I wonder if any of twin mums out there can help me come to a decision. I’m 28weeks pregnant with twins and at my next consultant appt in 4 weeks time I have to say whether I’d like to be booked in for a c section or be induced at around 36/37 weeks (assuming I haven’t went into labour naturally before then). My consultant has strongly recommended vaginal birth as I have had to babies this way previously with no complications. This would be my preferred option if I knew everything would work out and the babies would be ok! But I’m scared of things going wrong (second baby being in wrong position for birth, chord prolapse etc). I’m also scared of needing an emergency c section. The consultant gave me a “decision tree” to help us decide - which gives the % chance of various scenarios. It states the risks of complications for both babies and mum are low and both the same for section vs vaginal. It states there’s only a 3% chance of needing an emergency section if I manage to deliver the first baby ok (which I found reassuring). But the one that bothers me is that it states only 56% of mothers electing for vaginal birth with twins manages to achieve this (meaning roughly half of those choosing vaginal end up needing a c-section anyway). Am I more likely to be in the 56% because I’ve already gave birth twice before?? All is well with the pregnancy so far, both babies growing well and are measuring the same size. Just wondering what others experiences were like? A vaginal birth would be my preference but being rushed to theatre freaks me out, so if I’ve got a slim chance of managing a normal delivery I think I’d rather opt for a planned section - least that way I can mentally prepare myself and it won’t be a high stress situation! Any advice greatly appreciated! Thank you!
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Childbirth
Twins - elective c section or vaginal birth??
LydiaGrace1 · 10/10/2019 08:03
@GreenTulips @SquintEastwood thank you so much!! Can’t tell you how reassuring I find stories like yours - I’ve decided to give it a go and try for a vaginal birth - and I just really hope I can manage it without then need for an emergency c-section. My previous 2 births were uncomplicated, fast and just on gas and air so fingers crossed the same will happen this time 
Thanks for taking the time to post. And @PixieDustt - Thank you very much! 
@doodlejump1980 oh you’ve experienced my fear but I guess as long as babies are ok at the end of it, it doesn’t matter how they enter the world. That’s tough labouring for that long and then needing an emergency c-section. Mine have their own placenta / sac (less likely to be identical but still 30% chance as if the egg split very early they’d be identical with their own sac / placenta apparently - news to me but you learn so much when you find out your expecting twins! I’m guessing they’re non identical though and that I just released 2 eggs that month - I’m a “geriatric mother” 
and more likely to produce more than one egg each month). I was really concerned about being able to deliver the first one naturally then needing an emergency c for the second, but apparently that only happens in 3% of cases - so they’re pretty good odds. Sound right though, if the placenta is coming before the baby that would require a c section. I’m a real mix of emotions - so excited but so apprehensive at same time. 
Oh wow I’d be a bit pissed off to be told that ‘lots of different people will probably pop in to have a look’ because it’s a bit of novelty Should be only people who absolutely NEED to be there unless mum has explicitly consented otherwise.
I had opted for vaginal delivery but was very aware that a c-section was very likely as it was my first pregnancy.
I ended up having to have an emergency c-section as my DD’s waters broke at 32 weeks (this was due to issues with my body, scarring from long term undiagnosed endometriosis and placentas not providing adequate blood flow, just wanted to add that as I don’t want to scare anybody, their prematurity was down to my body.) The c-section wasn’t as bad as I had thought it would be, I had a fairly straight forward recovery also.
If your MW and other healthcare professionals have said a vaginal delivery is possible I’d go for it if that’s what you’d prefer.
For me it was sad that I never got to really ‘go into labour’ but as you have already said, what matters most is that they enter the world and are safe and sound 😊
For the experience of the c-section - it was quite odd really, because it was emergency it was a bit of a rush to get the relevant staff required and I was in pain because DD’s cord was starting to push through when I wasn’t even dilated so they had to keep reminding me to stay still whilst they injected the numbing agent (I can’t remember it’s proper name) into my lower spine. The needle itself didn’t really hurt and once the numbness took effect it was rather odd and had I been there alone I’d probably have been very anxious about not feeling my legs. But my DH was beside me the whole time and we just chatted.
It just felt like pressure on my abdomen when the procedure was taking place and I got to give both DD and DS a quick kiss before they were taken to NICU - again that was my specific circumstance due to the complications.
I wish you a straightforward experience either way @LydiaGrace1 and congratulations on your Twins! 
@NaviSprite thank you so much for your detailed message (sorry just seen it now) It has made me slightly more relaxed if I do need to go down the c-section route - like you say, I’m sure it’s not as bad as I’m making it out to be in my imagination (the spinal block and catheter freak me out never mind being sliced open! But I’m sure at the time I’ll only be thinking about my babies and not me). I’m definitely opting to try for a vaginal birth, and just hope I achieve it! Nearly 30 weeks now so not long to go! Thank you for your well wishes. Your twins are one of each - we haven’t found out what we are having but my instincts tell me boy / girl (of course I could be completely wrong!)
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