can't decide whether to do a c-section or vaginal birth

baby a is head down as of now; baby b is also head down (not as down as baby a) but down.
and my peri said my doc will probably let me try to go natural if i wanted. i really have no clue what to do. i know there's pros and cons to both deliveries and just don't know how i'll push two kids out of my you know what. part of me wants to just be sectioned but i hear horror stories and 'fine' stories about the recovery.

i just don't know what to do. i know there's been postings before about what to choose but I'm not really sure what to do!

 

QUOTE(newtothis @ Apr 30 2009, 01:53 PM) [snapback]1295512[/snapback]
baby a is head down as of now; baby b is also head down (not as down as baby a) but down.
and my peri said my doc will probably let me try to go natural if i wanted. i really have no clue what to do. i know there's pros and cons to both deliveries and just don't know how i'll push two kids out of my you know what. part of me wants to just be sectioned but i hear horror stories and 'fine' stories about the recovery.

i just don't know what to do. i know there's been postings before about what to choose but I'm not really sure what to do!



Im just gonna come right out and say this. PLEASE TRY NATURAL! I know its scary. But that is what your body was MADE to do. I am being induced on sunday, and I am going to try VERY hard not to have a c section. My first was a natural delivery. Yes it hurts but the recovery is SO much easier. The c section may not hurt at the time, but you have a wound that is stapled closed that is on your body for weeks after. To me, that would be 10 x worse than any tearing from a vaginal delivery. I think if your Peri says natural, you should definately go for it. You can do this!!! your body was designed for it! the benefits to the babies are soooo great as well. THe hormonal changes that happen within YOUR body and THEIR bodies are triggered by the vaginal delivery.

Ok i could go on forever, but Ill just leave it at that.

 

how does the tearing work. do they always cut? do you always tear? does the opening always get bigger for the heads to fit out, lol?

 

QUOTE(newtothis @ Apr 30 2009, 02:02 PM) [snapback]1295525[/snapback]
how does the tearing work. do they always cut? do you always tear? does the opening always get bigger for the heads to fit out, lol?



I tore with my first, but I was also not listening to my midwife and I was pushing wrong. I pushed with my face and they were trying to get me repositioned before I DID tear. But I wasnt waiting. I pushed with all my strength ( burst blood vessels in my face.. that was lovely) and tore. My tears were quite superficial tho, and barely warrented being stitched.

No, you don't always, tear, and No they don't always cut. One thing about twins that you can be thankful for is the fact that they are generally smaller than a singleton. I know 6 different moms of twins in my town, and not one of them tore during the delivery, but tore with previous or subsequent singletons. even tho I tore ( and I tore in a weird way, i tore close to my urethra and as my DH calls it, my "love button"), the discomfort after was really quite bearable. I was up and walking a couple hours after giving birth, and doing stairs. it did make peeing a little uncomfortable, but so would having a catheter shoved up there for a csection!! The stitches came out about 7 days later ( they were the dissolving kind thank goodness) and then I was fine!

 

I'd try natural if I have the chance.. I think the babies do better as well! That being said, both are very very safe options if your doctor is comfortable, so I am sure whatever you decide you'll get healthy kids out of it!

 

I'm in the same boat where it's up to me to either try naturally or have a c-section. By me, Baby A is head down and Baby B is in an odd position... she's head down but sideways.. her feet are up, but she is actually being called transverse because she isn't completely vertex. So anyway, the OB said as long as she stays that way, I can definitely try naturally, as there is a good chance since she is tilted with her head down that she'd fall perfectly head down completely vertex once Baby A is out. However, she did warn that there's a chance I'd need a c-section for Baby B or there's a chance Baby B will go completely transverse and she'd then recommend a c-section. Bottom line, it was up to me.. I asked her what she thought and she suggested trying naturally and seeing what happens, so that is what I am going to do.

I did have a natural delivery with my first and it went smoothly, so I think that is why my OB feels confident that it should be tried. I'm scared of requiring a c-section after a natural delivery... but I feel confident in my OB's care of me and am willing to try.

In regards to tears.. I actually did have a small episiotomy with my first. It healed real well and fast.

Have you asked your delivering doc what s/he recommends for you from their perspective? That's pretty much what I did. Lots of luck to you!!!!

 

DS was born vaginally, and even though he was kind of a difficult birth (sunny side up), it wasn't bad, nor was the recovery. I was up and about (moving slowly, but moving) later that day.

