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.

Well, I guess I'll just see what happens now but I'm definitely not ruling out a c-section and if I do have one, I won't feel guilty about it as I know I've done what's best for them.

It's also too simplistic to say that recovering from a c section is hell (it obviously isn't a walk in the park) and women who have vaginal births always recover brilliantly in comparison. If you have a complicated birth, an instrumental delivery, a tear, you can be in as poor a state as someone recovering from major abdominal surgery.

Good luck OP, and don't be railroaded into making a decision you aren't comfortable with. Not saying you will - I expect most consultants would lean towards the most risk averse method of delivery.

Thanks seaoflove :) I'm feeling more relaxed about it now and will just have to see what the outcome is. I'd just rather know if they'll try me naturally or planned c-section because I'd prefer it planned than an emergency.

Definitely worth talking about. Also as a c-section may happen worth asking about what would happen in that case.

I had an EMCS with my ds and found recovery took a while. My dh had 2 weeks paternity leave and then 1 week holiday attached to it as I could not easily lift the baby/change nappies until week 3. That was just me; no complication or infections - in fact was out of hospital after 2 nights.

Rebecca I didn't mean you were obnoxious, the people saying I was spouting rubbish were. Also Caesarian can be spelt in a variety of ways, I was taught to spell it this way. I

There is a problem with using experience as a neonatal nurse to draw conclusions about birth - you inevitably see ill/premature babies, so they aren't a representative sample and nor are their mothers.

Slippermaiden please go and research multiple births and the risks associated with them. With modi I'd start with twin to twin transfusion syndrome, acute form and TAPS form. I hope you don't tell new parents the rubbish about natural birth stress.
Modi natural births are extremely high risk,I got flipping lucky my girls survived it. I would never recommend a natural delivery for modi ever!! The risks are far too great. Apart from the huge complications of the actual labour /birth you have no idea what staff they will have on duty when you go into labour. I had the most stupid of consultants on duty who didn't know her arse from her elbow. Twins need someone who knows what they're doing. Obviously there's always a chance of going into prem labour and having to have a emcs but if you're getting the correct care they will be able to plan correctly for you.
I've sent you a pm.

Well, I definitely feel loads better about my consultant appointment today and after most comments and what I wanted deep down anyway I'm definitely thinking more about a cesarean. It does seem the safest option.
Thanks everyone for your advice and useful comments and taken all on board :)

You were spouting rubbish. I hope you don't use that statement when you're at work because it probably makes people, like myself who are already anxious about hospital appointments even worse. It might be your opinion but it's a bit of a shit thing to say. I think all mothers want their baby or babies bought into the world as healthy as possible having gone through as little stress as possible. Some people have a hard natural Labour with one baby with a multiple birth the risks are much higher and I'm not prepared to take a risk. Yes, I know nothing about giving birth. I have no experience but I have plenty of friends who are mothers and am doing a good bit of research.

Thanks MrsWolowitz, exciting times ahead. I can't imagine jotting that down in my diary I can't wait.

I have had 2 c-sections, one after a very long labour followed by eclamptic seizures and one planned due to pre-eclampsia.

I was up and about the same day, and home after two nights.

You can drive before 6 weeks - it's just a recommendation.

I was at home with baby on my own and fine.

I have heard all sorts of shit about how you can't pick up your new baby, how you can't do this and that, but I totally disagree.

Hence why I will be having a third C-section in July.

My friend had a natural birth 4 weeks ago and tore so badly she found it absolutely agony for at least a week.
I was over the park with baby on day 3, so just goes to show everyone is different.

Nothing is the easy option, but the SAFEST option should always be the number one choice.

I could have wrote your post op, I'm also having mono-di twins and thinking about my delivery options.
I had a natural birth with dc1, but I'm confused as to what to do this time round, I would like to be up and about after their birth but ultimately if having a c-section is the safer option for the babies then that's what I will go with.
Good luck with your appointment today, hope all goes well.

It is a hard choice to make, obviously if it was easier and safer I'd love to give birth naturally. I just don't think it is the right choice or the safest and most people seem to think the same. Congrats on your mono-di twins lemiis13, how exciting! :) hopefully all goes smoothly today.

Let us know how you get on with consultant today.

FWIW I had EMCS at 10pm, girls whisked to NICU, but I was up and walked to the NICU to see them at 10am so the recovery isn't necessarily hellish.

I will thanks :) i'm quite excited now, not half as nervous. Appt isn't until 3:45 so few more hours to wait. It was literally just the recovery I was worries about with cesarean other than that I was going to go for it. Well, giving that they will let me have a planned one. I'm not sure in my hospital if I'm allowed to request one.

Well, just got home from my consultant appointment. I requested a planned c-section and gave my reasons as to why, babies getting distressed etc to which my consultant said "uh huh absolutely, cause there's no guarantee that both babies would be ok with a natural delivery, we can talk about it next time" it was then my mind was 100% made up. I'm making the right choice. A planned section will be made for me. Relief.

Glad your appointment went well op wishing you the best of luck.

Glad it went well. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

Thanks guys, over the moon and a lot more relaxed xx

I had DCDA twins. I did the research at the time and I think the EMCS rate was 34% (but please do your own research for MCDA and your consultant should be able to tell you the evidence based numbers). With those rates I thought it would be better to go for an ELCS. My consultant actually agreed & signed me off for an ELCS. (so contrary to slippery maiden's experience - but bear with me slippery!).

My twins happen to come early at 29 weeks. The SHO at the time did say that it was better for them to come vaginally. It's to do with fluid being pushed out of their lungs. But again, ask your consultant for the actual stats, because when I looked in to it (I love a good stat) it turned out that actually a small % of CS babies need help breathing afterwards and it all seemed quite minor. The other issue is that the babies pick up your good bacteria in their journey through the birth canal. However, nowadays you can ask for a swab of your vaginal bacteria to be swabbed over the babies (I know it sounds gross).

As it happens I went in to hospital with PROM and 2 live babies. After a couple of days I was transferred from labour ward to the antenatal ward. There I developed really bad, what I thought was, constipation. Turned out I was in labour. I hadn't done it before, I had no clue. Unfortunately the midwives thought I was moaning about constipation and I now fully understand the stories you read in the paper about ladies giving birth on the toilet! Contractions, as it turns out, are actually really hard on small prem babies … and my first born unfortunately didn't survive. For the second one I was rushed (the bed was bouncing off the walls) in to theatre and had an EMCS under GA. Not much fun I can tell you.

So, slipperymaiden, those vaginal births don't always work out that well for the neonates!

rebecca please don't let my story scare you. You might go to (almost) term which makes the situation v different and my story is quite uncommon of course. Although it has made me look at statistics very differently. Low probability, high impact. So I would opt for the safest way of delivery next time round. At the end of the day labour is only one day of their lives and ultimately the most important thing is they arrive safely.

Having said that, it is such a personal choice, (and I don't know anything about the MCDA twins). Even though it worked out really badly for me I am glad I had the experience of giving birth and found it an empowering experience. (I am sure that makes no sense at all, but there you go!)

Good luck xxx

Oh just read your latest post rebecca! My whole story is a bit redundant now!!

Great you got it signed off!