Delivery Question

I talked to my OB yesterday about delivery and he told me that if the baby who is first to come out is in position, but the second baby to come out is breech, that he would leave it up to me if I wanted a C-section or vaginal. Anyone know why? Is it because they can turn the second one? I know I should've asked him right then, but of course I didn't!

 

I think some doctors will try to turn the second baby. But my OB will only let me try vaginal if both are head down.

HTH!

 

yes they can turn the 2nd baby WAY easier than the first, they often just reach their arm up into your uterus and physically do it themselves. thank God for epidurals, right? plus once you've had one baby pass through, it's much easier on #2.

amy

edited to correct my bad spelling... lol

 

I've also heard that the second baby will sometimes turn on it's own once it has more room. Good luck with your babies!

 

My doctor said they could try to turn the second baby, but that they would rather do a c-section due to certain risks. I don't remember what the reasons were.... of course but I would ask your doctor. They know more!! But for me I decided to go with the safer choice and have a c-section.....

Shannon

 

Some babies turn themselves when there is room. My baby B didn't. If you check medical research, external attempts to turn are often less successful and more stressful for the baby, than a breech extraction (reach in, grab baby B by the feet and pull them out). So my hospital and doctors prefer breech extractions since it's simply faster and the sooner the second baby is out in this case, the better. My son was 4 minutes later, and although he had some trouble breathing at first, he recovered pretty quickly from his feet first delivery (Apgar 5/9). Both came home with me 2 days later and they had average singleton size birth weights (12 days early), but still my delivery was a very fast and smooth ride. I guess it helped I delivered a 9lbs+ baby before (which was not so easy for a first timer).

Breech extractions are considered very safe (if your doctor has plenty of experience) and it avoids major surgery (c/s) with all those risks. Unfortunately a lot of docs are not trained to do breech extractions these days and therefore they prefer (and say it's safer) c/s. Technically spoken this is not the case, but if your doc is not comfortable and/or experienced enough, you may have to find another doctor or accept a c/s.

 

My Baby B was a breech extraction. I was told by my OB that he would turn her if he could but when it came down to delivery he just reached in and pulled her out by her feet. She was born 4 minutes after Baby A and was completely fine...apgars 9/9. My OB said as long as A was in the right position vaginal was doable. I never even considered a c-section as Baby A was always head down (and the bigger of the two)

 

Yes they can either turn the baby, do a breech extraction or the baby my flip on it's own after the first one is out.

 

Thanks!

I'm really glad my doctor is not gung ho about a csection. I would like to do a vaginal if at all possible, so I'm glad he is more likely to just do vaginal if Baby A is lined up correctly!

 

I'm very glad that my doctor too is very comfortable trying to turn the 2nd baby or do a breech extraction. He has experience with it and feels completely comfortable with it. I think it definitely depends on the experience and comfort level of the delivering doctor.

Here's to hoping for vaginal deliveries!

 

My OB stipulations for twins is that they both have to measure at least 4 1/2 lbs. at the time of birth and if the second one is breech (first head down), the second baby has to measure smaller than the first b/c my dr. doesn't do breech extractions if Baby B is bigger than Baby A.

In my case, mine weren't measuring 4.5 on their ultrasound before I delivered and Baby B was breech, so it was a c-section for me. Baby A ended up being 3#14oz. and Baby B was 4#8ox.

 

Becky,

Breech extractions are indeed not recommended for babies with low birth weight (usually below 1500 grams which is actually less than 4lbs), and u/s are just an estimate anyway, so I am sure some docs are rather safe than sorry.

My doc always said that as long as baby B wasn't more than 2lbs larger than A there wouldn't be a problem. A small difference is OK.

 

If baby A is head down and baby B is breech, some Drs will let you try vaginal delivery. My twins were born vaginally, Baby A took a few pushes. Baby B, who was presenting butt first, got comfortable. An hour and a half later, my OB broke her water and she was delivered butt first. She was such a pnut at 4.4, it was not a big deal.

I was suprised how many nurses came into the OR during that 1.5 hours asking if they could "take a look since they'd never seen a breech delivery". Doesn't make a new momma very comfortable.

Not many Drs these days will deal with a breech. I asked all 6 of the OBs in my practice, only 2 were really OK with it, 3 said they would let me try (not very enthusiastically) and 1 said "no way".

Best of luck to you. It really was a good experience for me.