Before I got pregnant, you could say I was pretty undereducated about the birth options. I just figured I’d have an epidural and have a baby. I didn’t even realize that my own mother had had two natural (drug-free) births before my youngest sister was born via C-section.  But once I saw that positive pregnancy test, I started reading up on what my options were and psyched myself up for a non-medicated, vaginal birth.

Then, at 13 weeks, I found out I was having twins.  After the initial shock wore off, I was left with so many questions. One of the most pressing: What about my natural delivery? My OB-GYN, a mother of twins herself, said it was up to me, but that if Baby A (the baby closest to the “exit”) was presenting breech, it would have to be a C-section. I would also have to deliver in an OR regardless of my choice, and I would have to have an epidural (because of the chance of an emergency C-section or in case the doctor would have to manually flip one of the babies.)

There are other doctors who have different rules, and I could have looked for one who would attempt a breech extraction with twins, but I felt a rapport with this doctor who was easy going and laid back, someone to ease all my worries and who had actually been there herself.

One concern with twins is the possibility of the “double whammy” or mixed delivery — that is you deliver the first baby vaginally and the second one goes into distress, resulting in an emergency C-section.  The chances of this happening are very low, but I personally know a set of twins who’d been delivered this way, and when I brought this up with my doctor, who I expected to alleviate my worries, she acknowledged that it was a valid concern.

Because I didn’t want to end up in an emergency situation, and because I wanted to plan as much as I could ahead of time, I chose a C-section well before the time the babies were born. I didn’t want to wait and see, and then have my dreams of the ideal birth be shattered. I ignored my mother’s stories of how awful her recovery was,  and instead looked to online forums whose posters called their recoveries “NBD” (no big deal).

My recovery was not NBD, but I had a lot of help from my husband and my family. I couldn’t have done it without them. I was at peace with my decision for a C-section because I really believed I didn’t have another safe option (and Baby A was breech, anyway).

I recently read that studies are saying C-sections aren’t any safer for twin births than a vaginal delivery, and I’ve started to second guess myself. I wonder, if I had sought out more information specifically for twin mothers, and not just hearsay, would I have changed my mind and/or changed doctors?  I wish my doctor would have urged me to do more research, or suggested some reading, or something, anything, rather than just “leave it up to me.” Making this decision can be so scary, and I needed more support — not horror stories, and not someone brushing it off as NBD.

In the end, though, my babies were born healthy and continue to thrive, and I’ve recovered just fine after a few initial hiccups. If I do get pregnant again (someday in the faraway future!) I will have this experience to inform my choices as I navigate yet another decision-making process: VBAC or repeat c-section?

Did you have a C-section? Share your story with us!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Care and Recovery After a C-Section

10+ Things No One Tells You About C-Sections

Do You Always Have to Have a C-Section With Multiples?

This morning a congratulations is definitely in order! The star of Teen Mom 2, Leah Messer-Calvert, and her husband Jeremy Calvert, welcomed another beautiful baby girl into the world early on February 4th, according to In Touch Weekly. This is the first for the happy couple.

Leah is already mom to adorable twin girls, Aliannah Hope Simms and Aleeah Grace Simms, from her marriage to Corey Simms.

The baby’s name has not yet been released, but Leah did share this tweet with her followers shortly before going into labor, “Yes, the time is near… Can’t wait to meet you little Miss Calvert !”

Congratulations to the proud new parents and to big sisters Ali and Aleeah!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Latest Celebrity Babies

Celebrities With Twins

Crazy Celebrity Birth Stories

Labor support has been marginalized in our culture in the last hundred years. The current medical model leaves little room for caretakers who are advocate for their clients, the birthing mamas. A new day has come where many hospitals are now welcoming a fleet of skilled and well trained birth professionals called,’the doulas“.

Doula is a Greek term for ‘slave’, which was appropriated to describe the women who lend themselves to serve birthing mothers. I use the term birth coach since most people understand what that means. I think every mama-to-be should explore the option of having a birth coach as part of her birth team, and here’s why:

1. A doula is there to support the mom-to-be.

A doula “mothers the mother”. She offers continuous support for the laboring mother. After attending so many births, these coaches have deep wisdom, comfort, and encouragement to offer and they help liaise between the doctors, nurses, and your partner during the process. They serve as an educator, advocate, and cheerleader for the laboring mother, while keeping the family calm. She’s like the binding agent that helps keep it all together!

