VBAC With Twins?

Grill your doctor. If doc isn't willing to let you do it, get a new doctor.

Contact I-CAN. Really quiz your doctor. If there is any hesitation at all, change doctors. I can't tell where you live, but women on the I-CAN list will probably have some good advice about v-bac friendly doctors in your area.

How exciting!
-L. (midwife)

you might want to consider switching to a specialist high risk OB who specializes in high risk pregnancies - twins are at high risk for premature birth anyway, and you are likely to need more frequent check-ups etc. Ask your doctor for a referral. and yes, a c-section seems more likely as well. with a high-risk specialist, however, it is likely the pregnancy can be just as healthy as a single pregnancy.

Hi! I am an OB/GYN physician and it would be unlikely that you would VBAC with your twins. Just having twins alone increases your risk for C-section because of malpresentation (breech), preterm labor, let alone having a scar on your uterus. The babies have to be a certain weight and in the right position to deliver vaginally. It's hard to estimate what your risk of uterine rupture would be due to your twins. If you get close to term, the uterus will be more significantly distended than normal and we don't know how much this increases your risk for the uterine scar opening (with or without labor). If it were me, I'd plan for a C-section, but definitely discuss this with your doctor. Good luck! I hope all goes well!

I had twins via c-section after a v- delivery with a single. I too was stressed about it, and when it came down to everything, the most important thing was that my babies were safe and healthy. In the end, does it really matter how they are delivered as long as they are healthy. Twins and multiples are considered high risk for so many reasons. The incidence of them being born too early is so high, along with so many other factors, that how they are delivered really should be the last thing. Please just be healthy, take the advice of a neonatologist and keep them in as long as possible. I was so lucky to have healthy twin boys - looking back on it the c-section was so minor in the whole scheme of things. Good luck to you and your babies!

No personal advice here, just general encouragement. ;) Good for you for researching all your options for a normal birth. I understand you are looking for the best and safest birth for both you and your babies--your children are lucky to have such a proactive, thinking mama.
Twins have been born normally for generations and it seems to me that with the right provider, your twins can come normally, too. Consider contacting doulas, Bradley Method or other childbirth teachers and both home and hospital midwives to find out about providers who support VBACs in your situation. They will likely be in the know for your area. It seems to me you're in a good position because you do not have to prove your body's capacity to handle a VBAC--you've already done it.
Yes, twins are considered "high-risk," but with excellent self-care you can reduce much of the perceived risks. A good friend of mine had twins normally two years ago. Her birth wasn't a VBAC, but it was an excellent, smooth birth with no drama and the babies were a good weight and spent no time in the NICU or any other help that many people assume are a given when dealing with twins. My friend had a great pregnancy and watched her nutrition and walked for exercise every day until the end--it was very admirable and I think her careful care and great outcome are linked.
As you plan for your babies, you might like the book "Mothering Multiples," published by La Leche League.
Congratulations and best wishes!

As a birth doula I have worked with moms who have successfully had a VBAC with twins as long as both babies are in the vertex position which you won't know until the 36-37 week mark but it usually is obtainable in this circumstance. If you have more questions or are looking for a doula :) I would be happy to chat with you!
Good luck and congrats!
L. Dumpert, CLD
Nurturing Hands Doula Services
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Hey L.,
I don't have any experience with VBAC, but my twins are almost 6 months and I had a vaginal delivery. You'll probably soon find you're in for a battle. We moved here from IL when I was pregnant and there I was viewed as a liability and c-section was almost 100% sure. When we came to UT I found a doctor that LOVES the challenge of delivering twins vaginally. If this is really important to you than I would search him out. He has delivered 700+ sets of twins (of course not all vaginally) and around 24,000 babies, including my husband! He has even delivered a few sets of triplets vaginally. His name is Dr. Thomas Judd. I can't recommend him enough. I am soooo glad that with my first children I didn't have to have a c-section and set myself up for a battle with every other single child we had to have them vaginally. The medical system isn't always concerned with what is best for you, but what is less likely for them to get sued for. But that's just my opinion. Hope this helps!
He is in Provo, UT and his number is: ###-###-####
Good luck! Let me know if you need any other advice on books to read, etc.

My sister has 6 kids. Her first was a c-section and all the rest were VBACs. Her last two were a set of twin boys and they were delivered vaginally without any problems. I was in the delivery room when they were born! Her doctor was amazing and he told her that as long as one of them was head down she would be able to have a vaginal birth. The second twin was delivered breech. Once everything is open from the first twin the risk of a breech deliverey is much lower. She had a very uncomplicated pregnancy and she delivered them full term at 38 weeks. They weighed 5lbs 11oz and 7lbs 10oz...big for twins. They are perfectly healthy and now almost 8 years old. I wish you luck, but however they arrive is fine as long as they are healthy. I do have the name of a doctor who is supposedly amazing. I go his name from a homebirth midwife here in Denver. He is one of her back up doctors and he supports VBAC even with twins. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to use him, but you should definitely check into him if you don't feel your doctor is on board with your wishes. His name is Dr. Matthew Breeden and the office number is ###-###-####. I think you stand a good chance because you have successfully VBAC'ed other children already. Keep me posted!

I was looking forward to having a vaginal delivery with my twins. They were both head down and in the right position. Then--after 24 hours of labor, I ended up having to have a C-section because they weren't coming out. By that time, I was so tired and just wanted the babies to be healthy. Sometimes with twins, your uterus gets so stretched out that your contractions aren't hard enough to get things moving. I think you should just plan on trying to have a VBAC, but be open to the possibility that you may have to have a C-section.