As for the tearing, I think it depends on the dr., the baby, your body, etc. No, not everyone tears or needs to be cut. Supposedly perineal massage can help lower the need for either, but I have no personal experience w/ it. I did tear, but again, recovery wasn't all that bad. I recall that the little squirt bottle they give you in the hospital was my best friend for a few days, but I was feeling pretty good in no time.

I'd definitely go for the v/b if it was a safe choice. It really is what birth is designed to be for both the babies bodies and yours, too. My babies are both vertex at this point, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Eve

 

I was so happy to have all three of my boys (one singleton and the twins) vaginally. Your body wrings out their little lungs and helps their bodies prepare for the world. It is good for your body also... it's natural, good hormones getting you ready for lactatation, the list goes on. Talk to your doc but if they are giving you the go-ahead, I'd for sure try it vaginal. I hear from friends that c-sections take quite a while to heal. I was up and walking really quickly after both births. I have episiotomies with both deliveries but they were for sound medical reasons (first baby was a 31 weeker and the twins baby A was having heart rate decels). They were really no big deal for me. Take your anti-inflams the nurses offer and clean up as told.

I was so happy to be able to sit up and hold and nurse babies without being in pain!
Hope you feel good and make the right choice for you.
Merijo

 

Speaking as someone who has had two c-sections, I would really try to go for a vaginal birth, especially since both of your twins are head down. The recovery from a c-section can be really tough and I can't imagine that a tear could be as painful. I had a very quick recovery both times, but if given a choice I would definitely not have had either c-section.

 

well you know my feelings... VAGINAL of COURSE!!!! But Im glad you got to hear from a few others as well. I also liked that they mentioned some of the health benefits I was trying to explain the other day.

When I delivered the 1st twin I didnt tear at all. When I delivered his sister, she was sunny side up WITH AN ARM next to her ear. I tore the slightest bit. I was so happy to have my babies in my arms I didnt feel a thing while I got a stitch or two. Id rather have a stitch or two than staples holding my whole stomach back together.

I know you're really thinking alot about this. What does your gut say? How about your partner? Have you read the health benefits? Have you seen vidoes of how both deliveries are performed? talkied to anyone in real life who can speak from experience?

 

VAGINAL, VAGINAL, VAGINAL.....why would you want to have major surgery unless it was medically needed!!!!!

You should be thanking your lucky stars that they are both head down right now!!!!

Your body will strech and even if you tear or get "cut"...it is not as bad as you think! You heal very fast!

I am sure will will have to have an epidural (incase of needing a section) so you will not even feel all that much...and when the time comes you don't care anyway! You just want them out!!!

Good luck!

 

I had all 3 vaginal, first my oldest (9lbs+) and then the twins (15 1/2lbs combined). I did tear very badly the first time (4th degree) and again with the twins (mainly due to my son who was a breech extraction), but both times I healed very quickly. Back on my feet in days and my babies all did well from the beginning.

I would definitely go vaginal unless there was a medical reason not to.

 

thank you for all of your suggestions. so far baby a is head down and baby b they said is sideways but 'head down.' i guess that means when baby a comes out baby b should follow?
i see my OB again (not peri) next week and i'll ask again what they think. i definitely dont want to have one vaginally and the other sectioned.

 

I think this can become a heated subject but my advice is to go vaginal! You're built to birth - why not try? When I had my sons twin A was head down and twin B was breech. I had a vaginal birth, knowing that there was a slight chance of a C section for the second baby, but twin B turned immediately after his brother was born so they were both born vaginally. It was awesome! I wouldn't change it for the world.

It is my understanding that in most cases even a breech twin B was turn once he/she has some space to work with.

As for tearing, better to tear than to have surgery. And tearing doesn't always happen anyway.

 

Hi,

My girls are almost three weeks old. I was able to deliver them vaginally and I'm so happy I did. I had expected to have a c-section. It just seemed that most twin moms I knew of had c-sections. I was so scared of a vaginal birth because these are my first. The epidural really took and I didn't feel much pain at all. I did tear a little and have a few stitches, but recovery was so fast. I can't imagine what a c-section would have been like. I was up and moving before I left the hospital. I did a bit too much too fast when I got home and ended up needing some ice packs to help with the discomfort, but overall recovery was soooo very fast this way. Best of luck to you!

