Help! Pro C-section Doctor

Hi! I'm new to this site, but have a question.

I am currently 32 weeks. These twins are my 3rd and 4th children. I've had vaginal births for both and it was relatively easy with a quick recovery both times From the first moment of meeting my OB she has pushed for a C-section, not really even considering a vaginal birth. I haven't had a single complication, in fact she says I'm carrying better than a lot of singletons. I'm not keen on doing a c-section but she has scared us quite a bit. One thing she consistantly says is that she has been noticing long term complications for the baby Bs. For those that have had vaginal births for their twins have you noticed complications with your second twin. She throws out words like: autism, developmental delays, etc..... This of course freaks us out. I would like to hear your opinion. I feel silly going to another OB so late in the game, but I'm really leaning to fighting her on this. How much should I trust my doctor and how much should I trust my gut?

 

My twins were born vaginally, and my baby B is perfect . If I were you I would get another OB, even this late. Here's why I think so. Like you, I had a zero complication pregnancy, and ended up having to be induced they stayed in there so long! Baby A came out with no problems at all, I got to hold him as soon as he was out, slimy and all! They had me start pushing for baby B right away, because of the risk of complications. They "lost" her for a few seconds on the monitor as she started moving down, and then her heart rate started plummeting. My OB was SOOO calm. She told my she was going to use a vacuum extractor to help her out, so I needed to push as hard as I could to help get her out quickly. So I pushed like heck, and as she moved into the birth canal her HB picked back up. I got to hold her immediately afterwards too, although she was a little blue. Afterwards my OB said the reason she didn't do a C section when my girl HB was dropping was because she new she could get her out faster with the suction, than it would take for me to get prepped, etc. I really feel that my OB's presence of mind, and comfortableness with the vaginal birth saved my baby girl. Having a vaginal birth was great, and I am so glad I was able to experience that.

 

Umm... I'd find a different doctor. Twins can be born vaginally without any issues. My doctor was very pro-vaginal delivery but my twin A ended up staying breech so I had to have a c-section. I did have a VBAC for my second pregnancy however.

That said, I am a twin 'b.' I had to be resusitated at birth because of something.. placenta came out before me or something..

 

My twins were born vaginally as well. Baby B (my son) was born 4 minutes after my girl. He scored Apgar 5/9, because he wasn't breathing at first (he was slightly stressed after the breech extraction, but recovered quickly ... a 9 at 5 minutes).

He's late in terms of speech, but I am 100% sure this has nothing to do with him being a baby B. My husband didn't say a word until age 3, he's being raised in a bi-lingual environment, and he's starting to catch up.

Honestly, I would find another doctor ... even at this stage. Maybe she isn't confident with a vaginal birth (and that's not what you need) and then it's basically her problem, not yours. My doctor was pushing for vaginal from day 1 (based on my first who came vaginal weighing 9lbs2oz) as long as A was head down (B was breech). My hospital is also very experienced with breech extractions, so I wasn't worried.

What's the position of your babies?

 

It's hard for me to judge your doctor without knowing your babies' positions. If your Baby A is breech, you will have a hard time finding a doctor willing to deliver them vaginally. There are doctors out there who will do it, but they are few and far between. If your Baby A is vertex, then your doctor's position against vaginal delivery does seem a bit hardline. (I've never heard that breech delivery causes autism, etc.; I think she made that up). She probably has no experience with breech deliveries (a lot of medical schools don't teach it much anymore), or she has had a bad experience, i.e., she's been sued following an unsuccessful procedure. You should totally call her on it. Just ask her what her motivation is and tell her that you don't want her to make decisions in your case because of some bad thing that happened to someone else. My doctor told me pretty honestly that another doctor in her practice had been sued after a Baby B died during an attempted breech delivery. She also told me pretty honestly that she doesn't like to attempt breech deliveries if the mother is older (over 35) and has been through a lot of fertility treatments in order to conceive. In her mind, she said, where it is unlikely the mother will be able to conceive again, it simply isn't worth the risk. If my Baby A were vertex, I would probably fight with my doctor about this a little bit, but since both of my babies are, at 32 weeks, breech, I haven't had to do that. After doing a lot of research on the risks of breech delivery of Baby A, I agreed with her that if Baby A is breech we'll do a c-section. And that's where we stand right now.

 

i think you should at the least get a second opinion - now is a very good time to start trusting your gut.

 

My LOs were born vaginally. My OB was also very pro C-section. From the first day I met her she made it sound like that was my only option. However, these were my first children and I had no complications during my entire pregnancy. I told her I wanted to try to have them vaginally. She tried to through the cons out at me but both boys were head down and I told her I wanted to go for it. She told me that she would let me try to deliver vaginally if and only if I agreed to have an epidural. So I had an epidural. The boys were born 9 minutes apart and the delivery went VERY well! They are 6 months old know and both boys are hitting milestones within days of each other. They are both very happy and healthy boys! If you want to deliver vaginally, go for it! Even if that means finding a new doctor. Good luck!

 

QUOTE(rogerdodger @ May 24 2009, 08:47 AM) [snapback]1326306[/snapback]
(I've never heard that breech delivery causes autism, etc.; I think she made that up). She probably has no experience with breech deliveries (a lot of medical schools don't teach it much anymore),


Ironically this is the argument I'm getting my from mum, brother and SIL - Mum and SIL have read this in their nursing journals and the medical journals at work and now are on the case that I would be insane to risk a vaginal birth with my twins.

 

QUOTE(ChaoticMum @ May 24 2009, 09:16 AM) [snapback]1326358[/snapback]
Ironically this is the argument I'm getting my from mum, brother and SIL - Mum and SIL have read this in their nursing journals and the medical journals at work and now are on the case that I would be insane to risk a vaginal birth with my twins.


i always find this idea fascinating - it's like people forget that c-sections have risks as well. so weird.

 

I too suggest a new OB or at the very minimum, another opinion. At my very first appt with my OB at 10wks, I point blank asked her what her feelings were about delivering twins vaginally. I was VERY happy to find out she was very supportive of a vaginal delivery and even preferred it if Baby A was head down and bigger than Baby B (Baby B's position didn't matter to her as most will flip or can be flipped/delivered breech). Unfortunately I ended up with a c/s, but I am so glad she was open to vaginal.

There are definite benefits to mother and baby to have a vaginal delivery when possible. Csections are major abdominal surgery that come with serious possible side effects. People forget that! Plus, being squeezed through the birth canal there by helping squeeze the fluid out of the babies lungs, can help with breathing after birth.

This is YOUR birth experience. I think you should at least try for what you are hoping if it's feesible.