FEBRUARY HEARTS Due in February 2015 , open group all welcome!

[MellyH]

Yes, tell us, tell us!!!

Feronia, I want to find more statistics on what fraction of the time a manual version of Twin B is required after Twin A is born, and what fraction of the time a caesarean is needed for Twin B if Twin A is born vaginally. If those are relatively rare, I'm happy to try without the epidural. If they're common, then I think I want to be awake for when they're born and I'll choose the epidural. But hopefully they'll be flexible and allow me a walking epidural or an empty epidural catheter that can be topped up if a caesarean is needed.

 

[SurpriseBub]

Also- Lovely scan pics, ladies! ahhhhh- babies!!

 

[ttc126]

Melly, it could just be my state, but most hospitals are no longer doing walking epidurals from what I've been told...

 

[MellyH]

Boooo! Which state are you in? I'm in California.

 

[savvysaver]

Of course everyone will know here! I can't keep a secret too long and it will be hard enough not telling our family and friends! At least I can chat about the genders here.

I am starting to get nervous about finding out the genders...when I first got pregnant I had a weird feeling that it was b/g twins. Well obviously I got the twin part right. Now I have no clue on the genders...I have a different thought each day!

 

[xxshellsxx]

Yes, tell us, tell us!!!

Feronia, I want to find more statistics on what fraction of the time a manual version of Twin B is required after Twin A is born, and what fraction of the time a caesarean is needed for Twin B if Twin A is born vaginally. If those are relatively rare, I'm happy to try without the epidural. If they're common, then I think I want to be awake for when they're born and I'll choose the epidural. But hopefully they'll be flexible and allow me a walking epidural or an empty epidural catheter that can be topped up if a caesarean is needed.

My Ob told me i can deliver vaginally with an epidural if baby A is head down, and only 3% of vaginal twin births result in a c-section for baby B - So the odds are pretty good of being able to deliver both vaginally I read on that FB group about having the Epi in place but have saline in it, not sure if thats allowed over here but will be asking the question at my next appointment.

 

[ttc126]

Melly I'm in NM

Savvy, i think first instincts are often right!

 

[xxshellsxx]

Of course everyone will know here! I can't keep a secret too long and it will be hard enough not telling our family and friends! At least I can chat about the genders here.

I am starting to get nervous about finding out the genders...when I first got pregnant I had a weird feeling that it was b/g twins. Well obviously I got the twin part right. Now I have no clue on the genders...I have a different thought each day!

so excited to find out what you are having my first dream before knowing it was twins was always g/g twins.... then i had a b/g dream.... now b/b is creeping in... so no idea here either lol

Did i read the boys are out numbering the girls here? I'm in a much smaller group elsewhere and the girls are out numbering the boys - 9 Girls to 2 boys over there so far

 

[MellyH]

My mum is convinced I'm having b/b twins, because a psychic told her a year ago I was going to have twin boys, and she obviously got the twin part right. I told her I would have girls' names in my back pocket, just in case

I don't really have a feeling either way. I'm going to struggle if it's two boys though because I can't think of one boy name I like, let alone two!

 

[SurpriseBub]

Yay for telling us, savvy! I am excited every time someone finds out what they are having. Lovely for these babies to slowly reveal their identities!

So I guess (if they are really all non identical) you twin mamas have a 50% b/g chance, 25% b/b, 25% g/g... will be interesting with three sets of twins in the group to see what you are all having! would be really funny if it ends up being one of each gender combo.

How freaky that the psychic predicted twins for you, melly! I guess time will tell if she was right on the genders. For some reason, when you posted those two jerseys, I could see a girl in one and boy in the other

 

[Feronia]

Melly, that sounds like a good way to make a decision! I'm on a maternity care listserve for North America (OBs, family physicians, MDs, and midwives) and they frequently share statistics, and scientific articles and insight on all things related to birth. I’ll look through the archives to see if anyone has said anything on twin B and the rate of c-section. From what I’ve heard, it’s usually safe to have a vaginal birth with a breech twin B if twin A was birthed without issue since your pelvis has already been “tested,” but it would be great to find some statistics on this. I’ll let you know if I find anything!

You all are having di/di twins if I’m not mistaken, right?

I had a horrible morning. Very little sleep since my toddler was up throughout the night, and then I snapped at her in the morning for asking for a banana and then spitting it out and refusing to eat it. Wasting food is a peeve of mine and sometimes I get so angry when she requests food just to throw it away. I feel really guilty over my reaction though…

 

[MellyH]

Thanks Feronia, anything you can dig up would be greatly appreciated! Yes, they are di/di.

Try to be kind to yourself (and your daughter) after a rough night, you're both bound to be short-tempered today!

