c-section vs. vaginal delivery

HI! I just posted this message on the Expecting Forum, and then I thought it might be a better suited question in the First Years Forum.

This is only my 2nd post in the TS forum, however it has been a great support system reading the forums. I am currently 37w 2d pregnant with fraternal twins. I have an induction date set for Wednesday, June 27. We are attempting for a vaginal delivery.

Currently, Baby A is head down and Baby B is transverse. My ob strongly encouraged me for a vaginal delivery, since he feels he can flip Baby B around once Baby A is delivered. We have a lot of faith in him, he delivered our first two girls and is an amazing doctor.

However, yesterday they went through all the scenarios that could happen and they scared me. Should I just do the c-section??? I just want what is best for the babies. I am hoping to hear the good and the bad of vaginal birth deliveries with Baby b being in a breech or transverse position. Thank you !!! Vicki

 

Hi, I certainly can't tell you what to decide, but I was in the exact same situation. Baby A was head down, B was transverse. I was very confident that my doctor could guide Baby B head down and that's exactly what he did. I had a sucessful vaginal delivery.

Just like you I was terrified of the complications and the thought of having to have a C-Section after giving birth to A vaginally. It really scared me that that I had to deliver in the operating room too, instead of my nice cozy birthing suite!

It worked out for me and I hope it works out for you too!

 

My situation was a bit different, Baby A was breech, so there was no question about deliver, I had an emergency C at 33+3. BUT.... it went really well and I was very happy with it. So if you do have to have a C, whether by choice or not, it can be a very positive experience.

 

I was in a similar situation. Baby A was head down and Baby B was breeched. My doctor is very experienced and she made sure I labored long enough so that once Baby A was delivered, there will be enough room for Baby B to follow. During labor, Baby B turned to the head down position, however, after I delivered Baby A, Baby B decided to flip right back around. They tried for almost 40 mins to turn Baby B around, with no success. So my Dr. waited a few minutes so Baby B can relax, then 15 mins later Baby B was delivered feet first without any problems. I had/have total faith in my Dr. and knew that if there were any problems, she would do what is best for the baby and me.

 

I was induced with both head down but, ended up with an emergency c section. However, I just know that I would not want to deliver vaginally and then after all that have to end up delivering the second one by c section. I know this does not help give you a definite scenario but, this is just my opinion.

 

My ob said unless thy are both head down, I would have a csection. He said baby b can really move around after baby a comes out and sometimes makes baby b more difficult to come out. I trusted my dr.s views on this so I was at peace with having a csection when at the end they were not both head down. It sounds like your dr is very comfortable with a vaginal. I think if my dr. said to me what our dr did, and I had him deliver other chidren of mine like yours did, I think I would have went with what he was saying.

Just want to say that not knowing any difference, having a csection was fine for me.

 

I was in the exact same situation, except Baby B was totally breach (and bigger than Baby A). We had a wonderful vaginal delivery - the baby flipped at the last minute (yeah James!). I gave birth in the OR, just in case it turned into a C section. Baby A was born about 14 hours after the induction began, and baby B popped out 8 minutes after his brother. It was a perfect day and I wouldn't change a thing (I had an epidural at about 8 cm which was FANTASTIC - I almost proposed to the doctor who administered it!).
Best of luck. Sounds like your doctor will take good care of you. My advice is to just go with the flow. I had no expectations, I just went along with everything the doctors and nurses told me. The experience was great.

 

My baby A was head down and baby B was breech. I had a vaginal delivery for both. From what I've read external turning is far less likely to succeed than a breech extraction so that's why my doc prefers a breech extraction. I would ask your doc how experienced he is with that. Your child may flip head down once baby A is out, but in my case that didn't happen and baby B stayed breech. They reached in, grabbed his legs and pulled him out. He was born 4 minutes later, without complications although his first Apgar was 5, but a 9 a few minutes later.

It's a slightly older study but "On the basis of our experience, total breech extraction of the nonvertex second twin is preferable to external cephalic version because it appears to be associated with a significantly lower incidence of fetal distress and abdominal delivery with comparable neonatal outcome."

 

I was in a similar situation and decided to attempt a vaginal delivery. I did deliver baby A vaginally but then had a c-section with baby B. If given the scenario again I would not change a thing and still attempt for a vaginal delivery.

 

I had a vaginal delivery and baby b was breech but when baby a came out the doctors managed to turn her around. So it is possible but i say it is entirely up to you what you decide good luck! x

 

Thank you for all the replies. It was great hearing all the good birthing stories. We are going to be talking to our doctor today. I go to a practice with 9 doctors in it, however we have been fortunate that the same doc delivered my two girls will be inducing the twins. So, as long as I make it these last few days, I will be having him again which is a huge comfort to me. If he still encourages the vaginal birth, I believe we are going to try it. The recovery will be easier and I will need the most energy possible to keep up with four children. I will let everyone know what happens! THANK YOU - Vicki

 

I opted for a c-section for that very reason but when it came down to delivery day , baby A was breech and B was transverse so I would have had to have the c-section anyway!!

 

With me, both babies were head down until delivery. Then baby B turned breech. Baby A was successfully delivered vaginally then baby B was delivered by breech extraction (all 7 lbs 13 oz of him). It wasn't that bad, everything went very well & recovery time was way faster than c-section. All in all, it's a decision you have to make for yourself with your doctors because even with both heads down there are no guarantees that they will stay that way.

 

Even though both my girls were head down my doctor gave me a choice and I chose to have a c-section. For me it was the right decision I was TERRIFIED have labor and the hour that I was having contractions was more than enough for me.

It is a personal choice and you should do what you feel is best for you and your family - either way they are coming out

Good luck with whatever you decide and CONGRATS!!!

 

I say go for the vaginal...most likely you'll be in the OR regardless, so you'll have that to comfort you should something need to be done quick. And like you said, why do a c-section if not necessary. You'll recover much quicker from a vaginal. Plus you've already delivered vaginally twice, so I would guess that would increase your odds of the success with the twins. Good luck with whatever you decide! BTW, I had a c-section because Baby A was breech...it wasn't so bad either really.

 

My doc had planned on a c-section almost my entire pregnancy. Baby B was transverse or breech the entire time. Then at my 36 week appt, they did an u/s to check my fluid levels after an NST and both babies were head down (well Baby B was considered vertex but was still kind of at an angle). I delivered vaginally the next morning. Baby B decided to flip around once A was out but the doc did a breech extraction. They probably would have done a c-section but I had a very bad tear and was losing too much blood for them to do the c-section. The babies were both fine. I had a rough recovery and sometimes wonder if it would have been easier with a c-section.....

 

I too was set for induction, my water broke at 39wks 2d the day before induction. Up until then they were both head down, but when I went in the morning my water broke Ian was transverse. I did deliver vaginally as once Evan was born, Ian just moved into position...I guess there was lots of room after his brother was out. They were 6lbs 10ozs. no NICU time and I was home in 3 days just in time for Christmas...GL! You should be fine!