C-Section vs Nat Birth

Hi

I posted this on the expecting, but think perhaps a better question for the moms who have already done this?

I am almost 35 weeks pregnant. Baby A is head down and ready to go while Baby B is breech. All along I have figured I would just try to go naturally. Today I had an apt, and my doctor said he needed to know what my decision was. I asked him what the chances are of delivering them both naturally. He said if it was my first labor about 20 to 30%, but because it is my second about 50% of a chance he can turn the baby.

I don't know what to do!! I really want to go natural, but I DON'T want to recover from both nat. and C-section. The fact is, if I have to have a C-section anyhow, then I may as well just to do that. I am really torn.

Has anyone had to do this? Has anyone tried to go natural and it worked? Tried and it didn't.

Any advise would be so helpful. I am a little worried now.

 

I was in the same situation. Keegan was head down and Colin breech, and my third delivery. I opted to try for a natural delivery. I ended up having an emergency c-section, I was dialated to 7 and would not go any farther. From my experience it was much harder to recover from a c-section. If I had the choice again I would try to have a natural delivery and not automatically opt for a c-section. My second delivery was my fastest, easiest delivery of the three - I hope the same for you! Best Wishes!

 

That's a hard question. I freaked out about the exact same thing. My baby A was head down and B was breech--and I had decided to go ahead and try for the natural birth. Luckily my baby B flipped at 36 weeks (ouch) and I delivered both naturally with no problems. Good luck on whatever you decide

Reyna

 

I was in the same situation and twin B (breach) was actually a little bigger, so we did worry about that somewhat. But everything turned out great. I did a vaginal birth in the OR (just in the case twin B turned into a C section) but both babies were born without incident in record time. It doesn't hurt to try a vaginal birth. Either way, the most important thing in the world to me was 2 healthy babies, no matter how they made their entrance.

 

both of my babies were head down and I tried naturally but baby b woudldn't let baby 1 drop and baby a had the cord wrapped around her neck. So I had to have a c-section. But I am still glad I tried so I dont have to regret it. I would recommend trying if you want. Also baby B can flip on its own after baby a is delivered. That is what my dr was worried about even both were head down. I think drs just try to be over cautious.

 

I was in the same situation as you up until 34 weeks. Baby A was vertex and baby B was breech. I was going to go for natural mainly b/c my docs were also comfortable allowing baby B to deliver breech. If your doc insists on a c/s if he can't get baby B to turn then I'd be more hesitant to go for natural delivery. What if he can't get baby B to turn? will he try to pull her/him out breech or allow you to push her/him out breech? As it stood with me my baby A flipped breech at 34 weeks...so it was c/s for me. It wasn't horrible, but it also wasn't a piece of cake. My vbac with my fourth dd was my easiest recovery!! If you hope to have any more kids I'd go for vaginal just to try to avoid vbac concerns.

 

I could not decide if I wanted a C Section or not, I went into labor and I still had not decided! I didn't decide until I was in the hospital and had been in labor for 6 hours and the contractions were so bad I just wanted them OUT! I also was very scared of having both a natural delivery AND a C Section. But in the delivery suite I discussed it with my OB and she said she was willing to try either way and left it up to me and DH. As she was leaving the room the last thing I asked her was "Which is better for the babies?" And she replied that traveling down the birth canal is what's best for the babies, if they are able to do it, so with that I decided to try for a natural delivery and was so glad I did!!! The delivery was so much easier than I had anticipated. But when they did my u/s in the hospital both of my babies had turned head-down, so the doctor didn't end up having to flip either baby, they both stayed head-down throughout the delivery. So maybe you will also have a baby that flips at the last minute! I would definitely try for a vaginal birth if you can though!

 

I had the choice of natural or c-section but I went ahead and chose the c-section. I felt that there were more risks to me than to the babies with the surgery than the other way around. Mine were identical so I'm not sure if it would be the same risk if yours are in two separate sacs. I had just been through so much with the pregnancy that I didn't want to jeopardize their safety in the very end. My recovery was not that difficult, however I have nothing to compare it to. I was terrified that I would have to recover from both as well...EEK!

