Many people have asked me whether I'm planning on having a C-section or a v***nal delivery. The hubs doesn't like the v-word, hence the code name. This is a difficult question for me. Years ago, I would have said that doctors too often default to a C-section because they have more control and why don't they let more women deliver v***nally? Now, after coming to terms with fertility and all the other drugs and medical treatment I'm undergoing to ensure the health of these little guys, I have more of an attitude that the most important thing is having two healthy babies in our arms and some of the details surrounding how they came to be are not that important. The overwhelming feeling I have about all of this, in spite of all the medical help, is that it is a miraculous journey.
On top of that, I'm incredibly terrified of having one baby v***nally and then having to have a C-section for the other and having to recover from both!! My doc is very laid back and happy to do whatever we want to do (unless there's a major issue, of course). His wife delivered her twins v***nally, so I know he's comfortable with that. I have been trying to learn what the benefits are to having a v***nal delivery, because with twins, it is definitely less risky to have a C-section for the safety of the babies. My doc said the main thing is not having the scar tissue for future pregnancies.
I know many people have some very strong opinions on the matter and I would love to hear them! (I may not agree end up deciding what you think is best, but I do want to hear.)
Please be respectful of others who may disagree, but otherwise, post away!
Well, having only had to deliver one baby at a time I totally wanted to do it the v way. I was pretty scared of the thought of having to do a c-section. I don't really know why. Maybe because having a baby in a scary looking operating room where you can't see what is going on doesn't sound like fun. Or that it seems the recovery time takes longer. Plus, I just don't like being cut open while awake. Thankfully, although I had to be induced for both babies over a week past their due date, and both were pretty big, Josiah was 8 lbs 6 oz and Audrey was 9 lbs 5 oz, I popped both out just fine. I can understand the fear of having to end up doing it both ways with the twins. Can they assess ahead of time based on the way they are facing what the likelyhood of that would be? Definitely the advantage of having twins and delivering them v***nally is that you only have to recover once as opposed to me having to go through all the work of labor and pushing and recovery twice. But I guess the same goes for surgery. With surgery it would be over fast and you wouldn't have any of the labor pains. But with meds you can avoid a lot of the labor pains too. An epidural when it works correctly is a magical thing. I would say that you'll know what is right for you and your babies. Everyone will have their opinions but you do what is best for you and the kiddos. Like you said, the most important thing is the end result of having two precious babies with you. One question that just popped in my head, I know it is a challenge to nurse two babies, would having the pain where the incision is make it harder to hold them/feed them in the beginning? I am sure someone knows the answer. Sorry this is so long.
ReplyDeleteI had both of mine v***naly and they went just fine. I had an epidural for both but waited to get one for Ethan, being the first, till I was 6 1/2cm. I thought I could do it, I was so wrong. I personaly think that v***nal is the way to go. Mine was a very short recovery time. With the 2nd one it was like I didn't even give birth, no stitches, it was a breeze. Not having a c-section I can't give you the other view, good luck deciding. I think the kiddos will ultimately decide for you though...just try not to be too upset if it didn't go exactly the way you planned. The end result will be a beautifuly healthy baby boy and girl!
ReplyDeleteI can only tell you about my personal experience. Epidural can do wonders because it lets you concentrate on pushing without pain. Both my kids were almost 9 pounds and the worse part was the stitches due to rupture. For the most part recovery was fast and I only had to worry about breastfeeding. I heard that with C-section you can't do much for a while. I personally would only have a C-section if the doc tells me that the twins are at risk, otherwise I would go for V***nal delivery. At the end it is your decision. Love, Tere
ReplyDeletei had mine v and natural! no meds ladies! It was a breeze. With your two being small v should be no problem. Guess it depends on their position too.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, in case anyone's keeping count, or for ladies who might be reading this trying to figure out what to do, I have received numerous emails from friends who had C-sections and were very pleased with the experience. Many saying recovery wasn't nearly as bad as they thought it would be and many feeling better knowing that it was the safest thing for their baby(ies). I'm not sure if these ladies just wanted to write me about other stuff, too, or why they didn't comment, but I hope that women aren't embarrassed about going the C-section route, because similar to miscarriages, you're not less of a woman and other women would really benefit from other women discussing their experiences and knowing how often miscarriages and C-sections happen. I'm just glad that I'll have pregnancy amnesia no matter which route I go!
ReplyDeleteI have never given birth, so take what I say with a grain of salt... but it seems to me from what I've read that birth is a huge transitional experience for the baby (babies) as well as for the mother. Being born the v way is more of a gradual experience that gives the baby time to transition and adjust, versus a c-section, where the baby is in the uterus one moment, and breathing air the next, without that transition. There's a lot of mysterious stuff that goes on during birth with hormones and physical and emotional changes for both the mother and the baby. It seems to me that a c-section probably disrupts a lot of these natural chains of changes.
ReplyDeleteAs such, I feel strongly that if I ever have kids, I would want to give birth in as natural a way as possible, and only have a c-section (and many other interventions) if clearly medically necessary. I think it would be a more gentle experience for both the mother and the baby.
Hey, I think you should do whatever the doctor thinks is safest. Ask the doc what they would do if it was his/her babies. If there's a chance one cord could get around the other, or one could be deprived of oxygen while the other one makes its way out, just cut them out. If the doc thinks everything looks perfect for a nice v-delivery, go for it. But when in doubt...cut them out! (and I had a c-section and really did not like the recovery period...but as much as I hated it, safe healthy babies are the priority). I know one person who went for the v-delivery with twins, and she ended up having to c-section the second (worst of both worlds...). The twin factor just makes this way different from a normal delivery, in which case you definitely want to go "the normal way" if possible. But with two...much more complex.
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