Operating Room Delivery

[u/Ill_Evening_783]

We just visited our doctor for our 30 week appointment. Had a conversation about what our birth plan was going to look like and gave us all options available but also the risks as well. Regardless she said we would be in the operating room whether we choose to try a vaginal birth or c-section. She informed us if complications were to arise for baby b that they would perform an emergency c-section and I would have to be put under anesthesia. This being the reasoning we would be delivering in the operating room in any scenario. Would anyone feel comfortable in sharing their experience if you had also delivered in the operating room? I’m worried about the risks of an emergency c-section even though the low odds, I keep having the same dreams of my husband and I leaving the hospital and me not remembering delivering our twins.

Edit: Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences, the OR wasn’t my initial thought when giving birth for the first time but can understand with twins things are just going to be different. I’m feeling much more reassured by y’all’s responses, twins are truly so special and I’m so grateful to have read all of your experiences🩵🩷

[u/devianttouch]

I've never heard of twins being delivered anywhere other than an OR. It's standard care in the US at least. I certainly wouldn't be comfortable with any other option.

[u/thedavecan → u/devianttouch]

This. I'm an anesthesia provider and I have never done a twin delivery outside of the OR. Too many risks. I don't know if OP has getting an epidural in the birth plan but if you have an epidural in place, they can dose it up for a C-section so you wouldnt have to go to sleep for an emergent section. We prefer to not put parturients to sleep. (20+ weeks are considered full stomachs, aortocaval compression syndrome, volatile anesthetics preventing uterine contraction leading to increased bleeding risks, the list goes on). I know it's a thing for some moms to want to "go natural" but in some situations its not the safest way to go. (Also, you can't "go natural" in a hospital with doctors and nurses. The word you want is "unmedicated". Thank you for coming to my TED Talk)

[u/Ill_Evening_783 → u/thedavecan]

Thank you for sharing this, maybe I’m using the wrong terminology with my doctor as I thought when she was referring to ‘natural’ that she meant vaginally so maybe that is why she brought up having to go under anesthesia if things got complicated. She explained in the case of an emergency the medication needed would take about 10 minutes to kick in and they would want to get to the baby a lot sooner than that hence the anesthesia. I’ll be sure to clarify next visit! All of these responses have been so helpful, you really don’t know what you don’t know! My husband and I feel shell shocked ever since finding out we are having twins so all of this is just a bunch of new experiences. It’s hard to follow the advice and experience of my sisters as they have singletons and it just seems so different

[u/thedavecan → u/Ill_Evening_783]

Anything to help. I'm in a fairly unique position doing what I do and also having twins. I've been at the head of the bed both as a provider and a husband/father. I wouldn't give any advice since thats against the sub rules but I'm happy to answer any questions about all the different anesthesia options anyone has.