Where can I find reliable info on labor and delivery

Hi everyone!

We are almost 31 weeks and our little ones are now both head down and our doc told me that we should start looking into birthing classes. I looked over all class descriptions and I'm wondering if it's really worth it and we are a bit pressed for time with the schedule of classes that they are offering. I was wondering if you found the classes to be helpful AND if we decide not to take the classes are there resources (e.g., books, articles, websites) that my husband and I could read to glean the same information??? By the way... does anyone know if there is an increased risk to delivering twins vaginally when both are head down versus delivering via c-section-????

Thanks ladies!

 

There are some risks to twin B in a vaginal delivery--cord prolapse, placental abruption, turning breech after Baby A is delivered, etc. These can necesitate an emergency c-section for Baby B.

 

also, if you try to deliver baby b breech if it turns, there could be head entrapment- where the head is stuck inside of you and the baby is basically strangling. but that is a risk with delivering any baby breech. there is also a risk of needing general anesthesia if it's an emergency c/s for baby b if your epidural is not dense enough and they can't wait to dose it up (if it's a true emergency), then you won't get to see baby b born and your husband likely won't be able to stay in the room either. i'm a L&D nurse, maybe i can help answer anymore specific questions you might have? (btw i chose an elective c/s even though both of my girls were head down because i did not want to risk one vaginal and one c/s)

 

Exactly why I chose a c-section and I am very glad about my decision, especially after seeing afterward how my Baby B's head was way bigger than Baby A's.

 

same here, my baby b had a giant head... measured 3 weeks ahead of the rest of her body.

 

One book that I would recommend is a thinking womens guide to pregnancy by Hency goyer(sp?). I thought it was great and gave both sides of the story for both vaginal and c section statistics. Best of luck

 

We took a general childbirth/labor & delivery class when I was pregnant with my older daughter. It went over what to expect at different stages of labor, reviewed when to call your Dr., ways to decrease pain and get through labor (they went over breathing techniques, mediation, and other non-drug options but also discussed options that did involve drugs), how to push, what to expect after, etc. It did not push us towards one way of delivering or not. I found it helpful especially in early labor when I was induced and couldn't get an epidural yet. I did not repeat the class when I was pregnant with the twins, but did ask my Dr. lots of questions about how it would be different than when I had my daughter. I also wanted to make sure I took a tour of the hospital and see where I'd be and the babies would be if they needed the NICU. I wanted a vaginal birth and was able to do it even with A being vertex and B turning breech at 38 weeks. She did turn vertex after A was delivered and she was 3/4 of a lb. bigger. I'm sure there are some videos or books that you could check out from the library that reviews the info. you're looking for.

 

we ended up not taking any classes because i had signs of pre-term labour at 27 weeks and so we went over everything we needed to know with our doula - she was awesome! thankfully, i was able to keep the girls in till 34w1d & everything went fine.

the thing to remember about deciding between a vag delivery & a c-section is that there are pros & cons to BOTH options. yes, there are risks to a vag delivery but there are also risks to having a c-section too. you need to weigh the pros & cons of each choice & decide which you feel most comfortable with (assuming there are no medical issues that would indicate that a c-section would be the safest choice). i agree with the PP who recommended A Thinking Woman's Guide to Better Birth by Henci Goer. GL with your decision!

 

My thoughts exactly. While c-sections are entirely commonplace these days, they ARE surgery, so there are plenty of risks. Other considerations include the prolonged recovery time for c's and the potential health benefits of a vag birth for newborns. Again, plenty of pros and cons either way.

My personal experience - I delivered my twins vaginally. It was easier than my singleton delivery by far. No complications, I walked to the bathroom to pee 1.5 hrs after they were born, and I had lost all but 7lbs of my pregnancy weight by my 2wk pp checkup.

As for the classes, I did take them while pregnant w/ my firstborn. I was skeptical, but I actually did learn some helpful things for labor and delivery. Again, just my personal experience, but I found it easier to learn things like proper breathing with a live coach as opposed to reading about it. But if you're pressed for time, I'd say reading about what to expect is better than nothing.

Like pp's mentioned, I think it's a very personal decision. Do your research and go with your gut. BUT...remember, that all things are subject to change in this game. Planning is good, but know that childbirth is often about spontaneous (and necessary) decisions. Be prepared for all scenarios and you'll do great!

Good luck!! :hug:
Eve

 

There are all sorts of statistics, studies and theories. Problem is there are so many contradictory ones, and especially with twin birth, the number of births studied are usually small. So, you really have to think these things out for yourself.

It's generally agreed that vaginal twin birth for di-di, vertex-vertex twins is as safe if not more so compared with a c/s. Because both are safe, you also need to consider the after affects. Plenty of women recover well from c/s, but it's not uncommon to have a longer recovery time than a vaginal birth.

I birthed my twins vaginally and it was a great experience. No complications with the babes and a breeze recovery. Not to say that is everyone's experience, but I'd highly recommend it.

Here are a couple of things to look at and consider:

http://www.uptodate.com/home/content/topic.do?topicKey=labordel/5122

http://www.nature.com/jp/journal/v22/n5/full/7210752a.html

By the way, I did a few classes and didn't really find them helpful. Do it if you have time, but otherwise don't worry about it.

Good luck!

 

Thank you for all of the info. Those articles were really helpful and I'm anxious to read that book! My main concern is for that of the babies' safety during this process and I want to do what is best for them. I have decided not to take the class.. I feel pretty confident with the information that I've found in reliable books and websites, though I'm really wanting my husband to feel at ease with whatever we choose to do and to make the decision together...

I think part of my problem is that I'm a bit disenchanted with my OB- she's been very noncommittal about our course of treatment with my increasing braxton hicks that have finally started to shorten my cervix (e.g., never has definitive opinion about cutting back at work, putting me on meds, etc). She came highly recommended by a friend and my fertility specialist, but the farther along we're getting the less confident I am that she is going to make the appropriate decision for us when it comes to labor and delivery... I'm all about being my own advocate, but I do not want the entirety of this decision to fall on my and DH's shoulders. I guess maybe I'm just having some normal anxiety about this whole process. We've gone through so much to get to this point, I don't want to take any kinds of risks!!!!