c-section vs vaginal for twin birth ? need advice.

[greyby25]

I'm nearly 28 weeks with my mono di twins and my doctor said I will be discussing birth options at my next consultant appointment to start planning for delivery as we have about 9 weeks to go. The thing is is I'm in two minds about both options. Obviously I want to get my babies here safely but currently they said I can pretty much choose what I want to do, both babies are a healthy weight, developing well and both are head down, they've said as long as the presenting baby stays head down there's no reason I can't have a normal delivery, obviously things may change but this is where we are at so far.

My birth with my first daughter was an induction, and I was fine, had no pain relief, laboured for about 24 hours, 30 mins pushing, stitches and home after about 4 hours, I recovered fairly quickly and easily, with having twins I know I'd have an epidural but the recovery side is very appealing to me as I know I recovered well last time. My worry for a natural birth is that I would have one baby and then have to have an emergency c section for the second, or that the second one would become distressed during me labouring the first and then have to go through being birthed. So on that side c section is more appealing as babies are out pretty much together and less risk of the babies becoming distressed. However I'm absolutely terrified of having a c section, terrified of the idea of surgery and terrified of the recovery. My facebook always seems to be full of horror stories about c sections and it's scared me off to be honest and left me worried to core about needing a c section. I will also have a 2 year old to contend with as well as my newborns so recovery is worrying me greatly.

At the end of the day I will do whatever to get my twins here safely but I was wondering if anyone has any stories about recovery from c section not specifically twin birth but just in general, I could do with some reassurance as I feel in my gut it's going to be a c section that I end up having. Sorry for the long post, I do ramble on sometimes.

TIA x

I would do everything I can to avoid c section! I have a family member who had a c section and now 11months later she still has her tummy numb and painful scar when she lifts heavier things. Where I , after natural delivery with epidural, was fine and walking pain free 5hours post delivery. So Id alwayts chose natural delivery if I could. Good luck with whatever you decide xx

I had a natural birth with my son, very traumatic and quick (induced), broke my couch, lots of tearing, long recovery (physically and mentally). Next I had twins with a planned csection- much easier in all respects, no scar problems, no overhang, much quicker recovery! Obviously everyone is different but don't be scared of a csection. Mine was a very positive experience and I had no problems looking after the twins afterwards. Good luck!

I had a planned c section with my twins at 38 weeks as twin 1 was breech. First into theatre in the morning, had them at 9.30am. Everything went very well, had a couple of nights in hospital after then home. I was at a wedding with them two weeks later staying away for two nights and was easily well enough for it. I didn't have an older one to manage so I can see that would be more difficult. Friends I've spoken to who have had planned c sections have had similar stories to me. So if you do decide to or need to it may not be as bad as you imagine x

Not COUCH, COCCYX! 😄

Love the idea that you broke your couch though!!

Congratulations on the twin pregnancy For me twin 1 being head down was enough to make the decision to go with a vaginal birth. I was worried about needing a c-section with twin 2 but decided to deal with that IF it came to it. Which it didn't. I was induced at 38 weeks and they were born 28 minutes apart.

I would take on board what your consultant says and base your decision on that. Also, the fact that you've previously delivered successfully goes in your favour. Best of luck.

@timeforakinderworld hahaha I was wondering how you had broken your couch in labour 😂

Thankyou all! I'm still completely undecided, ahhh ! I'll definitely soak to my consultant this week about my anxiety around having a c section and maybe they can help reassure me ! I have a scan as well this week and babies could of flipped. It's all dependant on circumstance obviously but I'd like to have it set in my head what I'll be doing in each circumstance as I like to have everything planned x

I've had both, a vaginal birth which ended up in a 3rd degree tear and a cesarean. I'd say recovery was about the same tbh. I was terrified of a cesarean also but reading positive stories on here reasurred me, and 6 weeks on, it wasn't as bad as I imagined.

@Littleguggi I had an episiotomy with my first, and I'm leaning more towards c section, mostly due to it being easier for the babies. Just very scared as I've never had surgery of any kind, never even been admitted to hospital for anything other than giving birth to my first daughter so I'm very apprehensive, the horror stories don't help, definitely going to need some reassurance.

Have you had your discussion yet, @greyby25? I am currently 28+3 with DCDA twins and, because of placenta praevia, will be having a c section by 36 weeks at the latest (could happen before then as T2 isn’t growing as well as T1 and they’re giving me a very low threshold for delivery for a few other reasons too). C section was also my chosen delivery mode from the start because I’d read of the risk of delivering the first twin then labour stopping and needing a section for the second one (a risk that is increased with age) so I don’t have the dilemma - mine is more how many weeks till my little blessings arrive!!

I am being seen for another growth scan in 9 days time and will get them to check placenta position again (though am due rescan at 32 weeks for that) because, my last 2 scans the reports have mixed up the placentas between the twins.

I had an emergency section last Saturday and honestly it was no where near as bad as I imagined.

My wound is healing perfectly and I was up and about the next day (thou slowly and painfully) now 8 days on I feel great, I have very little to no pain and am just about as mobile as I ever was.

Bear in mind that recovery stories from a c-section aren’t much use to you unless you know what kind of c-section. A careful, unrushed, planned c-section on a well-rested mother with a fully staffed theatre during normal operating hours will likely be easier to recover from. An emergency crash section after a prolonged sleep-deprived painful labour, with a baby suddenly in distress and a rapid smash-and-grab type section to get the baby born right now, may well be harder to recover from for multiple reasons. And obviously there are lesser but still serious degrees of emergency.

If I were you, I’d strongly consider a section as it would not only mean full day-time surgery staff but full staffing of NICU if needed.

Maybe your hospital has ways around this so don’t take my word for it and ask lots of questions.

I’d also think if your body recovers well from vagubal birth, then you’re likely to recover well also from a section.