Dr. suggesting a c-section & I have no complications

Hello Ladies!
I have a question for all you Mommies-to-be of TWINS and all you Mommies to twins already! This is my first pregnancy and thanks to IVF I am having g/g twins! This pregnancy has been perfect to me. I've gained 20 lbs thus far, had slight morning sickness and no other problems &/or complications thus far (thank God). Baby A is 2lbs 2 oz and Baby B is 2lbs 5 oz thus far.
Anways...I saw my doctor earlier this week and in conversation she said she is going to recommend that I have a c-section because this is my first shot at labor and she does not know how I will progress! She said that if this was my second or third pregnancy she wouldn't suggest a c-section. I was very upset by that. She said as we get closer to my due date (11/18) we will discuss more but right now that is the direction she is leaning. I am only with getting a c-section if it is necessary. I was stunned that was her stance! Have any of you first time mommies of twins been told that by your doctor? Is that normal? I want my body to be given the chance to do what it is suppose to do. Scheduling a c-section (without there being a GOOD reason beside the one she gave me) is out of the question.

So what do you Ladies think?? Any advice you Ladies have would be great!

Thanks!

Kyam

 

I haven't had my twins yet, so I can't answer in that way, but I know I'd feel the same way as you. Unless you are super attached to your doctor, I'd start interviewing other ones (if that is an option where you live etc). I plan on having this conversation with my OB at my first official prenatal. I have a toddler, but I still want to know that my dr (and all the drs in his practice since any of them could end up being on call when I go into labor) will support vaginal birth unless there is really a REASON, not just cuz. If at all possible I want to go into labor, not induce, I want a vaginal birth even if one is breech, etc. Obviously if their health or mine is in danger I want them to do whatever is necessary, but it seems (to me) that scheduling a c-sect just because it's your first even though in all other ways everything seems great is not called for. imho

 

Some dr are "afraid" of firt time moms give natural birth to twins. Hold your ground, unless there is a reason, I would not have a c section. I am fighting now, and I am only 19 almost 20 weeks. My dr said High risk for c section, but agreeded if both babies are head down we can go for natural birth, so we wait, bec

 

:welcome: kyam!!!
Congratulations on your healthy twin pregnancy!! :good:
I would have a heart to heart with your doctor about wanting to have a vaginal birth if it is possible. (C-Sections are very common with twin pregnancies - maybe she is just trying to get you used to the idea?) Let her know that it is important to you & if she is uncomfortable with a vaginal delivery for twins, then I would ask your Dr. for a referral to another Dr.?

 

My dr said if they were both head down then I could try vaginally but if they were not, he wanted to do a csection because he said after baby a comes out, baby b could turn so he was more comfortable with a csection. It ended up baby a was head down and baby b was transverse so I was comfortable with his recommendation.

 

She is lucky she isn't my DR! Or she would have had a pregnant woman unleash a massive hormonal load on her! I would let her know my feelings in a very in depth heart to heart. UNLESS there is a reason for a c-section she is CRAZY! Just because you’re a first time Mom doesn't mean ANYTHING! If you feel very passionately about a vaginal birth and she is leaning towards a c-section, I would find myself another Doctor.

I was very honest with mine from day one, and if she didn't like it, I had a whole list of other drs I could see! I was like you, I wanted a vaginal birth, the only time a c-section will even be discussed is if they are both head up! She agreed, even if one is head down they will allow me to deliver vaginally.

Stick to your guns, if not... get a new dr!

It seems many automatically assume that if its twins you have to have a c-section. Which is SOOO untrue. Good Luck Mama!

 

Question- do you know if your twins are dichorionic or monochorionic? If your twins are monochorionic, or are suspected as such, that might be playing into your Dr.'s opinion as well?

 

My Dr will entertain the idea of vaginal birth, but I am personally more comfortable with C-section. I just believe it's a more controlled environment for the babies and leaves less room for risk. Again, that's me personally, so you need to do what's right for you.

Just talk to your Dr.

