vaginal birth for id twins? do they make you have an epidural anyway?

hi, i would like to know if it is regarded safer to have a c/s for id twins (one placenta ...di/mono...is that one plac with a dividing membrane)

i would really like to have a vag birth. i have also never have had an epidural and have been told by a twin mum who gave birth vag, that you have to have a epidural anyway, they make you.

does anyone know?

 

Well i delivered my twins without an epidural basiclly i refused it becuz i am deathly afraid of needles... but i did it without and delivered two 7lb babies...so talk to your doctor and see what they have to say...maybe some do but i was given a choice!

 

I don't want to bum you out, but even if you plan for a vaginal birth it may not happen. My girls were head down the entire pregnancy and i really wanted to deliver vaginally...i had a VERY healthy pregnancy, and my doctor and I were both pumped about it...BUT, out of nowhere my bp shot up and I had to have an emergency section. you just never know! plus they have alot of time to flip b/t now and then and get in positions that almost ensure a section. I know you are just seeking advice...but you may want to wait until a little later in the pregnancy to worry too much about this.

And to answer your question, I think its up to you about an epidural???!!!???

 

I am sure every doc/hospital is different. I have fraternal twins that are both head down and these docs are telling me, they will have me deliver vaginally and I will do it in the operating room and they like to have the epi in just in case they have to do an emergency c/s. If I want the drugs pumped into it, that is my option but at least it will be ready to go. But like I said, every place is different. And yes, since it will already be in, I am having the drugs.

PP-7lb twins....ouch and at the same time, completely admirable that they were such wonderful weights. How did you survive the last couple of weeks? I am very petite in my frame and mine are probably getting to the 5lb mark and I feel like I have no more room for them.

I used to be afraid of needles too and then I did IVF and got over that fast. So I feel ya on that one. I also had a spinal tap done when I was 18 and I remember it didn't hurt when he did it (just a little tiny prick and lots of pressure) but then afterwards it hurt. Dont know if that happens with an epidural though???

 

I was afraid of the epidural, but I thought it was no biggie.. I didn't even feel it. But sometimes you feel a small "bee sting" which is the numing medicine that goes in before the epi and catheter.. but YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH, that pain sounds just a little more intense than a bee sting..

Another thing to think about is that if you opt not for an epi, you might need an episeotomy (sp?) and that requires a shot down by your perinium..OUCH! That sounds like pain to me...

Just talk it all out with the doctor, I am sure you will choose what is right for you!

 

My boys are mono/di too, and I will have a c section (my ob doesn't do VBAC's) but my ob told me that she prefers a c section with id's who are mono/di because she worries about the placenta expelling before the 2nd baby which could cause complications (I forget what those complications are- sorry). So, even if I was a canditate for a vaginal delivery, I would probably opt for the c section to be safe. BTW- the epidural wasn't bad at all- it sure beat the contractions! Good luck!

 

I don't think them being ID will have anything to do with the final decision regarding whether you can go vag or c/s. I can't see why it would make a difference. Certain complications may be more prevalent making c/s the only choice, as was the case with me (IUGR and probable TTTS).

Good luck, I hope you have the birth experience you want. Either way it goes, as long as their healthy you won't even care once they're born!

 

My mom delivered my id. twin sister and I vaginally...but then again they didn't know she was having twins! LOL!... I'm pretty sure that my practice required an epidural on any twin delivery regardless of frat or id. They also would have made me deliver in the OR. My twins were both transverse after 34 weeks...so it became a non-issue...I had to have a c/s. My advice... don't put too much energy into worrying about it now... a million things could happen between now and then which will make it a non-issue...where for sure you'd have to have a c/s. I think accepting that possibility early on is a good idea. And if everything stays fine for vag delivery, then go for it! Perhaps you can negotiate with your doc on the epidural. They can't force you to have one. And if things didn't turn out well they could always knock you out in case of emergency. I think in your shoes I just would've negotiated to get the epidural after 5cm dilation, just to make sure it doesn't stall out labor.

 

Some will require that you at least have the epidural catheter or whatever in place in the event that you end up needing a section. I would imagine if you opt not to have it at all (which is your right to do so), that if you had to have a section, you'd have to go under general (be totally out) for the section.

In the event that I have the option to deliver vaginally, I will not have an epidural at all (didn't with my DD). They can just put me out if they end up having to do a section.