mono-di twins birth??

[Rebecca1608]

I'm sorry I've posted a similar thread before but just wondering if a c-section or natural birth would be better for my mono-di girls?!
I'm seeing my consultant tomorrow and many people have told me not to push for a cesarean as it takes a long time to recover but it's my first birth also so have nothing to compare it too or know what to expect- apart from pain, either way.
I asked this question quite early on in pregnancy last time but I've got around 15 weeks left and apart from letting my consultant do most of the talking tomorrow, as he'll probably have our best interest at heart. Should I say anything or not? Feeling anxious.

I've not had twins, but I've had two c-sections (1 planned, and 1 emergency) and 1 normal delivery inbetween them. Frankly, I found the C-section much easier to recover from. After the initial pain and feeling like I couldn't stand up straight, my scar healed very quickly and neatly. After the vaginal birth I had stitches, which hurt like hell for days (I couldn't sit down around day 4-5 post birth), and I bled for far longer. My next delivery will be a compulsory c-section, and I 'm quite happy about that, as recovery from my second c-section was even easier than with the first.

I wanted a plan c-section as I'm worried I'll get tired and baby or both babies could get distressed and would have to have an emergency one but many people have told me not to push for it (mainly people who haven't had one) and go naturally. I know everyones advice will be different and it's "what's best for me and babies" but it's so tough with me not having an experience.

I had emcs with my twins as twin one breach. I had previously asked my consultant for cs but he kept trying to persuaded me to have vaginal birth.
If you want cs be very assertive about it.
I think all twins should be cs due to the risk factor.
I know someone who twin 2 has severe disability due to vaginal birth problem, severe brain damage.
I would not risk it.
Good luck.

I had a c section and it was fine. I was home within two days and I did walk more slowly and not as far for a few weeks but that was all. Pain killers meant I didn't feel pain and I stopped taking them after a few days. I know women who had forceps and found recovery much worse and birth traumatic. They are determined to have cs.
I would chose an elected c section if I had another ( and I was determined to go natural the first time, so it can't have been that bad!)

Thanks for your replies. I'm going to wait and see what the consultant says but I think a c-section is something I'm edging more towards. If it was one I'd try naturally but I'm not sure with two. Maybe he'll make me try naturally and although I don't want to seem demanding, I do want the decision to be my own.

I have identical twins (3yrs) I have 3 older children.

I was told a c-section was safer as baby 2 could turn and risk with them sharing a placenta etc.

I was also told that if i went into.natural labour and because my other births were quick and straight forward they would see how it went etc.

I had a c-section and the procedure was absolutely fine, however I would never chose to have another. I found the recovery time awful and with 3 newborns and dh only having a limited time off it was hard.

But I say that coming from easy labours I was up and about after and felt fine no problems. Not everyone is this fortunate.

its so difficult deciding as it's the welfare of the babies that you worry about.

Given the chance again I would still have the c-section as both babies were born healthy and me giving birth naturally there was always a risk.

2 newborns that was supposed to say not 3

That's what I mean, my OH has only 2 weeks off with me and works full time. His mum works full time. My mum works and when she's not working she's looking after my father who's recovering from a stroke so I won't have much help with babies.

Getting them here as safely as possible is number one priority though and I'm worried about the complications of a natural birth but the recovery time after a c-section.

I've just had a CS (not twins) and my recovery was much quicker than previous VB (forceps). I would ask about the likelihood of an instrumental delivery and risk of having a VB for twin 1 then needing a CS for twin 2 as the last thing you want is to have 2 sets if stitches.

I had my non-identical twins by c-section due to IUGR for one twin and both breech. They were both in NICU for a while. I don't have any other children (and not having any more) i have had no experience with natural birth and i do feel sad about this, however it was the best for the babies. I am aware that the result could have been very different. The recovery was good, i was walking down to the NICU by he next day and it was on a different floor and down a corridor. By day five i had been discharged and was walking a mile for the bus to get to the hospital and back again in the evening. The good recovery was essential in those early days, i would have found it so much harder to deal with if i had had a bad recovery. Good luck OP. My twins are the best thing that has ever happened to me (they have their moments though!)