2. Doula’s know what to coach you on.

The doula can coach the laboring mom in breathing, relaxation, movement, and positioning. She also assists families in gathering information about the course of their labor. Labor support usually includes prenatal and postpartum meetings or home visits, 24-hour on-call support, massage and counter-pressure during labor, help with positioning for the mother’s comfort. Not to mention photos of your baby immediately after birth!

3. Doulas know how to make birth easier.

Birth coaches help facilitate an easier birth. In fact, having one present at your birth can cut your laboring time by 50 percent! Now if that’s not incentive to look into getting a doula, I don’t know what is. When I gave birth I didn’t understand the value of having a birth coach present. I did however have four of the most wonderful staff present, as well as a midwife-in-training, since mine was the only birth at that time. According to Mothering the Mother, by Marshall Klaus, John Kennell, and Phyllis Klaus, studies have shown that the physiological effects of continual support during labor reduces:

• the chances of needing a C-section by 51 percent,
• reduces length of labor by 25 percent,
• reduces use of analgesia by 35 percent,
• reduces Pitocin augmentation by 40 percent,
• reduces the use of epidural anesthesia by 60 percent,
• and reduces use of forceps and vacuum by 30 percent.

Moms who work with doulas report greater satisfaction with childbirth, fewer incidences of postpartum depression, increased self-esteem, better mother-infant interaction, and improved breastfeeding success. A birth coach will stay with you during your labor until your baby is about an hour old, in addition to a few prenatal visits and one postnatal visit. Birth coaching services can range from pro bono to $3,000. Most labor support coaches charge between $500 and $2,000, depending on experience and certification. You can get labor coach recommendations at maternity centers, OB/GYN offices, yoga studio community boards, via DONA International, and on forums here.

5. You have full control over who you pick, and why you pick them.

You want to make sure you feel a level of chemistry, comfort, and safety with your coach, as she will accompany you during one of the most intimate and eventful experiences of your life. Whatever you do, go with your gut. If you meet a prospective coach and you’re not sure about her, keep looking. You can trust yourself on this one! Use the following questions to see if this person is right for you and your family:

• What inspired you to enter this field of work?
• What certifications do you hold?
• How long have you been a doula and how many births have you attended?
• What types of births have you attended—home birth, hospital, birth center?
• How do I get in touch with you when labor begins—are you always on call? When and where will you join me?
• If you are unavailable when I go into labor, do you have backups?
• What is your philosophy on childbirth? (Make sure your birth preferences are compatible with her practices and beliefs.)
• What techniques will you use to help me move through labor?
• How long will you stay with me after labor?
• What happens if I need a C-section?
• Do you provide postpartum services? Do you have experience helping nursing mothers?
• What’s your fee and refund policy? What does it cover?

For more info on labor support coaches/doulas, please check out DONA International, the certifying body for women who provide labor support, at www.dona.org.

Did you consider getting a doula? Would you ever?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Pregnancy Checklist: Interviewing a Doula

Why I Hired a Doula

Get the Help You Want When Baby Comes Home

It’s safe to say that 34 year old Christine Schleppy didn’t have “deliver during a hurricane in a mobile medical shelter” in her birth plan. But that’s exactly what happened after she started having contractions last night at 6 p.m., just as Hurricane Sandy was hitting her New Jersey neighborhood, reports ABC News.

Christine was 35 weeks along when her labor started, and when her contractions got intense, her husband, David Schleppy called 911. During the dramatic trip through water and debris toward the hospital, the ambulance got stuck in the mud, and the Schleppys had to be transferred to a fire department SUV. Sounds like a scene from a movie!

“It was definitely stressful,” said David to ABC News. “She wasn’t happy [with not having an epidural] but ultimately the main concern was to have a healthy baby.”

And a healthy baby and a happy ending they got, with the help of Dr. Herman Morchel and the Hackensack University Medical Center’s Mobile Satellite Emergency Department shelter team who delivered Liam Alexander Schleppy, 5 pounds, 2 ounces, at 11 p.m. We’re guessing that five hours of labor felt a lot longer than that.

Another superstorm Sandy baby was little Marianna Harutunian, a 7-pound, 5-ounce girl born 8:38 p.m. The trip to the hospital was not one they’ll soon forget, either. With  trees on the roads and winds whipping against them, “it was a little bit of a roller-coaster ride,” new dad Vartar Harutunian said.

