Twins: Vaginal Birth or C-Section

[northshore]

:wave: Multiple Mummies.

I am 26 weeks pregnant with twin girls (our first babies) and I am planning to give birth at a private hospital with private OB.

I'm keen to hear from other twin mums/mummies to be on what their plans or experiences have been with birth. Did you go for a c section due to position? Was it elective? Natural? Vaginal with epidural?

Love to hear from you.

[TripleTime]

Depends on your twin make up & what is safest.

I have triplets, for us the safest option was CS. All went pear shaped & I didn't make it to my booked day.

[Opinionated]

Chances are with a private ob in a private hospital you will be having a c/s.

[SuperGranny]

hi northshore, I had my twins naturally, with only a short while on gas. My ob didnt know I was having twins, and I just went into labour at 37 weeks, and out they came. They were perfectly healthy, 5lb 7oz and 4lb 7oz. cot rested for the first 24 hours, and after that we were able to start breastfeeding. Good luck, Marie.

[northshore]

My OB delivers 50% of his twins via c section. He's delivers vaginally provided Twin A is head down & the other one is either head or feet down. He plans to induce at 38 weeks.

The hospital requires an epidural to be administered - not too keen on being tied to the bed for an extended period of time with the epi as I think it will slow labour.

I'm planning to play it by ear but also keen to hear from other twin mums.

[SuperGranny]

hi northshore, I would not like to be told by my ob or by the hospital policy what or how or when I will be having my babies. Im sorry, but I like to have a bit more of a say in what is going to happen to me. I like the idea of having the hospital and the expertise of the doctor, but I would want to have some imput as to what I want to have happen. Marie.

[sm2j]

Hi northshore.
I had my twins six months ago vaginally in a private hospital with private ob with an epi. They do ask that you have an epi, but if you were adamant to not I think they would have let me try for a bit, as long as I knew the risks etc.

I had an epi with my first son, my choice after I had been in labor for 15 hours( including pre labor) and couldnt take it anymore.This time I had no problems about having it. I was induced at 38+2 via drip. I had the drip put in at 9am, had waters broken at 11.30am, epi at 1.30pm once the contractions really started to kick in, and gave birth to dd at 4.06pm weight 3.2kg followed by ds2 at 4.19pm weight 3.4kg with only 2 stitches. Personally the worst part for me was after my waters were broken and I felt I need to walk around for the contractions, but all the leaking grossed me out...lol.

[1+1=5]

can i ask why they insist on an induction (i would have thought that with multiples they are better off being in there for as long as possible) and an epi? this has me curious :confused:

[MamaBleech]

can i ask why they insist on an induction (i would have thought that with multiples they are better off being in there for as long as possible) and an epi? this has me curious :confused:

I wonder the same thing. It seems to be standard procedure but extremely counterproductive to achieving a vaginal birth. What reasons to they give you northshore? IMO it is just setting you up for failure. Sorry, but I would choose an elective c-section over 'mandatory' induction and epidural. It is likely you will end up with one anyway under these conditions.

[1+1=5]

I wonder the same thing. It seems to be standard procedure but extremely counterproductive to achieving a vaginal birth. What reasons to they give you northshore? IMO it is just setting you up for failure. Sorry, but I would choose an elective c-section over 'mandatory' induction and epidural. It is likely you will end up with one anyway under these conditions.
yeah, this is why i'm wondering. i would have thought that the hospital wouldn't put mum and bubs at risk which it can be with inductions before mum or bubs are ready. higher chances of distress in babies etc. anyhoo, sorry to derail, i'm just wondering if there is a reason for this.

[FiveInTheBed]

I gave birth in a remote hospital with visiting OBs - I was induced at 39 weeks for my Vaginal delivery (because the next week another doc would've been there - and he would anly have done a Csect).
The deal was from my OB that I have an epi because DS2 was head up until 37 weeks - and he was worried he would turn again.
If I had been more informed and I probable would've refused the epi.

Water broken at 8am, drip in and started at 9ish, epi inserted whilst holding in twin one's head, twin one delivered just before 12pm, ad twin two shortly after.
There ended up being 17 minutes between my two.

