Will I regret an elcs?

[Cosmogirl86]

I am twelve weeks pregnant with mcda twins and I am considering birth options.

I am leaning towards a section as I know twins have a higher risk of medical intervention anyway, and I want them to be safe

However I'm scared I'll regret not having the full birth experience

[SheRaTheAllPowerful]

I had twins and a section and it was great, the birth experience is still a birth, without your fanjo being split in two. My recovery was fine.

[IamPickleRick]

I had one natural, one emergency cs and one elective cs. Obviously I can only speak for myself but the natural one and emergency were out of control, it was near death both times and I carry mental and physical scars from both.

The elective was a dream in comparison. So I will never regret it but you have to do what is right for you. Good luck x

[MILHouse]

I had my twins by CS (due to IUGR) followed by a VBAC with my third. I’d take the planned section any day!

Seriously, it was a lovely experience. I was calm, lucid and remember it all clearly. With my third baby it’s all a blur!

[moggle]

I don’t think you will, tbh, I think you will be too busy once they are here to have more than a passing wistfulness, let’s say. On twin groups I’m on the only regrets about ELCS I mainly see are when there is already an older child and recovery hinders looking after them. If this isn’t an issue for you and you have some help for the first 6 weeks or so then you should be ok I reckon.
BTW I wouldn’t worry too much about it until at least 30 weeks. when it comes to it the choice may be more taken out of your hands if twin 1 is not head down. Or they may have to be delivered early.
I had a vaginal birth with mine but it was after an uncomplicated vaginal birth with DD 3 years earlier, plus mine were DCDA and came at 37w+1.

[ScrunchyBook]

I had dcda twins and I was encouraged by my consultant to try a vaginal birth as I was well, and twin 1 was head down (twin 2 came out breech).
I'd see what your consultant recommends for you, and see how the babies are positioned later in your pregnancy.

If you have a section yes, you may wonder what it might have been like to have a vaginal birth, but that's fine.
I always planned to breastfeed and it never happened, I sometimes still think about what that may have been like (twins are 2yrs now) but it's just one of those things. I can't say I "regret" it specifically, it just was what it was.

Congratulations, twins are amazing!

[Mumlovestoast]

I had an elcs in October with my twins. It was so much more civilised. I was induced with DD1 and I’d rather throw myself under a bus than be induced again. The elcs pain was bearable, think I only had a couple of paracetamol on day 2 and DH and DM practically force fed those because I’m BF so didn’t want them having anything they didn’t need. But it was fine. Was up and about reasonably soon afterwards, had a shower that night, went home the next day. The scar is really neat too.
DD1s birth was a nightmare, had a typical drip induction, episiotomy felt like crap and struggled to look after her at first.

[TransposersArePosers]

I had MCDA twins and they were delivered by planned CS at 34 weeks due to perceived IUGR.

First dc was an emergency CS. The twin delivery was great in comparison. But my friend had her twins by vaginal delivery and said it was her easiest labour and birth (she had older children). By comparison, my first experience of labour was so bad that before I found out about the twins, I asked if I could have an elective CS and was told I should really try for a VBAC.

If you've delivered before I would also bear in mind that if one of your twins is transverse (as one of mine was), you will likely be guided towards a CS anyway, otherwise it is possible that you could deliver twin one but then need an emergency for twin two.

[gubbsywubbsy]

I have both Vaginal and elcs .. you are not missing anything 😬😂... have the c section and don't feel an ounce of regret or guilt about it x

[Onceuponacheesecake]

No point in regrets. Your priority is getting your babies into this world safely and opting for a CS may be less stressful.

[Courtney555]

I had my 11yr old by elcs and would actively recommend that to anyone. I'm now expecting twins and will absolutely be doing the same.
You get the occasional div who'll tell you that you haven't really given birth. Which is so patronising and a reflection on them not you.

I always figured, if I'm going to require stitches, I'd rather the tiniest little line (now invisible) on my bikini line, than sewing the inside and/or outside of my torn vagina back together

[MuchTooTired]

I had an elcs with my DTs. It was absolutely brilliant! We each had a team, and my dd (DT2) was born struggling to breathe - within seconds there was an army of medics in the room and she was fantastically looked after and joined us in recovery about an hour later.

I did in a funny way feel I’d “missed out” on giving birth vaginally, but then I give my head a wobble, because I shudder to think what could have happened if I hadn’t had a section - I truly believe I made the best decision for the three of us to come out safe and well.

I’ve had a couple of plonkers say I’ve cheated by having a section, but I’ve said that major abdominal surgery isn’t an easy option and that’s shut them up!

[Ray00yah]

I had my MCDA at 36+2 weeks. I was determined for a natural birth as I had my eldest naturally. I was frightened of the thought of being cut open for a c section. I ended up having twin 1 naturally but twin 2 was an emergency c section. I was induced and experienced a horrible labour that has traumatized me, and I wish I opted for the elective c section in the first place.