Another thing that influenced my decision was that even my doctor (after a pelvic exam) warned me of how difficult delivery might be for me due to the very small amount of space in that area. She said I'd better pray that the baby has a tiny head (at the time, we thought there was only one). So all things considered, I was pretty confident in my decision and I must say, I'll probably opt for a c-section the second time around too. I'm just a chicken

 

Same situation and I am a tried and it didn't but if I was put in the same situation again I would not change anything, I would still attempt vaginal delivery. Recovering from both really wasn't that bad although being my only pregnancy I don't have anything to compare it to.

 

I was in the same situation, until my baby B flipped just before 35 weeks. If he had stayed breech, however, my decision would have been based on how comfortable the delivering doctor was with the situation -- some docs are skilled/comfortable at delivering a breech baby B, and some are not. I would have tried for a vaginal delivery with a skilled doc.

The decision was taken out of my hands at 35 weeks, though, when I had a placental abruption -- NOT good -- so the babies arrived via emergency C-section.

Like you, I delivered my older DD vaginally, and it was WORLDS easier than recovering from the C-section. It took months and months before I felt normal again this time, and I'm still not 100%.

So, I would definitely attempt the vaginal delivery, provided you have faith that your doc can get you through it....

 

If you want to try for a vaginal, I would do it. You would probably have a 50-50 chance it working out and if it does, that would awesome! C-sections are hard to recover from.

 

i would try vaginal. My baby B was transverse and dr. got her to move head down. Not exactly the same but I feel you shoudl go for it!

 

I think I may have replied to your post in the Expecting Forum, but I'm not sure.

I was induced for a vaginal delivery at 38 weeks. Baby A was head down, and Baby B was breech and eventually transverse. My Dr was very comfortable allowing a vaginal delivery and said since Baby B was smaller, she may flip on her own after Baby A was delivered and she had more room or they could reach up and "yank her out" (isn't that delicate?) or attempt an external version if needed.

Like another PP I delivered in the OR on an operating table in case they needed to do a section, but Baby A came out in two pushes and Baby B was delivered 9 minutes later after a relatively painless external version and a few more pushes.

Good Luck. I would make the same choice all over again.
Suzi

 

My doctor also gave us the option of a c-section. At my last ultrasound (I think it was around 35 weeks) by daughter was head down and low and my son was transverse and on top. My doctor said if my son didn't flip head down, he would not attempt a breech delivery with the 2nd one and would go for a c-section. I didn't want to recover from both, so I opted for the c-section. I know some people had a lot of problems with c-secitons and a long recovery, I did not. I was back up and functioning very well within 10 days of my c-section. Granted I had a lot of help at home (my parents stayed for a 1 1/2 weeks and then my husband took 1 week off after that). I might have had a different opinion if I didn't have the family help at home. I would find out what your doctor is comfortable with. If you want to try natural, I would. I was not keen on doing natural, so choosing a c-section wasn't a bid deal for me.

Good luck.

 

I did reply in the expecting forum.

Mine were both vertex, but I was a prior ER c/s after a trial of labor (and induced VBAC on the second after he flipped in the night before a scheduled c/s).

I chose a scheduled c/s because I don't go into labor well (at 37 wks I ran out of room and my cervix long and fully closed--weeks from even thinking about dialating), and the risk of pitocin was that I'd rupture and we'd all die.

Having had all three recoveries, I can say that vaginal is the easiest recovery, but scheduled c/s is a lot easier than c/s after a trial of labor, and that's even considering that I was 11 years older and had twins with the second c/s.

Not sure what I'd do in your case, since you don't have that rupture thing to worry about.

 

I SO wanted to deliver vaginally. Same situation - baby A head down low - baby B - breech. My doctor told me that vaginally may be harmful to Baby B so I decided right then and there I'd go for a c-section. Hind sight - I would have questioned him more etc. - would he be able to flip B etc. - and probably would have tried natural. My c-section recovery was a breeze. I have nothing to compare it to really - but after a week I was back to normal. That was my fear too - recovering from both vaginal and c-section. Really question your OB if you want to go natural - see how he would handle flipping etc. - I think alot of doctors - c-section is easy for them because it's scheduled, and doesn't take as long etc. - but I've read in books and these forums, that vaginal delivery can and has been done no problem.

