Vaginal or C-Section for MCDA twins

[GingerBrummie]

Hi ladies,
I am 34 weeks pregnant with MCDA twins, one is 20% percentile & other is only 5% percentile however consultant is happy with their progress, they are growing well & hopefully the smaller one will just catch up when shes out!
They are head down & I have the option to push for a vaginal birth at 35 or 36 weeks, I want this (various reasons why) however consultant recommends a C-Section, because they share same placenta & its my first plus second baby is small.
He thinks first baby will be fine, but 2nd baby most likely will need emergency C-Section as placenta may fail her plus risk of acute TTTS.
Anyone here have a vaginal birth with MCDA twins? Just interested in babies who shared the same placenta. Thank you for reading :)

I didn't have one, but I was one. A very quick induction and my sister was born 18 minutes after me, she was the smaller of us but still good sizes for 36 week twins.

But back then my mother didn't have any extra scans and there was no suggestion of a c section being preferred, the guidance has changed a lot since then!

Thanks @addler

I have no direct experience of these particular circumstances but I think if your consultant is recommending a c section I would take his advice. A planned section is much better than ending up with a emergency one. I've had two emergency ones and they weren't fun, my sil's planned section was so much better for all concerned.
Congratulations and best of luck whatever you decide.

Thanks @Mama1980

Honestly take the csection. They will push to induce you at 36/37 weeks for a vaginal birth and with twins it's likely to end in an emergency csec (with the added bonus of going through hours of pain in an induced labour). I speak from bitter experience.

My 3rd pregnancy was MCDA twins. Had previously had elective caesarean for first baby, and then a straightforward vbac for second. I opted for an elective cesarean at 37 weeks for my twins, mainly because with a shared placenta there were concerns that it might fail before second twin had been born.
I'd really had to fight for a vbac for second baby, and have often encouraged people to try for a vbac (singleton babies) but decided a c section would be safest in my circumstances with an MCDA twin pregnancy. I agree with previous posters that a long labour followed by an emergency c section is the worst of all worlds. And in any event a natural twin birth is often a closely managed and highly medicalised birth, at least in the experience of other twin mums I know. Good luck, whatever you decide!

Honestly I'd take the c section if it's recommended - I don't understand why if you are not a medical professional you would not accept the recommendations of someone who is? Especially when it comes to the lives of yourself and your babies.
I had DCDA twins, one less than 5% centile the other 50% centile. I would have lost them both had it not Been for a c section

Thanks all, will continue to contemplate!

Take the c section. Our MCDA twins were born at 34 weeks last year. The one reprieve after a challenging pregnancy was to have a straightforward birth.

I had to have a c section with my DT because both were breach but I had a vaginal delivery with my first born and I'd take that a hundred times over a c section, the recovery is so long!

Sounds like c section much better idea. Safe, calm, no risk to babies.

I'd honestly take the C Section. I have non identical twins, but they arrived at 33 weeks. I just wanted them out safe & quickly. But I knew from finding out it was twins that I wanted a C section. My consultant wanted to keep an open mind about a vaginal birth but my mind was made up. If your consultant is saying a C section is best then I would absolutely listen to them.

Good advice from @Twinningatlifey , our MCDA twins were born (via c section due to complications) at 34 weeks and required NICU stay. I was totally unprepared despite always knowing it might be a possibility. It's very challenging time on top of all the other emotions of having two babies and all the other hormones that come post birth!

I had a vaginal birth with my MCDA twins at 35+6 they were 6lb and 5 10oz. Baby 1 was no problem but number 2 was breech. They tried to turn her and failed so she was born breech. They needed antibiotics after birth (meconium in waters) but all was well. I had an early epidural in case I needed a c section.

I would say consultant was keen for me to try vaginal as I'd previously had 2 successful vaginal births and I had a 2 and 4 year old at home so was keen not to need an extended recovery.

I'd definitely listen to the consultant though. I felt that I was given a fair amount of dodgy conflicting advice from transient midwives when I had to pop in for my very frequent monitoring.