 

I'm with the majority here. Certainly go vaginal if Baby A remains head down. Your body is designed to give birth and it is an AMAZING experience. I have had three previous v/g and am hoping that these little ladies cooperate so I can experience one more. I actaully lothe the thought of possibly HAVING to have an epidural, let alone a c/s!
I tore a little with my first but it was nothing major. All I can say is do your KEGELS! I somewhat did them during my second pregnancy but did them religiously with my youngest and you would not believe how easy my delivery with him was and there was absolutely no tearing. Obviously some of that was probably due to him being #3.
I know it is a scary thing to think about but really your body does most of the work. Your cervix opens up and allows that baby to move on down. You push out the head then the shoulders (which is the biggest feeling of relief) and then all of the sudden you have this beautiful baby on your chest that you have just brought into this world. It is a REALLY AWESOME feeling.
When I was pregnant for my DS my sister-in-law was pregnant as well. She ended up having to have a c-section and her recovery was much more painful and longer than mine. I had my son at 9 in the morning and by noon I was up and walking around feeling great.

I hope you really consider a vaginal birth but whatever you decide I wish you all the luck and can't wait to hear about the arrival of your wonderful babies!

 

The only thing you may want to ask your doc is if you start vaginally and you then have to have a c-section with twin B, will you have to go under general anasteshia. My doc says I will and also my husband would then have to leave during that. I have twin A down and twinb B transverse with her back down. Doc will check morning of my section, but she said she also will not do any external manipulation anymore.

 

I would say VAGINAL if your OB allow you to do so
I had first c-sectin and for me the vaginal delivery - impossible OB doesn't allow me.

 

Well call me crazy i would go c-section but thats the only way i have ever had a child .. some people say oh the recovery is so hard ! its not its only as hard as you make it i was up walking the same night i was wanting to get to my boys soo badly .. but really its a choice nobody can make for you other than your self and daddy to be go the way you feel most comfortable doing you know what your body can do better than anyone !

 

It lookes like you have got lots of good advice. I kinda was nervous about trying vaginally, I mean really nervous. So nervous that I didn't want to even try it. I did, but i didn't dialate due to a band around my cervix, and i had to have a c/s. Hindsite i really wish that i would have dialated because i feel like the recovery would have been easier, and that I wouldn't have felt like i missed part of my delivery. Granted i had the worst possible situation. My epi didn't work on one side when they went to do the c/s and so I had to be completly put under, which really sucks!! I didn't have that bonding that i wish i could have had.

I hope that you are able to at least try vaginally, and that it goes well for you..

 

I had a vaginal delivery with baby A vertex and baby B breech. They were tiny at 4.14 and 4.4 so it was really easy after my first at 8.7. No tearing even with a breech birth. I was up within the hour taking a shower and off to be with babies. I did have a rough labor because the Epi failed and the anesthesiologist was in an emergency case. 8 hours on Pit was not fun but the outcome was well worth the pain.

The recovery was SO easy. I felt a little bruised for 2 days. That's it. Not even a Motrin needed. If you can try vaginally, it's worth it. I also want to stress the health benefits to you and the babies. Labor lets all of the hormones to fire and really gets you ready to BF and the little ones to start life on the outside. Any head start you can give twins is a very good thing.

Try not to be nervous - birth is a miraculous experience no matter how it heppens.

 

I had a c-section for the twins and then I've had two vaginal births with my 9 1/2 lb boys. The vaginal births were a breeze compared to the c-section. I didn't even have any c-section complications but the recovery is so different from a vaginal birth that I can't even really compare them. After my vaginal births I was eating within 1/2 an hour (after not getting food for a while I was starved!), I was walking within the hour, and felt generally good. There was a little soreness but it was light and gone within a few days. The c-section scar actually hurt, made it difficult to walk for over a week, and required narcotic pain relievers. Huge difference between the two. If I had twins again, I would do everything I could to avoid a c-section even if it meant there was the chance I may do a vaginal birth followed by a c-section. Then at least the first twin would get the respiratory benefits (they are both immediate and long-term) of being born vaginally. IMO, c-sections shouldn't be used unless you have no other option because it is major surgery. Ultimately though, it is your choice though so do what is best for your family as a whole. Good luck!

 

I was in the same position as you and I went for a vaginal birth. I´m so glad I did as I really feel I accomplished something. I did give birth in 4 hours start to finish though! I made it clear to my OB that I didn´t want both and he was confident I could go vaginal. The recovery time is so much faster and with twins, you need to be functioning pretty quickly. GL with your decision!

 

I'm all for VB too! I didn't read all the responses, but my OB told me and this happened to my sil... If baby b doesn't start to come out on it's own, they reach in and pull is out. Sounds scary but I'd pick that over a c-section any day! I'm PRAYING that my baby a stays head down so I can at least deliver one vaginally!!

Good luck to you!