 

I decided early on that with twins, I felt safer having a c-section. I'm a bit of a control freak so it also eased my mind by knowing a little of what was to come. Although they came over 8 weeks early and we ended up being transported by ambulance to Johns Hopkins for delivery, everything went well. I don't handle pain real well, but recovery went well. I was sore for several weeks, but not horribly unless I overdid it with too much walking or lifting. Go with your gut on this--there are so many different opinions and everyone has to discuss options with their own doctor and go with what they feel most comfortable with. My doctor was happy to do a c-section with twins and avoid the risk of having one born naturally and one by c-section.

 

James (twin B) flipped as soon as his brother was born, so that was lucky.

 

I opted for a c-section. I had the same situation- girl locked and loaded in vertex and buddy boy lounging around transverse up top. My cervix was shut as tight as a drum up to 38 weeks. Of my two OB's, one was very comfortable to let me try a natual delivery, the other was not. I wanted to be sure that I did not end up with both labor and c-section. Recoverywise, my spouse stayed home for 4 weeks but we have a very overactive 3 year old so I was mostly alone with the twins. I was picking them up from day one and going up and down the stairs 5-6 times per day. I drove myself to my first dr's appointment at 2 weeks and felt fine carrying the carseats around. I was running at 3 weeks. I think recovery from c-section depends on your pre-pregnancy health (are you fit?) and your attitude. I had really hoped for a vaginal delivery but can safely say 14 weeks out that I'm relieved I had a c-section. It eased a lot of my fears of the unknown and the babies were perfectly healthy.

 

I opted for a vaginal delivery. Baby A was head down, Baby B transverse. I asked the doc what would happen if she flipped breech and she said that they would do a breech delivery if possible b/c she was smaller than Baby A. As it turned out, once Baby A was born, she flipped breech, but they were able to quickly turn her head down and she was born 7 minutes later. I would ask your doc if they feel comfortable with a breech extraction, some do and some don't. I think it also helps if Baby A is bigger to "clear the way" so to speak. My poor son had all the scrapes and conehead while my daughter was born with a perfect round head.

 

Baby A was head down for me, and Baby B was transverse. I tried to do a vaginal delivery, and after 16 hours of labor, nothing was progressing. So I had a C-section. But I was really glad that I tried to go vaginal, even if it didn't work out. But in the long run having two healthy babies was much more important to me than how they came out.

 

QUOTE(CHJH @ Jan 4 2008, 11:50 AM) [snapback]557259[/snapback]
It doesn't hurt to try a vaginal birth.



No pun intended, right?! ha!
I just thought it was funny the way you worded that one!!

My boys were in a similar situation: A was headdown, B was transverse breech. They told me I had no choice, they wanted me to deliver vaginally since A was head down. They said that was hospital policy if A was headdown. The docs said that the majority of the cases they had seen..once A delivered, B feel free to move around and usually moved in to position.
I asked what happens if B is stubborn and refuses to cooperate with this theory, they said they can (I hope this doesn't freak you out, but it's true) reach inside me and pull him down...that freaked ME out and I hoped against hope that I wouldn't be the one telling that birth story!! I wasn't.
A delivered vaginally, then B smartened up and followed 14 minutes later...I did end up having that doc's arm inside me; but that was due to an abnormal amount of blood loss...

So...no worries!! :icon_biggrin:

 

QUOTE(kimj @ Jan 4 2008, 02:00 PM) [snapback]557560[/snapback]
I SO wanted to deliver vaginally. Same situation - baby A head down low - baby B - breech. My doctor told me that vaginally may be harmful to Baby B so I decided right then and there I'd go for a c-section. Hind sight - I would have questioned him more etc. - would he be able to flip B etc. - and probably would have tried natural. My c-section recovery was a breeze. I have nothing to compare it to really - but after a week I was back to normal. That was my fear too - recovering from both vaginal and c-section. Really question your OB if you want to go natural - see how he would handle flipping etc. - I think alot of doctors - c-section is easy for them because it's scheduled, and doesn't take as long etc. - but I've read in books and these forums, that vaginal delivery can and has been done no problem.



Do you know why exactly it would have been harmful for baby B? I suppose if that were the case if would make the decision so much easier.