The twins are here!

See what happens? You write a book about childbirth, and everyone you know starts having babies! The latest birth story I have to share is particularly close to me: Yesterday afternoon, my sister-in-law Melissa delivered two sweet, petite, adorable little babies. Quentin and Fiona were delivered by C-section, and each weighed a little bit more than four pounds. Everyone is happy and healthy, and my daughters are thrilled to have cousins!

Melissa had been hoping to have a vaginal birth, but since one of the twins had been stuck in breech position for the last couple of months, she knew a C-section was more likely. As everyone left town for the holiday weekend (including her doctor), Melissa started having contractions. She says she was glad to have a natural start to her labor, and to have the excitement of feeling contractions and rushing in a taxi to the hospital. The doctor on call left it up to Melissa whether she wanted to attempt vaginal labor (the babies had somehow switched, and the baby closest to the exit was in a good position). However, he told Melissa that even if she delivered the first baby vaginally, there was a chance she would need a C-section to get the second (breech) baby out. This is the type of situation that can stir up many debates about the medical model of birth favoring intervention, but Melissa really felt that the decision was hers to make, and she chose the C-section, because the last thing she wanted was to go through a long, vaginal labor and then have to have a C-section anyway. She says that after she made the decision, she felt relieved and at peace with it. When I saw her this morning, she was very sore--and annoyed that she could only eat Jello--but delighted and excited about the babies and very happy with how things turned out.

Of course, it helped that Melissa had most of her pregnancy to come to terms with the idea of a C-section, and she very closely read the chapters in my book about it, so she was able to emotionally prepare for it (as much as you can, anyway).

What do you think you would do in this situation? Would you try for a vaginal birth? By the way, thanks so much to everyone who has told me they've been reading the blog. I would love to hear your comments! (that means you, Ariel, Lauren, Lisa...)