 

[Feronia]

Melly (and other twin mamas who are interested), I found some really interesting information on twin vaginal birth (and breech birth) on this maternity list serv. First, I read through three medical studies on twin vaginal birth that were also talking about breech birth. Essentially, they concluded that there was no difference in outcome between planned c-section and vaginal births with twins, but most interestingly, they all concluded that vaginal breech birth was safe for twin deliveries even if twin A was breech. As long as twin A is either head down or breech (not transverse), vaginal delivery is safe and outcomes are no different (though there were a few complications that occurred more often in c-section deliveries compared to breech births). I can send you the articles or try to upload them somewhere.

Also, a senior OB and director of obstetrics posted very extensively about the advantages and disadvantages of delivering in the O/R vs a standard delivery room for twins. He also posted his thoughts about mandatory epidural and ECV for twin B. From what I could understand, he was saying that the only advantage to mandatory epidural was that if internal podalic version for twin B has to occur, it won’t be as painful for the mom. In terms of anesthesia for emergency c-section, he said that most emergencies that happen leave enough time to do a spinal block, and for the emergencies that require a c-section ASAP (cord prolapse), you would want do general anesthetic anyway for time concerns since it’s faster than topping up an epidural.

I’m happy to PM you his response. It’s long and has a lot of abbreviations since he’s speaking to other maternity care providers on a private list serv, but it’s interesting and I think I’m able to interpret the language.

Ultimately, I know that there are many things that are usually very safe that are not offered not because they are unsafe, but because the care practitioners are either not comfortable providing the care or who lack the necessary skills. Vaginal breech and twin births are the examples that come to mind the most.

 

[xxshellsxx]

Feronia I'm happy to receive all articles on these things knowledge for me is power.

Yes we are all having di/di twins and with the 3 of us in the group the odds are that one set is really identical - 33% of di/di twins are still identical but the egg split before 3 days and created own placentas and sacs

 

[Feronia]

Okay, I tried to attach the articles that were posted here. Also, someone else posted a link to this study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24088091

I'll PM you the OB's response as well!

 

[bridgetboo62]

a little more than 24 hours until our scan!
eeek omg i remember first getting pregnant and when it was sooooo far away
time flies!

 

[MellyH]

Thanks so much Feronia, I really appreciate it. It doesn't sound like my hospital offers the Twin-A-breech-vaginal option, so my question is how often internal version of Twin B happens (I agree, it sounds incredibly painful! ) I'll have a read through the links, thank you!

Bridget, awesome, how exciting!

 

[Captain]

Can't wait to hear the results Bridget! I still don't know if I have a date for my scan yet, no fair! Should finally be heading home from the in-laws next week, can't come quick enough now!

 

[SurpriseBub]

I guess we all have a lot to think about in terms of birth plans- though we still have a lot of time to think and see what baby/ies is/are up to!

My ideal would be vaginal with no epidural... Worst nightmare is forceps!

I think it is good to be educated and have a plan- but the best birth advice I have heard is to be open to change and letting yourself deviate from the plan based on the actual day itself.

I think I have an idea in my mind's eye- but will also listen to my doctors advice a lot when the time comes- the idea of putting them in a high stress situation seems like a bad idea for both me and baby :s

...I guess we have to just work with the parameters on the day. Annoying that it is one of those times when you would know exactly what choices you should have made after the whole event is over!!

 

[savvysaver]

so excited to find out what you are having my first dream before knowing it was twins was always g/g twins.... then i had a b/g dream.... now b/b is creeping in... so no idea here either lol

I am the same way...one minute I am sure it is b/g, the next minute I think it is g/g or b/b. It will be good to finally know for sure. My husband is convinced it will be two girls, since he desperately wants a boy...I personally think he would be a terrific daddy to girls though. I just have had that gut feeling that they are b/g but then I doubt myself!

My mum is convinced I'm having b/b twins, because a psychic told her a year ago I was going to have twin boys, and she obviously got the twin part right. I told her I would have girls' names in my back pocket, just in case

I don't really have a feeling either way. I'm going to struggle if it's two boys though because I can't think of one boy name I like, let alone two!

How cool that the psychic was right on the twins part! I guess we will find out soon if she had the genders right too. I agree, I will really struggle with two boy names. I have one girl name picked out and a middle name for each gender and that is it. I didn't want to stress more about names until I knew the genders.

Yay for telling us, savvy! I am excited every time someone finds out what they are having. Lovely for these babies to slowly reveal their identities!

So I guess (if they are really all non identical) you twin mamas have a 50% b/g chance, 25% b/b, 25% g/g... will be interesting with three sets of twins in the group to see what you are all having! would be really funny if it ends up being one of each gender combo.

Are you finding out SurpriseBub?

It will be really fun to see what each of the twin sets ends up to be!

You all are having di/di twins if I’m not mistaken, right?

Mine are di/di too!