Plus more on TheBump.com:

How to Know You’re in Labor

20 Babies Saved During Hurricane Sandy

More Amazing Birth Stories

The #BumpProud mama Tori Spelling is now #BabyProud as she announced the arrival of baby Finn Davey McDermott this evening! The mother of now 4 kids (bless her!) tweeted, “It’s a boy!” and posted this touching shot of Finn’s hand.

Born August 30, 2012 at 5:39pm, Finn weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was 20 inches long. Tori tweeted, “It’s a boy!”

Finn, an Irish name meaning “fair” is a Bumpie favorite for boys!

Congrats to the whole McDermott family!

Plus, more from The Bump

Crazy Celeb Birth Stories

Celeb Maternity Fashion

Giuliana and Bill Rancic’s Baby Arrives!

What began as a religious procedure has become a highly debated topic among parents and medical professionals. For more than 20 years, the number of circumcisions per year has declined drastically. Today, 55 percent of the 2 million baby boys born each year undergo the procedure, compared to 79 percent in the 1980s.

The reason for the decline can be connected to several issues.  For one, Medicaid no longer covers circumcision. In 18 states, this makes it very difficult for families to afford the procedure. Also, according to an article from The Baltimore Sun many parents believe it’s “a painful, unnatural procedure” that can cause sexual and psychological issues. Recent research, however, suggests parents should consider for health and financial reasons.

A new statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which will be published in September, found that babies who do not undergo circumcision have a higher risk of developing various health problems. The study suggests those who opt out of the procedure are more likely to develop multiple STDs (including HIV and HPV), penile cancer, and urinary tract infections.

Another study from Johns Hopkins supports the AAP’s research. The study tracked male circumcision related procedures and infections in a group of men throughout their life time. Using this data, researchers were able to predict how a continuous decrease in circumcision would affect male health in the future. The results showed that a man’s risk of developing HIV and HPV increases by 12.2 percent and 29.1 percent, respectively, and the risk of developing infant urinary tract infections increases by 211.8 percent if they are uncircumcised. Yikes! And the risk factors don’t stop with men. The study also tracked women who have sexual contact with uncircumcised men, and their risk rates also increased. For these women, the risk of developing HPV increased by 31.2 percent.

In addition to the medical aspect, the study also examined the financial aspect of forgoing circumcision. The research suggests that if male circumcision rate drops to 10 percent, the lifetime healthcare costs for individuals would increase by $407 for men and $43 for women.  In comparison to the cost of a circumcision ($254), that’s a big chunk of change.  The Johns Hopkins study adds that, in the past 20 years, the decline in male circumcision has cost the United States $2 billion in medical costs.

Despite the findings, the AAP still says the choice to circumcise is ultimately up to the parents. They do suggest, however, that expecting parents should speak with their child’s doctor about the benefits and risks of the procedure, and discuss who will perform the circumcision.

Will you / did you have your son circumcised? What swayed your decision?

Plus more from The Bump:

Tricks to Make Labor Easier

When you gave birth, did you opt for surgical, natural, or water birth? Unfortunately, not all women are given a choice. In Brazil more than half of all babies are delivered via C-section. A statistic that the women are trying to change.

Last month, after a medical agency in Rio de Janeiro forbade doctors from performing home births and labor coaches from helping in hospital wards, the women took a stand. With painted bellies and catchy chants, Brazilian women organized 13 marches to tell the government that it’s “our baby, our decision.” During the marches, women painted their pregnant bellies and used dolls to enact natural child-birth. Their actions aided in a reversal of Rio de Janerio’s policy on July 30.

Although the women managed to stop this law, they still have others to tackle. For starters, doctors charge more for a C-section than they do for natural births. According to the Associated Press, doctors in public hospitals are paid $74 for a C-section compared to $86 for a natural birth. The AP also reports that doctors require episiotomies (cutting the vaginal opening to prevent tearing) and forbid anyone to enter the room during the baby’s birth.

The issue is not solely about the women’s right; it is also about their health. Because C-sections require abdominal surgery, women risk developing infections, hemorrhaging, and blood clots.

But change is coming. In response to the protests, the Brazil’s federal government is investing over $3 billion into The Stork Networks, a program aimed at educating mothers and health care practitioners on the benefits of natural childbirth. According to the AP, the program will involve a revision of medical school curriculum, an education campaign, and discussion with private health care plans that, as of now, do not cover natural child-birth.

Which birthing method did you (or do you plan to) choose?

Plus more from The Bump:

Moms Unite in Support of Breastfeeding in Public

Care and Recovery After C-Section

10 + Things No One Tells You About C-Sections