Vaginal birth or c section with twins?

[Lipsticktraces]

I’m 28+4 with twins. I saw my consultant yesterday and was told that they don’t want me to go past 37 weeks.

We discussed birth options. I had been 100% sure I wanted a c section, but now I’m not so sure. Consultant told me that there is no advantage to babies if I have a c section and that it makes bonding/breastfeeding harder. My other option is induction at 37 weeks and an epidural. Consultant did make it clear that it is my decision and hospital will go with whatever I want to do.

Really don’t know how I feel now. Would really appreciate others thoughts/experiences. I’m 39 and this is my first (and definitely last) pregnancy,

After all you've gone through to get this far I would say it's a no brainer really, although the decision in yours of course.

I was lucky to get both my twins to 31 weeks (they had ttts) and so I wasn't risking anything and just wanted them out the safest possible way, plus I was also never having any more children so didn't have to worry about having multiple sections.

Have you looked on the tamba website, I found that really useful when I was expecting my twins.

He pretty much described it as “You come in. We give you a pessary, break your waters, put you on a drip, epidural and then BOOM...you have two babies” I suspect there might be slightly more too it then that...

Hmmm

Well they gave me the pessary first thing in the morning and things started happening slowly but didn’t really get going until about 11pm, by which time of course my DH had been sent home (end of visiting) so I was alone.

I had a tens machine which was great for the pain but I was very sick.

Finally shipped down to a labour suite in the middle of the night
as I needed gas and air by that point.

They slapped internal monitoring on me as they couldn’t distinguish between the heartbeats with two external monitors so I was effectively strapped to the bed from that point and nothing moved on.

Epidural was given after G&A stopped working.

Sintocin had little effect.

36 hrs after pessary was given they decided a section was the only way forward.

Obviously it wasn’t an ideal scenario. I was pretty much on course for a section as soon as they decided to induce. However I was nearly 39 weeks by this point with big babies and the consultant had already let me go several days further than he originally wanted to after I begged for more time to go into labour naturally.

It wasn’t scary. I was kept informed at all times. The babies’ health was paramount.

However it should be noted that my family history is littered with sections. Not that long ago none of us would have survived childbirth so we are all very grateful.

I have lots of friends with twins who delivered naturally with no problems though.

I delivered twins vaginally at 38 weeks and twin 2 was double breach. It was really fine. I had pethidine which I regret as it made us all woozy. If you’re up for having a go vaginally it’s a quicker recovery.

I had twins vaginally at 35 weeks. I was meant to get an epidural but didn’t have time. I went from “my back is sore” to first twin born in an hour and 45 minutes.

Well it looks like the choice might have been taken out of my hands anyway...

Went for a scan today and it showed reduced blood flow to the placenta with baby two. I have to go back on Thursday to be scanned again. Consultant has told me there’s a good chance they will have to deliver babies by section then (they’ll be exactly 30 weeks) if not on Thursday then probably at some point in the next 1/2 weeks

Sorry, 2 to 7 days not 1/2 weeks!

OP that is exactly what DS had and although he was born at 35w, he was so small that the staff said he looked more like a 31 weeker.

He is just fine.

I have friends whose twins were delivered at 28w via EMCS and they are just fine too.

Get onto the Bliss website which has some helpful resources around babies in NICU as yours will probably go there and also ascertain whether your babies can be cared for at your local hosp or if they might need to go to another specialist unit.

Good luck x

Good luck OP. A friend of mine had her twins delivered at 27 weeks. They were tiny, spent a couple of months in special care. Now they are the most lovely, mischievous, boisterous toddlers; absolutely thriving.

Could section. Took me 2 years, surgery and physio to recover from my vaginal birth. The effects of it stopped me bonding with baby and caused PND. Never again.

Good luck OP, hope you are ok.

My twins were emergency c section at 31 weeks, I was told that mine would need to get to 30 weeks to be viable and they were just fine. To be honest, it was almost a relief when they were out as they were less of a worry as I knew they were being looked after in neo-natal.

Might be worth seeing if you can have a tour of the neo natal unit, I saw lots of parents to be having tours when I was their with my twins but I wasn't aware of them!

Thank you for the well wishes everyone. You’re all very kind

Thank you for the Bliss link @JohnnyMcGrath Excellent website.

Glad your twins were OK @DaisyChops. I don’t think they’ll be time for a tour tbh. I have to go back Thursday morning and there’s a good chance they’ll be delivering them then. Luckily hospital has a NICU. Staff have all been brilliant so far. I only transferred there two weeks ago from Lewisham and so glad I did. They were pretty dreadful there.

Good luck OP, stay strong and your twins will be with you soon

It will be okay, it really will. Neonatal doctors are great. And as Daisy says, when they are out, they can be helped. DS was so so tiny and thin when he was born. He had a suck reflex but was too weak to suckle and had to be fed with a sugar solution straight into his veins as he didn't even have the energy to digest milk.
He was also dropped on the head during delivery (me not the staff!) and had chicken pox before he was two months old.

My twins will be 5 mos tomorrow and DS is thriving. He is a small but healthy weight, BFs constantly, and is very alert with a big cheeky smile. He went swimming for the first time today and loved it.

Just sit tight and they will look after your lovely babies. One day soon, all this will be a distant memory and you will have two cheeky, sweet babies keeping you up all night!

Reduced blood flow and concerns about growth in DT1 was the reason mine came early (35 weeks). They were both just over 4lb.

I’ve just dropped all 6’3 of him off at rugby training.

—he’s still my teeny baby though—

Good luck!

OP how are things?

I keep checking back as well Johnny to see if there is any news!

Hope everyone ok OP x

Oops, sorry I haven’t been back to post. I do apologise.

Babies are still inside The flow is the same, but heartbeat, movements etc still all very healthy. Consultant is aiming to deliver in week 32 (I’m 30+5 now) Have to go to hospital to be scanned every other day at present. Obviously I’m aware the situation can change at any moment, but I’m very happy with hospitals care and feel we’re in good hands.

Thank you for all your kindness and well wishes. I’ll keep you updated.

My DT were born in the 70s - both were breach and I delivered them vaginally after going in to labour naturally at 38 weeks. The hospital didn't have an ultra sound machine, so no one seemed to know what position they were in, and a c section was never discussed as an option. I think you're fortunate to be able to have a choice, but can honestly say that I in my case the delivery was very straightforward.

Sorry - posted before I saw the update. Hope all goes smoothly.

Good luck OP, keeping everything crossed for you, hope you make it to week 32.

My boys were 31+5 and were absolutely fine (just feeders and growers), they never even had time for the steroid injection for their lungs and didn't need to be ventilated. It is amazing how much fight these little babies have in them.

OP you'll be grand. Don't feel you need to update for us but we will all love to hear how it goes if you have time.

My sister gave birth to twins 7weeks ago. They were born at 33wks. labour came on naţurally. She had a vaginal birth twin 1 was born normal and twin 2 was born breech but she was also healthy. They both came home after 10days.

Its your choice, what ever you feel comfortable doing. As long as babys are safe, go with what feels right for you!

Good luck with your birth and god bless you and your babies

Hi everyone, just wanted to update. I managed to make it to 34 weeks exactly with the twins and they were born by section yesterday. A girl and a boy, weighing 4.6lbs and 3lbs respectively. They are in NICU atm, but both are doing well.

Thank you again for all the help and advice people gave on this thread. It was much appreciated