C sections

[carmel4321]

hey i know most of are facing the fact little ones will need to be born by C section and a few of u have already had one. how many who have had them have been put to sleep rather then a eppy? and who else would opt for being knocked out? xx

[2015isgoingtobeBIG]

Are you likely to need a GA due to medical reasons? I don't know whether places offer that as a standard option unless you do but maybe they do.

I'm facing up to the fact I will need one as twin one is breach at 32 weeks so unlikely to change. At the hospital I expect to give birth at, around 50% of twin mums have a planned caesarean. I would never choose to have a general anaesthetic unless there was a medical reason for it due to the increased risks with this. Also for giving birth I want to experience seeing them for the first time as they are born and for my DH yo also see that. With a GA most places won't let the partner be in the room when they are born and it breaks my heart to think neither of us would witness the actual birth. Finally, newborns can absorb some of the anaesthetic (I think with both options but more so with a GA) so if I can avoid that I would.

Just my personal choice and why even if I'd been able to go for a vaginal delivery I would have opted for an elective epidural so that there was no chance of me needing a GA if the birth didn't progress as it should.

[2015isgoingtobeBIG]

*need a caesarean (not GA)

[TheEagle]

Hi carmel, I'm 33+3 with twins and booked for a section at 37+3.

This is because Twin 1 is breech and also because I had a very traumatic EMCS with my DS and I don't want to be in a situation again where I might need an EMCS.

My EMCS was under GA because the anaesthetist was unable to get the spinal in successfully and it was an emergency situation.

I still feel really sad that I was asleep when my DS was born, my DH wasn't in the room and he couldn't cut the cord.

I did have DS in my arms within minutes of coming around from the GA but it's a situation that I don't want repeated!

Lots of multiple mums have vaginal twin births too. In fact my doctors were talking about me having a VBAC until Twin 1 turned breech!

[Ratfinkandbobo]

I had GA as spinal didn't work, my spine is 'unusual' vertebrae too close together, apparently. Felt bloody rough after. I'd try spinal rather than GA, plus if you have GA only medical staff allowed in theatre, my DP had to wait outside

[Minisoksmakehardwork]

I had a GA for twin 2. Twin 1 came a lot quicker than the hospital were expecting - she was delivered on gas and air within bare minutes of being rushed to delivery. I think the panic of this happening (I'd been labouring on DAU up until then!) sort of put the medical staff in a flap - everyone and their uncle ended up hurtling in to the room. Twin 2 then decided to have a party once twin 1 delivered and flipped round, then we believe he got stuck with his foot by his head as he entered the birth canal. Had consultant inserting her hand/arm (images of vets delivering cows/sheep quite appropriate here) to try and unstick twin 2. But he wasn't having any of it. The heart rate trace they'd stuck on him kept dropping, and with a very poor printout - I saw it after and it looked like the ink was running out! - the decision was made to knock me out and get twin 2 out as quickly and safely as possible. I hadn't had time for an epidural - the hospitals preferred choice for twins in case c section is needed - with twin 1 arriving so quickly.

I would love to have delivered twin 2 the same as twin 1. I have no recollection, beyond a brief view of twin 1 and her masses of hair, once delivered of seeing the twins until 2pm the following day - 24 hours later. But I have photos that prove otherwise!

I have to admit my recovery was the easiest of my 3 pregnancies. But I was on a lovely morphine pump until the following morning, slept in a separate assessment/antenatal ward on my own so wasn't disturbed by crying babies on postnatal. My two were in scbu for a few days for feeding/temperature issues. I was really well looked after because they did admit they made mistakes in not sending me straight to labour and delivery when I pitched up as a twin pregnancy, practically at term for twins, with leaking waters which had stopped by the time I got to DAU.

We stayed in hospital 13 days while we waited (oddly) for twin 1, my smaller twin) to catch up on her feeding and sort her temperature control out.

But as a choice? I'd sooner not have the GA and be able to remember those first few precious moments after the twins arrived.