 

My doctor would have allowed me to try having the girls vaginally if Baby A had been head down. Unfortunately she turned in the last few weeks and was breech and Baby B was always transverse.

 

This is my first pregnancy and my doctor strongly prefers me to try vaginally if I can (both head down), but I have heard that he is the only one in our area that will do a vaginal birth with twins. So I think most doctors feel more comfortable with the c section. If your are not too attached to you dr. I would find a new one..

 

I would find a new doctor if I were you. I'm 31 weeks and I'm looking for a new doctor right now, so I know it can be an overwhelming task to undertake. But if that's her "philosophy" (and it's a ridiculous one) then I doubt any amount of heart-to-heart would make a difference. She might let you believe that she will "let" you give birth vaginally, but then towards the end start changing her stance back to what she feels comfortable with. You'd be better off finding someone now who's opinions jive with what you want out of your labor/birth.

 

I am only 8 weeks pregnant and my doctor already suggested doing a c-section! That really is almost what I would prefer. We are obviously not sure if mine momo twins yet, but the doctor is about 90% certain they are identical. I would be worried about delivering the first one natuarlly and then having to be rushed for a c-section to deliver the second. However I guess if you have no complications and you feel strongly about a natural delivery you have to talk to your doctor about it again, or possibly get a second opinion. Best of luck to you!

 

I find that really odd. Maybe she's just trying to prepare you for the possibility? If everything is fine, I'd request a vaginal birth but let them know you're okay with switching to a C section if it's medically necessary. My doctor never even mentioned a C section until baby B was breach in the days before delivery, but even then he just said it was a possibility. I had a vaginal birth and it was great. Either way, a healthy delivery is most important. But why have surgery "just in case"?

 

That sounds odd. I would be up front with her about your wish to deliver vaginally if possible. If she can't accept that then I would start looking for another doctor.

 

My doc said as long as Baby A remains head down we will try for a vaginal delivery. She did tell me today that I would deliver in the c-section room just in case she had to do one. Even though Baby B is breech, she said she can probably manipulate him and get him to come out head down. Actually she said she would prefer we try for a vaginal delivery first versus going straight for a c-section.

 

I've heard that many doctors just automatically prefer to deliver multiples via c-section "just in case," which is partly why the c-section rate is so high for twins (about 50%).

This is my first pregnancy, also IVF, also relatively uncomplicated. My doctor's position is "wait and see." She wants to even let me go as far past 38 weeks as my body will take me provided that there are no issues with the placenta or the twins. She won't schedule a c-section unless absolutely necessary.

I agree with the others, mention your wishes to your doctor. You should be the one to decide to try naturally if the babies are in a good position and all goes well.

 

That is weird. how are you supposed to get to number 2 or more if the first time they just cut you open with out even letting you try!?! My doctor told me I could do what ever I wanted. Several women deliver twins just fine, even first timers. If you want to deliver naturally, stand up to your doctor and tell him or her that you want a chance. What's the worst that could happen? A c-section? Do what you want, what ever you feel most comfortable with.

 

I just had a discussion with my doc about this today. They (all the docs in my group) lean toward a c-section only if one or both babies are breech or transverse. Of course, if baby A is breech then a c-section is the only option. But if baby A is head down then we can discuss our options. Since I've already vaginally delivered one baby they are comfortable that I will be fine if both babies are head down. However, they do want me to be prepared for the fact that a c-section may be necessary. Maybe your doc is just trying to make sure that you are prepared, since a c-section is often the best or only option.

 

I know my doctor was all for a c-section from the start with the twins. I had my son virginally so I had been through it all before and I was scared of having two that way. At the end twin a my daughter was breech so ther was no choice. The recovery is alot harder from the c-section but at least I was asleep I guess. I think you should be able to tell them how it should be for you but sometimes nature steps in. good luck and you will have two perfect little people at the end no matter how they get here.

