as baby A was head down. My labor was fast and furious. I got to the hospital at 135am and had baby A at 2am and B 2:09 breech delivery. No pain meds, no time, but it was a great experience. I recovered well, both babies came home with us! I have had all my babies vaginal. My OB says that vaginal is the best option and safest option for both baby and mom. Good luck!!

 

My personal opinion is that assuming there are no medical complications, no to low intervention vaginal delivery is safest & healthiest for mom & babe(s). There are a lot of specific reasons I feel this way, but it can best be summed up with it's how we as a species are designed to birth & more often than not, it works beautifully the way it's designed & offers many benefits during the postpartum period.

 

I did a C-section. I fully plan on going with a VBAC if I can. Oh, & up until this pregnancy I've been terrified of vaginal birth. But I hated my C-section birth so much that I'm going to push through my fear and go for it. I also had a 'typical' C-section recovery and did not enjoy it. I do feel that babies born vaginally is better for baby and mom under normal circumstances (obviously C-sections are lifesavers every day for babies and moms in unusual circumstances).

 

I'm planning on vaginal delivery as long as Twin A is still head down - Twin B floats between transverse and breech but the doctor has said that as long A is head down, B can still change position as she will have more room to move after A comes out.

If Baby A was in breech position it would be a different story altogether as then they will have to do c-s.

I'm absolutely terrified of being "cut open" and then the recovery afterwards is not ideal I hear. So I'm doing my best to make sure Baby A stays where she has been for the past 8 months lol.. but things can change at the last minute..

 

If both babies are head down, I would definitely say a vaginal birth. I have had both a vag and c-section and the vaginal birth was a much easier recovery.

 

I'm on the fence about this!!! I don't know what I want. I'm only 12 weeks so I got a good while to decide. I had a vaginal birth with my daughter and the recovery was so quick and I was up and moving right away. I have heard scary things about c-sections, but I am scared of trying to go for a vaginal birth and something going wrong. A planned c-section sounds like things would be more, well...planned. I have heard that you're not supposed to go up stairs after a c-section and we live in a townhouse! Our bedrooms and shower is upstairs. I'd LOVE to hear more stories on here about those who had vaginal births!

 

I think you've summed up the issue right here - no matter what choices are made there's always the potential for something to go wrong. And that can cause a lot of anxiety when trying to make choices in advance. For myself, I found it helpful to look at the benefits of both options as well as the risks. During my first pregnancy, I realized that the only time the benefits (for me) of a c-birth would outweigh the risks is if my or the babe(s) lives were in clear and imminent danger. Which is why I refused my OB's recommendation for a c-birth. She was only able to give me a list of things that may go wrong during the birth not anything that was currently wrong. Over time, I realized that my feeling was that if any one of those things actually went wrong during the birth, I would be more than okay with a c-birth at that time, but chances were very much in my favor that nothing was going to go wrong. And in the end, nothing did. I had a beautiful unmedicated vag delivery of both girls, the only complication being that they came 6 weeks early.

My OB came to see me before discharge & commented on how lucky I was. That really bothered me because my feeling is that birth works the vast majority of the time - we aren't lucky when it goes exactly how it's supposed. I think we're lucky to live in a time & a place that when the rare, serious complication does occur, we have medical options available to us to save lives. That's where luck comes into play.

 

So Rachel, then the women who ended up with c-births weren't unlucky? They did something wrong? And you did something right? It often is luck--especially in a twin birth. How are babies positioned. How does labor progress. I had two head down babies, and my water broke. I still ended up with a csection. And I get so sick of the constant feedback that I somehow didn't let my body do its job? My body wasn't interested. And all the jazz about how birth works great most of the time without intervention? It doesn't. Pre-medical intervention, the infant mortality rate was huge.

Anyway, in situations where it is possible, vaginal birth is absolutely better. In situations where it is not, a csection is fine. I'd love to see a comparison of the number of infant deaths from ill advised VBACs vs. deaths from csections. I've never heard of a case involving the latter. The former happens all the time.