As it is, I've suffered with PND since and attended the birth talk session with MW after to find out exactly what went on.

That is just my experience though and is by no means intended to scare you. I am grateful that my twins arrived safely and my recovery was easy. Given the same situation, I would do the same again. But as a choice for delivery, I'd much rather know about it.

[Minisoksmakehardwork]

I had a GA for twin 2. Twin 1 came a lot quicker than the hospital were expecting - she was delivered on gas and air within bare minutes of being rushed to delivery. I think the panic of this happening (I'd been labouring on DAU up until then!) sort of put the medical staff in a flap - everyone and their uncle ended up hurtling in to the room. Twin 2 then decided to have a party once twin 1 delivered and flipped round, then we believe he got stuck with his foot by his head as he entered the birth canal. Had consultant inserting her hand/arm (images of vets delivering cows/sheep quite appropriate here) to try and unstick twin 2. But he wasn't having any of it. The heart rate trace they'd stuck on him kept dropping, and with a very poor printout - I saw it after and it looked like the ink was running out! - the decision was made to knock me out and get twin 2 out as quickly and safely as possible. I hadn't had time for an epidural - the hospitals preferred choice for twins in case c section is needed - with twin 1 arriving so quickly.

I would love to have delivered twin 2 the same as twin 1. I have no recollection, beyond a brief view of twin 1 and her masses of hair, once delivered of seeing the twins until 2pm the following day - 24 hours later. But I have photos that prove otherwise!

I have to admit my recovery was the easiest of my 3 pregnancies. But I was on a lovely morphine pump until the following morning, slept in a separate assessment/antenatal ward on my own so wasn't disturbed by crying babies on postnatal. My two were in scbu for a few days for feeding/temperature issues. I was really well looked after because they did admit they made mistakes in not sending me straight to labour and delivery when I pitched up as a twin pregnancy, practically at term for twins, with leaking waters which had stopped by the time I got to DAU.

We stayed in hospital 13 days while we waited (oddly) for twin 1, my smaller twin) to catch up on her feeding and sort her temperature control out.

But as a choice? I'd sooner not have the GA and be able to remember those first few precious moments after the twins arrived.

As it is, I've suffered with PND since and attended the birth talk session with MW after to find out exactly what went on.

That is just my experience though and is by no means intended to scare you. I am grateful that my twins arrived safely and my recovery was easy. Given the same situation, I would do the same again. But as a choice for delivery, I'd much rather know about it.

[quesadillas]

I had a EMCS with #1 and even before I knew it was twins this time I'd already requested another via the midwife. I didn't have a GA last time, which I was glad about. I'd rather not have one this time either, so I'll be hoping nothing happens that makes it necessary. However, my main worry is a safe birth so my feelings now are that they should do whatever is necessary.

[2015isgoingtobeBIG]

I found this leaflet useful to start considering my anaesthetic options. Page four describes the different types of epidural and the pros and cons of each. It was on the basis of this I knew if there was even a possibility I would end up with a GA I wanted to have the full epidural. Also gives a breakdown of how many ladies at this particular unit required a section initially, as labour progressed and those who required instrumental assistance but not a section. It gave me something to compare to and ask my unit the same questions.

www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/Downloads/GPs/GP%20protocols%20and%20guidelines/Maternity%20Guidelines%20and%20Policies/Anaesthetics%20relating%20to%20Obstetrics/Anaesthetic_twin_delivery_V1.0_GL950.pdf

[carmel4321]

hey

thanks for all ur comments and views on it. im only conidering it as the whole idea of a C section is scaring the living out of me and stressing me out already and i know that being knocked out will put me more at ease and less stressed throughout my pregnacy. iv already come to terms wth the fact im not going to get to see my babies as soon as they are born as im preganant with triplets so the chances are they will be taken away straight away. iv had my midwife appoint and asked her about the possibility of GA and she saidd yes if i chose that then thats what will happen. im meeting with consultant next week so will talk more about it all then but just wanted to see if any one have had GA and how it went ect xx