My twins were natural delivery. There was no question of a Caesarian unless they were in distress. With a natural birth you can pretty much get up and go after, and look after your babies easily, with a Caesarian you won't be able to walk easily for a few days and then not lift anything heavy for a few more days, drive for up to six weeks. Seems like a no brainier to me unless it's absolutely necessary. At your 15 week appt it's probably still not the main topic either.

Also I'm a neonatal nurse, I see all the mums after their Caesarian! And those babies need the stress of a vaginal delivery, and the squeeze thru the birth canal to prepare for life.

The not driving until 6 weeks thing seems to be a bit of a myth. I was allowed to drive from 3 weeks and many people are back driving before then. Being able to get up and go after a VB isn't necessarily the case either.

I can only go on what I've seen and experienced, I've met a lot of mums who haven't been able to drive for 6 weeks, might depend where u live, your gp and your insurance company. Just seems an odd thing to choose to go through. Also different consultants will push for caesarian a or natural depending on their opinion or research.

It's not a 15 week appt... I've got 15 weeks left until I have them. I'm 21 weeks pregnant. The driving thing doesn't matter because I don't drive anyway. I think I'm just going to see what my consultant says really and weigh up my pros and cons. I don't believe babies "need the stress of a vaginal delivery to prepare for life" - I'm definitely not too posh for pushing but although I know nothing about Labour, I know it'll be exhausting. The health of my babies are a priority and it's a very high risk pregnancy, why put them at any more risk.

If I was you I'd go for ELCS. There's no way I would want to give birth to two babies at once, frankly! And twin births can be fraught and complicated and you'll most likely have a lot of interventions that women giving birth to singletons won't.

And, it really sounds like in your heart you want to have a section. That's totally fine. Don't feel like you need to justify it in any way. It's undoubtedly the safest option with twins.

My trust doesn't allow vaginal deliveries for MCDA twins. I ended up with an emergency section at 31 weeks but would have had a planned section at 36 of I had got that far.

There is a risk of acute TTTS, and TAPS and also there can be an issue if the placenta drops down and is delivered before the second baby.

Personally, I would chose the section.

What a load of bollocks about those babies needing to be pushed through the birth canal.

Like MrsW, my first baby was a natural birth, but w forceps, and there were similar complications for me afterwards. I recovered relatively quickly, but not as easily as I had thought I would (due to forceps use). If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have agreed to the use of forceps, (my baby was, fortunately fine, but they can cause damage to mother and baby). "I don't believe babies "need the stress of a vaginal delivery to prepare for life" - agreed.

My subsequent, identical twin pregnancy was a planned C section at 36 weeks, at the consultant's (strong) recommendation. The recovery was hard and my stomach has never looked the same again. It took me several weeks to get my strength back, and that was challenging as I had my newborn twins plus a 17 month old. However, I have no regrets as I'm fine and the children are fine.

Looking back, natural birth really is not as low risk and straight forward as I had always thought. It is for some, but definitely not for others. However, a C section is major surgery and can be hard to recover from.

My top recommendation: get an abdominal binder for post birth. It helped me feel physically secure (my abs were like jelly) and I think it really aided my recovery. Plus, it gives you your waist back quickly [shallow].

Good luck!

I think I'm edging more towards the c-section. Thanks everyone, it is a lot of Help. Obviously I'm not going to go in to the consultant demanding one but I think in my heart it's the right decision and I'll take all on board what consultant says. I'll definitely voice my opinion. ahhh, feeling slightly more relaxed.

I give up on serious threads on mumsnet, I really do. What a rude obnoxious bunch of people you really are. I have twins and am a neonatal nurse with over 20 years of experience and I'm talking pish. I really give up on it.

I found a lot of the neonatal team actually didn't know a lot about TTTS, Mo-Mo / MCDA twins slipper. Think you for in with that.

With DCDA twins - absolutely no reason not to go for vaginal. This does not apply for identicals.

I don't think I'm an obnoxious person actually and added a thread for some advice or support. You may be a neonatal nurse but your comment was ridiculous.