 

My OB's office said I would deliver vaginal if baby A was head down. She was the determining factor in how they would deliver. Since she was breech, I did have a c-section. For me, I was only concerned about a safe delivery for the babies, so which ever way that was...was fine with me. Vaginal is an easier recovery.
Mamita, part of my instructions post-operation was not being allowed to go up stairs. Impossible...because to go to the bathroom, I either had to go up or down stairs.

 

You can go up and down stairs. you just need to limit trips and go very slow.

 

I requested a c-section and to be honest, the recovery wasn't bad, the surgery itself wasn't that bad (I had anesthesia issues but I do for every surgery I've had.)

I was walking the next day, within a week I was walking the babies around the neighborhood (sunlight therapy for jaundice) and stopped taking pain meds within three days, (they didn't work anyway.) I had a smooth surgery and a smooth recovery (and I got my tubes tied at the same time) and if by some strange reason I became pregnant again? I'd ask for another c-section. I had and still have no desire to go through labor.

 

I had two c-sections. After the twins, I refused pain meds the next morning (they gave me naproxen). I had a c-section with my first because he was transverse and had no interest at 39 weeks of going head down. My doctor did not do v-bac so I had a c-section with the twins. With a c-section, you are up the next day but your recovery is based on how you recover from surgeries/etc.

That being said, if my oldest had been head down, I would not have done an elected C because surgery is hard on the body. I think you need to wait because there are so many things that can change or not change. I think it is too early to plan now.

 

Babies are born healthier when they get squeezed through the birth canal. I had a good c-section with the twins because the presenting twin was breech. I did not want it, but I recovered just fine and had no complications. I had a VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section) for my 10 pound baby. On the way home from the hospital I totally said to my hubby that I would do that again in a heartbeat!!! There is recovery for both, especially after pushing out a 10 pound baby. A c-section is major surgery. Good luck with your decision.

 

Which type of delivery is "better" is a very loaded question, and there can't be a universal answer. Despite anything I say below, there are lots and lots of solid reasons to have a surgical birth, especially with twins. I can respect a twin mom's preference for a c/s, and I would have chosen surgery in a heartbeat if I had thought we needed it. Thankfully we didn't.

Here's how I looked at it, and my experience:

Of course primary importance was the health and safety of my babes, and secondarily myself. I did a lot of research and had an amazingly healthy di-di pregnancy, my twins were both head down from about 34 weeks onwards. But I didn't like the way I was treated by my OBs. They threatened fetal death whenever I asked questions. My hospital, as wonderful as it was, had an 80% twin c/s rate. There's no reason it should be that high, and as a first time mom with a family history of late, long labors, I didn't want to fight my way through birth. So I started parallel care with a midwife. If anything had developed that was a concern, I would have dropped the midwife. As it was, things went well and I had a great home birth. If there had been a legitimate medical reason for a hospital, I would not have hesitated. We live one mile away from Children's Hospital.

In my mind, for my healthy pregnancy, choosing a c/s was choosing a 100% chance of small problems. Small problems like recovering from major surgery, dealing with infants who were by definition born before they were ready and without the benefit of going through the birth canal. An unmedicated vaginal birth had the good likelihood that everything would go well - intact mom and babes choosing their own time, best start to breastfeeding, etc. Either birth had the remote possibility of a bad outcome.

We had lots of back-up plans in place, and very experienced attendants. Birth went smoothly, no tears for me, high apgars for the girls, everything went well. Labor was long and dysfunctional, but that was just hard on me, the babes tolerated it well and were monitored by doppler frequently. Nothing's perfect.

I'm very pleased with my choice, and glad that everything worked out that vaginal delivery was an option for us.

Good luck whatever you choose. Make the right choice for your family, which may have to change with changing circumstances, and then don't worry about it. Yeah, birth is really important, but there are lots of things about being a parent that are important.

