is it wierd to be leaning towards wanting a C section?

[laurarab]

hi--I am 34 weeks along w. twins--and but for carpal tunnel sx's feeling pretty good--all along i have sort of been more leaning towards a C section-maybe bc i have had surgery beforem(so it doesn't freak me out)-or bc i hear often one will deliver 1 baby vaginally and then need a c section for the 2nd (thus recovering in 2 places)---i know vaginal has benefits for the babies--but weirdly i feel less anxious about a c section--the idea of a prolonged birth/potential fetal distress etc makes me nervous---would LOVE to hear others' thoughts on this..

right now btw: baby A is breech, B is tranverse--so i know it may be a moot point due to whether or not they turn.

thanks for your feedback!!

[em4444]

No Way!! Both of mine are head down and I still want a C-section! I had a vaginal birth with my first LO. I pushed for 4 hrs, got a grad 3 tear, internal sutures, post delivery infection..... I just don't think "down there" will do well with the stress of pushing 2 out. And I agree with the not wanting to heal in 2 places. I am all for vaginally delivery benifits, I know it is how you are supposed to have a baby...but the healing sucks!!

[tracilynn]

I dont think its weird. One of my friends had twins and she labored and delivered the first one vag & then had to have the c for the 2nd one. Her recovery was long and rough.
Im like you... not freaked out by surgery. Ive had one vag birth and one C and they both had their high points & low points but I would not want to take the chance of doing both in one birth. Its your decision. good luck!

[about2bmom3]

*barge*
Congrats on the twins! I had DD vaginally and as soon as i found out that pg#2 was twins i asked about a section lol! In the end baby a was breech and b transverse (like yours) and i wouldnt have had a choice, but my ob was fine with me wanting one from the get go. That being said, there are many twin mamas on here that have had great vaginal deliveries! And my recovery wasnt so wonderful, but i still think i would have prefered the section. I am very type A and feel the need to control everything and there is no way i would have survived the unknown. DD's labor and delivery were LONG and she was sunny side up so i pushed for 3 hours and i kept having these fears that it would happen again x2!!! In the end as long as the babies are healthy and mama is too thats all that matters

[kdobie73]

I ended up having a c-section after I had arrest in cervical dilation (stalled at 5cm). I was so mad that I didn't just do a scheduled c-section cause I ended up w/ labor pains and had to wait 2 hours until an OR opened up while I was screaming in pain on all fours. I had no problems w/ my section and was able to move about pretty easily. Just have a scar now.

[bebehope]

I don't think you are crazy at all for wanting a C! As you said, it may be a moot point by now. My OB said they are unlikely to move anymore after 33 weeks, so you will get your wish no matter what!

My 29 wk babies are (A) butt down and (b) Head down, so unless they change in the next few weeks, I'll be having a C. I'd like to try a V delivery but also fear the V and C complication (about 15% I've read). Good luck!

[lianyla]

I wanted and had a C. I chose it. Baby A was head down and bigger so I could have had a vaginal (or tried, at least.)

I chose C birth tho. Mainly, for the reasons you described.

It was a LOT worse tho than I had anticipated. The first 3 days were H&LL on earth. I was just too scared to labor for like ten days and THEN have to have a C anyway.

Do what you want. It's your body The babies were fine. Plus, I also feel that you have a gut feeling about this kind of thing. If you are feeling like that, there is probably a reason. I'd go for the cesarean.

[kandm]

Hi,

It sounds like you probably won't have an option anyways unless your baby A starts doing some serious gymnastics. However, if it is an option, I do encourage you to try for a vaginal birth. I know it's not the answer I should post and probably not what you want to hear. However, I ended up being so traumatized and depressed with my scheduled c-section that I feel somehow obliged to tell you a bit of my story.

My problem with the c-section for my twins wasn't necessarily the pain or the feelings of loss that I missed out on some huge part of being a mother (though that was part of it), but mostly because the babies were whisked off to the NICU and I wasn't able to see or hold them until 12+ hours after the c-section. And even after the first day, it was still a challenge to get out of bed and down the hall to see them. The second (or third?) day post-partum my DH and parents were in the NICU with the babies and I was stuck in bed with nary a nurse to be found and no one responding to my call button. After an hour, I was so frustrated that I somehow drug my own self out of bed and started crawling/limping down the hall until someone saw me and got me a wheelchair. If I had had a vaginal delivery, I would have been able to get out of bed and been mobile much sooner. I've visited friends who had vaginal deliveries in the hospital and they have been walking around on their own an hour after birth.

Also, if you want to BF, I think it's much easier if you actually go through labor. My milk never came in - despite weeks of round the clock pumping. I think a big part of this is because I didn't have the rush of hormones that you get from labor and a regular delivery.

Of course, if you chose or need a c-section, you and the babies will be just fine. I just think that a lot of women have c-section regrets - even if they didn't think they would. And, if the babies are in the NICU, that incision will keep you from being with your babies as much as you want in those first few days. In the end, it's not a huge deal or the end of the world, but something that will probably stick with me for a long time.

[laurarab]

thanks for all the replies incl the last 1 w. strong pros for a vaginal birth----36 weeks today--1 still transverse, the other breech---so we will see--i appreciate all the feedback---and best of luck to all, LR

[Stargazerlilly]

It's not strange. A lot of twin moms choose that route. I'm not personally in that camp, but mom has to decide what is best and often, the baby makes the decision for you by being in a bad position for a vag.

I had my first set vaginally. It was a wonderful experience. I was in labor for 8 hours total and I pushed for about 10 minutes total. It was my second delivery and my first was much, MUCH worse, but was also vaginal. I was up and about within an hour or two. I had no complications and felt pretty good after it. One of my twins was in the NICU for a little while. I did have stitches. Even with my first, I had a 3rd tare and still, I think it was an easy recovery. I know many other moms who had nice vaginal deliveries with no problems.

I'm hoping to deliver this set vaginally also. This time, I even found an OB who is willing to deliver me vaginally even if baby B is breech.

Good luck to you!! I'm sure it will go fine whatever you (or babies) decide.