 

my girls are almost 8 weeks old & this was my first pregnancy. they are mono/di twins & baby B (Danika) was significantly larger than baby A (Riley). both girls were head down for most of my pregnancy. my OB leaned very heavily on me to have a c-section & used awful fear tactics to manipulate me into agreeing with her (including saying that i was going to end up with babies with cerebral palsy). anyway, i stuck to my guns & insisted on a vag delivery & that's what i got & it went perfectly. both girls were born within 8 minutes of each other, no complications.

i don't know how things work in the US but in Canada no doctor can MAKE you do anything. you can refuse ANY medical treatment you want, you just have to sign a paper indicating that you are going against your doctor's recommendation. because that's all it is - a recommendation based on their opinion. doctors are only human & are subject to fears , stress, and worry that can make them more comfortable in certain situations (c-sections) that aren't necessarily the best for their patient.

i would say, trust your gut & stick to your guns. you'll never go wrong that way.

 

My girls are my only children. I had them vaginally. Sydney (baby A) was head down , Dani was transverses wound up coming out by her feet. But my OB was very much into me having them vaginally.
If you know you want a vaginal delivery if the babies are in the right position, I would talk to your doctor again, and if you don't like the answer, interview a few other OBs.

Good luck.

 

Yes, I agree with a lot of other posters. I remember someone here asking their doctor which is best for the babies... vaginal was the answer. A c-section is major surgery. There are so many benefits in having the babies vaginally. I would start looking for a new doctor.

 

QUOTE(meegs @ Aug 28 2008, 09:09 PM) [snapback]952587[/snapback]
I know my doctor was all for a c-section from the start with the twins. I had my son virginally so I had been through it all before and I was scared of having two that way. At the end twin a my daughter was breech so ther was no choice. The recovery is alot harder from the c-section but at least I was asleep I guess. I think you should be able to tell them how it should be for you but sometimes nature steps in. good luck and you will have two perfect little people at the end no matter how they get here.


I just had to laugh at this. Too funny!

 

QUOTE(Gordana @ Aug 29 2008, 03:01 AM) [snapback]952677[/snapback]
I just had to laugh at this. Too funny!



Lol..I did too.

 

I go to a practice with several doctors and all of them are skittish about delivering twins vaginally. One doctor told me he's a bit more comfortable with the idea b/c I delivered my first vaginally but I've never heard of any doctor recommending a c-section solely b/c it's the first pregnancy. My understading is that a c-section becomes medically necessary for lots of reasons, including Baby A being breech, but it's so hard to tease out what's medically recommended vs what's prefereable to the doctors (and the insurance companies). It's such a horribble way to think but I truly wonder how much iof t plays into my doctors' advice.

If you want to get pregnant again, another point to discuss with your doctor is VBAC. If you feel this way, you could let him or her know that you' don't want t to have a c-section now so as not to have to face a VBAC later.

 

I think so many doctors want to do a C-Section because it's easier for THEM!!

If Baby A is head down I would definitely go for the vaginal delivery!

 

QUOTE(DLJ @ Aug 29 2008, 08:05 AM) [snapback]953171[/snapback]
If you want to get pregnant again, another point to discuss with your doctor is VBAC. If you feel this way, you could let him or her know that you' don't want t to have a c-section now so as not to have to face a VBAC later.


i brought this point up with my doctor too - that by choosing to have a c-section with my first pregnancy, it would affect all of my future pregnancies. and she said "we aren't dealing with your future pregnancies, we're dealing with this one". and i said "no, you're not dealing with my future pregnancies, but i do need to consider it". sheesh.

i really disliked my OB by the end of my pregnancy. thank goodness she wasn't on call when i delivered. the doc who was on call was super supportive of my wishes. i also refused to see my OB for my six week check - i went to my family doc intead.

 

Goodness no!

How you progress doesn't really matter anyway as long as you and the babies look fine. It ridiculous how many people end up with unnecessary c-sections because they hit that magic "24 hours in labor" mark so the doc decides that a c-section is needed due to lack of progress. Every woman is different and some are just going to labor longer than others.

I know it's hard to stand up to a doc because they seem all knowing but I would stay away from a c-section if it is not obviously in the best interest of you and the babies. If you want a vaginal delivery, say so the next time it comes up.