:youcandoit:

 

I had a vaginal delivery with both pregnancies. My singleton and first delivery went horrible, it was long, painful (even with meds) and she ended up being pulled out with forceps...my recovery sucked-I had all sorts of complications.
Somehow I managed to put all that aside and had a vaginal delivery with the twins (both were heads down) and it was so EASY, I guess I knew more what to expect and everything about it was different/better.
So either way vaginal/c-section there can be complications or it can go smoothly-every one is different.
Good luck with your decision.
I can say my OB wouldnt do a c-section unless there was a medical reason.

 

My apologies Rachael - that was not my meaning at all, although re-reading what I wrote, I definitely see the implication there. My point was that I believe birth does work beautifully when left to itself, most of the time - the times when things outside of our control happen (transverse baby, prolapsed cord, placental abruption, no progress etc) we are very, very lucky to live in a time & a place where there are options available to us that save lives. 100 years ago, any of those situations would have likely resulted in the death of mom, baby or both.

In terms of your own personal experience, in no way whatsoever would I say or suggest that there was anything wrong with your body. I wasn't there in the room and even if I were, I don't have the medical training to necessarily understand all the variables of what happened and why a decision for a c-birth was reached. I know that no matter what, I would have offered support, comfort & encouragement through the entire process. I also know that you are an intelligent woman who cares deeply for her children & that you would only make decisions that were right & good for all of you. I don't think you were unlucky that things didn't line up for a safe vaginal birth - I think you were lucky to have an option that allowed you & your babies to live.

In regards to maternal & infant mortality rates before modern medicine, I would argue that many, if not most, of those deaths were the result of poor hygiene practices & rampant rates of infection, not an inherent problem with the birth process itself. As for infant mortality rates in the VBAC or repeat c-birth discussion I found this review. "We found, even after controlling for a wide array of confounders, that for low-risk women, the adjusted odds ratio for neonatal mortality was 36% higher for repeat cesareans compared to VBAC." That 36% is the relative risk - the absolute risk for both choices is still very, very, very low. They do point out that one of the problems with their methodology is the lack of reporting of certain factors (like whether those opting for a repeat c-birth had additional indications over & above having had a prior c-birth that influenced their choice) and state that more research needs to be done in this area. Which I fully agree with.

Anyway, I do believe that birth works & works well most of the time. I also know that there are times when things completely outside of our control happen that necessitate medical intervention & that I am grateful to have that option available to me. I am frustrated with our current L&D system's rate of routine intervention - all interventions in labour have potential negative side effects (including something as innocuous as routine IVs), so why are these interventions being done routinely on most women regardless of their individual risk factors & what's actually happening in their own individual labour? When an outside factor is introduced without a clear need for the benefit of that outside factor, we are then exposed to all of the risks without any clear gain. I believe there is a problem with our system, not with birth, or with women.

 

Thanks Rachel. I'm not personally offended by anything you said. Just asking questions to further the discussion. I think too often it goes to this place of vaginal birth being a triumph and csections being a failure, and I don't like that dialogue. I don't think women should feel that sections are only an option in imminent danger of death. Personally, I like to stay far away from imminent danger of death.

 

You said exactly how I sometimes feel I am perceived when I discuss my section with friends who had vaginal deliveries.

In any event, we were advised to have a c-section because of Samantha's gastroschisis. There is research indicating that gastroschisis can be delivered successfully (and I guess it was back before people knew about it pre-birth). The docs at UNC had no experience with it and didn't like the combination of twins/gastroschisis. I was okay with it.

I was put all the way under during surgery since my epidural didn't take. I really have no complaints about the c-section or recovery. It was my first major surgery as well.

 

I delivered vaginally for both pregnancies and I loved it. The recovery was so fast and with the twins it helped that I didn't have surgery bc they were transferred to a NICU 1 hour away and I was discharged 12 hours after birth to go be with them. I know had I had a c/s there is no way they would have discharged me so fast.

I also agree that if both babies are head down I would go for the vaginal and just don't be upset if a c/s occurs. I do think hospitals are being monitored much more closely to the % of c/s rates than they previously have been.

 

I completely agree with you that I dislike the dialogue of vag births being a triumph & c-births being a failure - I think a triumphant birth is any one in which the mom & her partner feel confident, supported in & empowered by their choices as they begin their new life as a family.

