I'm desperate for a c-section with my twins - am I worrying too much?

[happymango]

I've got a second degree tear that never healed after dd1. The twins will be dc3 and dc4.

My fanjo is already seriously damaged and I'm worried about the possibility of prolapse etc.

Anybody got any similar experiences? My patronising consultant tells me I've got an anxiety problem (which I don't). I just want to have a normal sex life without feeling like I've got a granny's fanjo....

With four kids can you not drive for up to six weeks? Do no lifting, not even your older children or shopping) for about 8 weeks after. Not lift an infant car seat for up to three months.

If that's fine then go for it. And get a different consultant if you don't like it's attitude.

Oh and get big pants for after, little ones or trousers that rub on the scar hurt.

You probably know that c-section is no walk in the park. I think you had started the prev thread on c-section stories. Even if we assume that you have an anxiety problem, your consultant should refer you to some mental healthcare professional and stop being patronising. (I had some serious panic attacks while pregnant and they are not to be taken lightly). I second faeriefruitcake on getting a different consultant.

No I don't think you are worrying too much, if you want a c-section be very clear about it, do the research so you know the statistics re: problems it can cause and find a consultant who is on your side. YOU need to stick up for yourself. Be strong.

I agree with LBOF

I had a c section for my twins - and yes I was very tired for weeks afterwards - but I was far more active than I was while pregnant.

Make sure you have lots of help.

what type of twins are you having?

wow In a way I'm impressed your consultant is so pro-normal delivery, that's great as so many woman with twins are pushed into c-section (well they are where I am anway)
I do understand your concern but it is the pregnancy rather than delivery that puts more strain on the pelvic floor as the weight of the pregnancy has been sitting on it for months. If you have a straight forward pregnancy i.e not mcda with twin to twin transfusioon etc.. then a vaginal birth is the best for your babies and you.

Really? You know that the best birth for happymango and her babies is a vaginal birth? You have some foresight that can predict this? Or you have some information about her that is not contained in her original post?
Why oh why are the mothers feelings not relevent?

Granny fanjo

I must be a wimp then

I know how you feel. I had to beg for a c section with mine. I managed with four kdis after too, and I believe I made the right decision.
Bloody consultants and their 'anxiety' issues, I'd like to see them squeeze TWO melons out their backsides!

FFS, what a horrible consultant. 'Anxiety problems'. Perhaps you should offer to give her fanj / his scrote a good ripping and see if they are smiling about it?

You should be able to have your twins delivered in which ever way you feel best. Do some research, mull it over, talk it through with your DH and then tell your consultant what you want. If he/she isn't supportive, ask to see another consultant. I saw three consultants when i was going for a VBAC before I found one that I thought was supportive.

By GrannyFanjo on Mon 11-May-09 08:56:16
C-sections are for wimps.

I think you should go for a normal delivery.

What a vile 'joke' to make on a thread like this.

OP here! just back after a lovely two week stay in the Ante Natal ward. After writing the original post I had a bleed of about 1 pint on the bathroom floor (don't think it was actually linked to being on MN). Was rushed to hospital in an ambo, and have been there for the past two weeks. Finally home again today (now nearly 36 weeks pg) Sorry for the absence - but glad to be back on the thread.

Anyway, so I've got a borderline low lying placenta. Or the bleed (which was my third) is due to abruptions. Both twins are already 6lbs, which is on the 97th centile. Leading twin is breach and the consultant still wants me to have a vaginal delivery.... If both twins are breech she still wants me to have a vaginal delivery!!! How does anybody ever get to have a c section??

Thanks Rubyrubyruby! (Great name by the way - my daughter is Ruby too)

My consultant is on holiday this week, so if I go into labour whilst she's away, I may get a more sympathetic reaction from one of the other doctors.

Happymango - I hope you get the kind of birth you want. I've never torn, but I've read descriptions of the problems after that make recovery from a c-section seem like nothing.

I had a vaginal birth with twin 1 and a caesarean with twin2. Twin2 was transverse, ie a little hand and foot stuck out after her sister was born! She and I were both fine.

Faeriefruitcake's experience with 'no lifting for 8 weeks to 3 months' after c-section is not the same everywhere. I was not forbidden to lift anything and had to help lift the double buggy (babies inside) after a fortnight as otherwise would not have been able to leave the house!
When I asked my midwife if the 'no lifting' rule had been proved unnecessary, she said they just didn't bother to tell mothers that any more because they had no choice. If forbidden to lift things, they still would, the only difference would be they'd feel guilty about it.

'Leading twin is breach and the consultant still wants me to have a vaginal delivery.... If both twins are breech she still wants me to have a vaginal delivery!!! How does anybody ever get to have a c section??'

It is NOT up to HER to decide! It is YOUR body.

If I were you, I'd be writing out some complaint letters asap.

I had my twins by c-section 8 years ago. My DD1 was head down and rearing to go for ages and my DS1 was breach. I was adamant about having a normal delivery but my son made my mind up for me. I had them at 37 weeks. I too at the 'no lifting, no driving talk' but my husband and I were totally on our own and if I didn't put washing in the washing machine etc nothing would have got done. the only thing I did regret was driving to Tesco's three weeks after the op. I was in agony when I got out of the car! Other than that no probs.

I must say it's really lovely to have some support for a c section. I39, T68 and Expat in Scotland - thank you so much for saying some positive things.

Since I started having bleeds at 27 weeks I've been fairly much bed-bound and unable to lift either of my children anyway.

I just want to get these babies out safely now.

!!! You usually have a huge fight on your hands to get a vaginal delivery for a breach baby in Herts and thats if you are carrying a singleton. I don't know of anyone locally who has had twins by anything other than a section. Best of luck in getting the delivery you want.

sorry you have had such a stressful PG. best wishes with getting the section that you want. some people recover v. quickly from sections, some people have a difficult recover from vaginal births, nothing's a given.

I think women ought to have vaginal births unless medically indicated otherwise, but I think you ought to get your c-section, Mango.

Low-lying placenta, possibly both breach, previous traumatic births... all sound pretty reasonable indications for a c-section IMO.

Get a second opinion. Tell this consultant to sling her hook, she sounds horrible.

Thanks BTarts & TChaos.

My consultant is now using the bleeds I've been having as another reason to have a natural delivery. She says (and I don't know anything about this) that having had bleeds in pregnancy, I'm at higher risk of having a bleed during a c section. This could end up in a hystorectomy. I've no idea about any of that. But whatever I say, she always comes up with a new reason to push me into a natural birth.

dizietsma - you're so right. Wish I'd moved consultant months ago. Having had two extremely straightforward pregnancies in the past - I never imagined that this time around it would be so complicated. In retrospect I should have changed as soon as I started feeling negative about this consultant. Now it feels extremely difficult to change.