My personal problem with the epi was that I couldn't get up and walk straight away (after such a quick delivery) ...but this is something you have to personally weigh up.

Good Luck!

[northshore]

Thanks for all of your responses. Great to hear from other people who have had twin births with epidurals.

For those questioning the induction... my OB can't make me have it! He said by 38 weeks he would suggest an induction as I will probably be massive & very uncomfortable and I may have pelvic pain etc. This policy doesn't bother me so much. If I feel I want to be induced, I will agree. I feel I am well researched on the negative & positive experiences people have from induction.

I'm planning to check with my OB on how long I can go without the epidural. The hospital said not very long but I think it's worth checking out a bit more.

[Tweak]

Vaginal birth
induced at 37 weeks but that was due to being on 100mg clexane twice a day and they needed to plan a swap over to heparin so I didn't bleed out

epi was not required but I wanted one though I got it late

Ventouse delivery as a. I couldn't feel a freaking thing apart from the contractions and the boys needed to be turned as they were facing my hip
and they thought the heartbeat was dropping and were about to send me off for a ceaser but my wonderful midwife mum calmy pointed out that they were picking up my heartrate not bubbys

[jlc70]

Most twins are considered full term at 37/38 weeks. I guess this is the reasoning behind the earlier inductions.

As for OP, I had my twins vaginally after spontaneous labour at 34 weeks. Both twins were head down but OB would have delivered me even if twin 2 was breech. Had an epidural (was compulsory, but I wasn't complaining). Private OB in private hospital does not necessarily equal a c/s - in fact my OB talked me into not having the c/s - but I had had 3 babies vaginally before, no problems.

Good luck with your decision. Ultimately it comes down to you, daddy to be and OB

[bgbgbb]

I went naturally into labour @35w5d, had a 3 hour labour, vaginal delivery with epidural. Twin A was head first and delivered in 1 contraction. Twin B was breech (only turned from being head down after Twin A came out). I was glad I'd had the epi as my ob had to put his arm up inside me to grab Twin B's feet!:eek: Twin B was then delivered, feet first, in 2 contractions. Easiest labour I'd had.

I think I felt the most pain when the anaesthetists bill came!

[Timestwo]

I had an elective c-section at 37 +2. The original plan was to get to my 38 week appt and then be delivered during that week but I ended up with pg induced hypertension and PE so they took them out earlier. C-section was because Twin A was breech and had been since the 20 week scan.

As JLC said, 37/38 weeks is considered term for twins hence the earlier inductions.

[Twins Kelly]

Hi. I'm 34 + 4 at the mo with fraternal boys, they are both now head down and T2 is soooo low. After being 'told' I would have to do certain things re. my birth, and then having done lots of research, including chatting to mums on BH, I am going to try for no epi. and a vaginal delivery. I will fight having an induction unless my boys are at risk. I know things can and prob will change, but at least I have made my own informed choices and the hosp. has supported me thus far.
I was initally told I'd have a ceasar and an epi. So I accepted this...initally! So pleased I 'shopped' around and feel much more confident about my imminent labour!
Don't let anyone talk you into something that YOU don't feel comfortable with. You are the one giving birth, managing the pain and having to heal afterwards!
Lots of luck!

[trishalishous]

my sister delivered vaginally, but it was also policy that she have an epidural.
only one of my twins made it to term, but if I have twins next time ill 'have' to have a c-sec if there's any complications at all.

[soph'smum]

Hi there

I delivered out id twin boys vaginally in November last year at a public hospital with a private obgyn.

I was determined to have a vaginal birth (after an unexpected c/s with dd2) and my obgyn was happy to go that way as long as twin 1 was head down.

The hospital did have an epidural policy, which I questioned, and was able to negotiate having the epidural line inserted, but not turned on, unless required.

Quite frankly, with twin 2 breach, I was happy to have it turned on at the end of the labour to ensure I didn't feel the obgyn "reaching" in (up to almost his elbow mind you), to pull twin 2 out.

As it happens, twin 2 spun around as soon as the obgyn did this.

I went into spontaneous labour at 35 weeks (ruptured membranes) after two days of on again, off again contractions.

I have to say, this was by far my best birth!