I also agree that women shouldn't feel that c-births are only an option in imminent danger of death - they should feel they're an option at any time that they've been informed of the risks & benefits of their options & feel that a c-birth is the best choice for them. For myself, my personal evaluation of the risks & benefits of c-birth results in me preferring to avoid a c-birth unless death were the only other option. Others will clearly look at those same risks & benefits & reach a different conclusion. What I wish for all women approaching birth is peace, calm & confidence in their body, in their caregivers & in their options.

 

When I had my twins over 5 years ago my ob said he'd do vaginal as long as the 1st twin was head down. He said he'd minipulate the 2nd twin from the outside if need be. He only pushed on my left side to align Eli. He was up against it. GL! I'd do vaginal if you can!

 

Well, this is the kind of post where you know that the discussion is going to get very personal before you even read it. Although I think the original poster's question was intended to be innocent, there was probably a more appropriate word to use than "better." I honestly find these types of discussions to be a bit obnoxious (the same as the 'should I breastfeed or formula feed' and 'are your twins "natural" or from fertility treatments' discussions) because there is invariably a camp who thinks they do it "better."

I don't think there is a "better" option. I think it's completely based on personal choice and medical circumstances/considerations. Fortunately, it did not matter to me how my babies arrived in this world. All that mattered to me was that they arrived safely. I almost didn't get that. A c-section helped saved the lives of my tiny babies. A vaginal birth would have surely resulted in additional trauma - or worse - given my circumstances. Had they not arrived so early and had the stars aligned, I would have attempted a vaginal birth. Now this time around I have no choice but a repeat section because of the way I was cut. If I did have a choice, I probably would elect a c-section. My recovery was not so bad.

I just really think that each woman and her partner need to have this discussion amongst themselves (and their providers) and make the decision that's personally best for them. It's no one's place to go on and on about how one is "better" than the other and in so doing, really just make the other camp feel like they're inferior.

 

Thank you ladies for taking of your time to answer my question.It is such a pleasure to be part of this forum.
Love,
Vesna

 

Well, I'm not the orignal poster but I'm happy this was posted. I guess I don't understand why it's obnoxious, maybe I haven't been on these boards long enough. I like being able to read other women's personal experiences with vag birth/c-sections. I know we can always discuss it with our doctors, but it's great to be able to come online with other women who have had twins and see what their experience was. I'm so happy to have found this site!

 

I don't think anyone took any offense at the OP. Just another vaginal vs csection conversation! Fairly calm and respectful actually.

 

My dear ,I didn't understand it either,but I just jump that post.
Once again ladies thanks for your help
Love,
Vesna

 

I just had my 2 nd c section. It was not bad at all and honestly if ever given the choice again I would choose c section!

 

I had a vaginal delivery of my twins - baby A was head down, baby b was breech. The doctors were willing to deliver vaginally as long as baby A was head down. I am glad I had a vaginal delivery because the recovery was so easy... I was feeling myself again 2 weeks after the birth, and had very little pain within a few days afterwards (though I had major swelling for a week, that was due to the induction rather than having a vaginal birth I think).

My mother pushed me hard to schedule a c section, I think because she had had 2 c sections with both of her babies and so it was kind of what she knew and felt comfortable with. She kept telling me that recovery from a vaginal birth would be just as hard as a c section if they did an episiotomy... but at least for me that wasn't true, because they did do an episiotomy during my birth and I still recovered very easily (though the doctor told me that the cut was very small for an episiotomy). There are some advantages to a planned c section... knowing when you will deliver (assuming you don't go into labor beforehand!), not having to worry about having one baby vaginally and one baby via c section (this was a big fear for me).

Overall though, I think it's best to do a vaginal delivery IF your babies present correctly for it and your doctor advises it. I was lucky to have a great doctor that pushed me to do a vaginal delivery because she knew that was what I wanted... even when I was begging for a c section because labor was so painful! The delivery itself took about 2 hours of pushing for me but honestly now that it's done I don't think about the pain, just the babies.

 

thank you dear Keirin