Talk to me about birth options!

[dangle90]

Completely at a loss...
30 weeks pregnant 1 Twin head down the other Twin breech. Had a brief discussion with the consultant today who said I can give birth naturally but they may need to “manipulate” the other Twin to turn around after twin1 has been born. Which sounds awful... do I opt for a c section... or try natural Incase Twin2 turns naturally! What were your experiences?

My twin 1 was head down throughout my pregnancy but twin 2 kept switching.
I was induced at 38 weeks and gave birth naturally to twin 1 head first and twin 2 breech. They held my stomach after delivering twin 1 as they thought twin 2 had turned to head down but she hadn't. It looked quite weird, they pretty much dragged her out at the end by her ankles, but all fine. I had an episiotomy but I think that was to get twin 1 out, quick recovery from that no issues.

Thank you for replying! It’s nice to hear you didn’t have a bad recovery afterwards. That’s also something I’m worrying about if they’re not both head down!

I had same presentation and opted for an Elective CS. Didn’t make it the planned day 😢 so had 12 hour labour followed by Crash Emergency CS. I did worry about the Twin 2 delivery and wanted to avoid the possibility of having both a natural and section birth. I know it’s very rare for this to happen but after one delivery the last thing I wanted was to have any sort of assisted delivery.

I had been nervous about episiotomy/forceps and if you'd asked me beforehand I would have said no I don't want assistance like that. However in the moment when it's happening you just want them out safely, if they had said, "right Scrunchy, we need to cut your right arm off to get twin 2 out, will that be ok?" I'd have said yes

That’s what I’m worried about I don’t want to have to have one naturally and then end up having to have a section for the other one aswel. I suppose you can’t really plan these things, they may have ideas if there own! I am hoping they come before 38 weeks though as that is Christmas Day! 😱

I had planned a c section at 37 weeks on the basis that a) I didn’t want to have to be induced (the worst birth stories I had heard seemed to involve being induced, labouring for days and then ending in a crash or emergency c section anyway) and b) I didn’t want to have twin 1 vaginally and then have to have c section with twin 2.

As it was, the babies had other ideas and I went in to labour at 32 weeks and was told to prepare for a natural birth as I was already so far along by the time my waters broke and I got to hospital. I was terrified as hadn’t done any research or prep for a natural birth! Doctor gave me option of an epidural which I gladly took and he advised it was a good choice as sometimes twin 2 can turn whilst twin 1 is being born and they have to assist. This was described to me as either having doctor reach inside me and manually turn twin 2, or they sometimes grab twin 2 by the legs and yank them out. Which... didn’t sound great 😂
In the end, my boy got distressed and i ended up having an emergency c section which despite the last minute decision, was a really calm and good experience for me. I would say however not to be blasé about the recovery period (which i was when making my initial decision to plan a c section). I was in a lot of pain for the first few days! Compared to the other mums in the hospital who had vaginal births and seemed to be up and walking with no issues mere hours after the birth, it took me a good 4 days to have the pain controlled and be walking around ok. My babies were in special care for 7 weeks so I had plenty time to recover before we got that home. I can’t imagine taking them home and caring for them in the pain I was in on day 2.
To be honest I think whichever way it turns out, listening to other mums, neither way is a barrel of laughs! My advice would be either way, take all the drugs they offer 😀. Good luck, I hope you have a great experience x

I would opt for an elective section without a second thought. Save yourself the trauma of labour and whatever "manipulation" involves (it won't be pleasant).

I haven't had twins but I have had an elective section. It was easy and wonderful.

Also wanted to add that an elective section is preferable to an emergency section, because you'll go into it well rested as opposed to knackered and sleepless after X hours of labour.

And a vaginal birth is no guarantee of a swift recovery. I tore badly after DC1 and the pain after the section was less than the pain after perineal surgery. Also, you get looked after better after a section compared with a birth injury

Thanks for both your replies. Interesting to hear your experience Twin Mum. I’m just so torn I don’t know how anyone can decide specially without having experienced either beforehand. Half of me just wants to think what will Be will Be and wait and see... but then I’ve not mentally prepared for anything

My twins were breech and I was advised an elective c section and I bit their hands off. It was wonderful and I loved it!

Echoing heyroly I had a natural vaginalbirth with my elder dd and my recovery was way worse than my c section as I tore.

Even though twin 2 was breech I was advised by the consultant to go for a natural birth which I wasn’t comfortable with so I booked a section date (which was really difficult for me to go against a professional opinion). A week before he turned to head down so I switched to an induction date as being breech was the basis for my section decision.

30m after the induction I was strapped to the bed on monitors wishing I had stuck with the section as the contractions were so intense. I got an epidural a few hours in which was great but I ended up sectioned anyway due to T1 being back to back with no room to move and they were worried about T2 heart rate.

