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Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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Original poster

Trying to decide about Natural Birth or Elective CS

34 replies

StopTheRoundabout · 04/01/2018 01:11

Hello. I'm due to have non identical twins in 6 weeks and I'm trying to decide which type of birth to opt for. Since 20 weeks Twin 1 is head down and twin 2 is breech but very active. I have terrible haemorrhoids and around my pelvis is very swollen and sore. My Consultant wants me to try to have a natural birth but I'm very apprehensive. I don't want twin 1 to be born naturally and then have a breech vaginal birth or emergency cs with Twin 2. Does anyone have any advice please?

OP posts:

Waterdropsdown · 07/01/2018 14:05

I’m pretty sure I only bought one packet of maternity pads and bled a lot less than I expected (maybe the c section clears away a lot of the blood?) At the start I put one in my big Tena lady pants, but think I stopped using them after a few days.

Neonrainbow · 07/01/2018 18:28

I bled a lot less than i thought too. I used maybe 2 packets of maternity pads. Supermarkets mostly sell maternity pads so someone will be able to get some for you if necessary. I am a size 12 and i bought some cheap full brief knickers from Primark/supermarket in a size 16-18 to make sure they went over the wound, you definitely don't want shorts styles or anything like that. Put a pad over the wound for extra protection if you want to, i felt it helped with peace of mind that it wasnt weeping. Keep a close eye on the wound and keep it as clean as you can with plain water. If you suspect infection at all, get down to the gp for antibiotics as soon as possible. I got an infection 5 weeks post and i caught it nice and early so it recovered quickly but i did dawdle about going to the gp because i only go when my leg is falling off normally!

Above all look after yourself. Make sure you're eating and drinking plenty especially if you want to breastfeed. I don't know if this is helpful but overnight me and dh took one baby each in the early weeks, and dealt with whatever that baby gave us so that there was less pressure on one of us to deal with both overnight although i was bottle feeding. If one baby wakes for a feed, wake the other one too and feed him/her. Keep them on the same routine as each other as much as possible. And take ALL help that is offered!

Original poster

StopTheRoundabout · 07/01/2018 21:59

Thank you for all the tips. That's interesting that you don't bleed as much after a cs. I can't remember how much I bled after my vb but I remember sending DH to get me more maternity pads at the time. I am hoping to breastfeed again this time but it will be more of a challenge with two so I'll see how I get on. I've been looking at breastfeeding pillows online but they are quite expensive so I'm keeping an eye out for a second hand one. I'm trying to be relaxed about it and plan to combine feed if I need to. DH will be working away a lot so I'll have to get a routine going early on. I read about keeping both babies on the same schedule for sleeping and feeding. Hopefully, they will be like me and like to sleep

OP posts:

littlebillie · 10/01/2018 16:15

I had NB but wish I had a CS

tkband3 · 10/01/2018 16:21

I had an elcs for my mono-mono DTs, after a vaginal birth (with much intervention - 2 days of induction, epidural, waters broken, ventouse). DTs were both head down and consultant had said I could go for a vaginal birth if I went into labour before a certain date, but that they needed to be born soon after 37 weeks as the placenta would start deteriorating after that.

No signs of labour, so elcs at 37+4. DTs born weighing 5lb7 and 5lb12. No problems with elcs at all, and I found it easier to recover from than from DD1's 'natural' birth. The only annoying thing was not being able to drive, but everything else was fine. I was sitting up breastfeeding them both in the recovery room .

ScrunchyBook · 10/01/2018 19:24

StopTheRoundabout there will likely be a local twins group to you, have a look online. Mine has a Facebook group with a selling page, the twin breastfeeding cushions pop up on there fairly often secondhand

Original poster

StopTheRoundabout · 15/01/2018 00:08

littlebillie I feel like that too after my vb and I don't want to have to go through a double recovery of both a vb and a emcs iykwim. Eitherway, it's going to be hard recovery but an elcs may cause less permanent damage.

tkband3 Not being able to drive will be awkward but after my vb I wasn't able to drive for weeks so it wouldn't have been much different if I had had a cs. I still have a lot of issues after the vb 'repair'.

Thanks ScrunchyBook I'm not on fb but I might have to set up an account to get advice about preparing for the arrival of DTs

OP posts:

moggle · 15/01/2018 10:10

It’s probably not much help as there are so many variables but I thought i’d come back and share what happened with us after posting earlier. I had my twins on Thursday and did manage a natural birth in the end and we avoided induction. I think though mostly it’s down to luck and genetics as well as all the twin permutations - DD’s birth was quick for a first baby (12 hours from first contraction to birth), it’s a cliche but my body just knew what to do... similar this time, mild contractions started after a sweep in the afternoon, they ramped up at 2:30am and both babies were here by 5am. It was just 2x my daughter’s birth. No time for more than gas and air.
We were in hosp 3 nights which has helped recovery and although the nights are sleepless we’re both feeling fairly chipper. Glad to avoid some of the side effects of c section but equally a natural birth could have resulted in nasty ones too, again, I know I’ve been lucky. I have some stitches but they’re not causing any problems.
My main issue is back ache caused by my ab muscles being absolutely shot!! And delivery method has nothing to do with that!

Anyway my thoughts are really that you have to make a decision based on your best guesses and thoughts at the time and that is all you can do. Things may or may not go as planned but as long as you’ve thought things through that is the best you can do and you’ll never know what the alternative options would’ve resulted as so no point dwelling on it after (will be too busy anyway!!)

Good luck dxxx

Dippydodah · 25/01/2018 23:14

I was same as you. One head down, second twin breech. I had a ‘natural’ birth. Induced, epidural, all went well. Episiotomy but it was grand... friend had c-section as she was more comfortable with that and was exhausted after an extremely difficult pregnancy. I wanted to try for natural birth, but was ready for whatever got them out safely! Easier recovery etc. really depends on what you are most comfortable with... good luck x

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