I found my recovery absolutely fine I have to say. Obviously I was sore but took pain meds as prescribed. At the time I wished I had just stuck with the section from the outset but the midwife said to me it was better that I had laboured “naturally” as it was a trigger for my body for delivery which would help with breastfeeding etc.

Good luck with your decision - I would say go with your gut feeling. x

My twin 1 was breach and twin 2 transverse so they didn't let me labour. I had an elcs at 36 weeks due to preeclampsia. The op itself was great, lovely atmosphere although we had quite the audience. I found recovery very tough though compared to my previous vaginal delivery with 3rd degree tear.

Thanks again guys. So many different stories... looks like it will just depend on the day.. I think the consultant is keen for me to try natural... suppose anything can happen really. Doesn’t help my nerves though

They're always keen for natural. 5 minutes before I went to theatre my consultant was scanning me to see if twin 1 had flipped so he could induce me instead.

It may also depend on local guidance as to how many weeks they are happy for your twins to stay in - I had a planned CS with my id (shared placenta) twins at 36 weeks (1 breech, 1 transverse and other factors made a CS a definite for me) but they would have allowed non-id to only go to 37 weeks, and then if you didn’t go naturally into labour it would be an induction to get things going so may be worth asking about what your local area does. CS recovery ok for me! Good luck.

I had DTD1 head down and DTD2 breech but they were my 2nd pregnancy. My first DS was a very fast labour.

There was no planning. DTD1 arrived fairly quickly and DTD2 turned and came out head first whilst the registrar (who had just got out of bed) was sorting her instruments.

I think I was very lucky that my obstetrician was completely comfortable with me making the decision about choosing whether to do natural or elect for a c section. I assumed that was a twin thing and all mums would get the choice but reading the other comments perhaps not!

They’ve not even spoken to me about any of it until I probed them today and said we feel completely in the dark with it all. Noones discussed anything with me. I see a different consultant every time. So we had a brief discussion about options. I don’t want to go to 38 weeks as that’s Christmas Day 😱

Just realised I already mentioned that further down the page wooops! Baby brain x 2

Many years ago when I had DS1, there was a pregnant lady in the queue next to me who looked pissed off, so by way of conversation, I asked her if her baby was due soon - she was big.

She said she was there for her 34 week check up and was expecting twins. She was waiting to see a doctor because no one had said a thing about what to expect and what was going to happen. So she was waiting until a doctor saw her, even if that was all day. I thought ooo errr - glad that isn't me and wished her well.

Two years later, that was me . They told me feck all. I kept asking questions and got no answers. In my case, I wanted to know what the procedure was going to be if I had a very short labour and could not have the epidural. I knew I was never going to get near an epidural because DS arrived in 3 hours and there was no way they could get that sorted in that time. No one wanted to know and the only answer was that I had to have the epidural . In the end, DH made sure I got to the hospital in plenty time and I just did my own thing while they got on with expecting a text book 12 hour labour and doing pointless things. DDs arrived safely

All I can say is keep asking questions and ask them what their policy is for delivering twins so you know what to expect. How they expect a birth plan off you when they tell you nothing is beyond me. Is there a senior midwife that can go through things with you?

At my midwife booking in appt, I asked for when I would need to have made a decision about birthing plan and c section vs vaginal and midwife told me at 39 weeks. 🤔 I just nodded and smiled and privately thought ‘you don’t know what you’re talking about!’ 😂

I had a midwife who had had twins at 38 weeks and first DC at 39 weeks. She said that I could not know that DTs would arrive quickly because all labours are different. At my 34 week check I told her that I had talked to people and had found out that I was supposed to give birth in a room next to theatre on the top floor but nothing else and wanted to know more. She said she was busy and would tell me at my 36 week check.

I did the nod and smile too - I just knew there was no way I would make it to 36 weeks LOL

I had twins last year. In my hospital the consultant gives you a leaflet about birth options at one appointment (20 something weeks) and says let me know what you decide at the 32 week (I think) appointment. Options being induced at 37 weeks or elective section at 37 weeks.

I chose elective section. Very happy with my choice. Had babies at 37+4. The recovery was fine (well I had post natal pre-eclampsia and was critical for 24 hours but after that, this was not because of c-section), walked to the park and back 7 days later. The first time getting out of bed was very painful. As someone else mentioned I did not want an induction as I’ve heard so many awful stories about them. If I have any further children I would chose a section again. The only reason consultants want you to do natural is because it’s cheaper for nhs.

I don’t want to go to 38 weeks as that’s Christmas Day 😱

Dongle - on one of my previous obstetric stays in hospital, at least two of the inmates had had DC on Christmas Day and assured me that it was absolutely the best time to have them