OB/midwife practice & hospital recs for Twin birth

[Wally5]

Hi there: I'm an advanced maternal age mom of 1 in Alexandria with twins on the way toward the end of the year. I had postpartum pre-eclampsia with my first but the pregnancy/birth itself was complication-free. I delivered with Physicians & Midwives at Inova Alexandria with my first and while I appreciated the midwife-heavy practice and was generally happy with the practice's care, I wasn't crazy about Inova Alexandria, and would prefer a hospital with a real nursery and probably a NICU with twins on the way. I would also love to attend a practice that won't assume from the get-go that a C-section is the way to go. If I must go the C-section route, that's fine, but the idea of recovering from major surgery with 2 infants and a 4 yr old makes me want to do everything I can to go the traditional route.

If any twin parents have recommendations on great experiences with certain practices/hospitals, I'd love to hear them. I was very focused on having a second child, but I must admit that the blessing of planning for #2 and #3 at once is overwhelming! Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Everyone I know who had multiples delivered at Inova Fairfax. That is the NICU you want for potential preemies. I don’t have specific practice recommendations though.

[Anonymous]

Wally5 wrote:Hi there: I'm an advanced maternal age mom of 1 in Alexandria with twins on the way toward the end of the year. I had postpartum pre-eclampsia with my first but the pregnancy/birth itself was complication-free. I delivered with Physicians & Midwives at Inova Alexandria with my first and while I appreciated the midwife-heavy practice and was generally happy with the practice's care, I wasn't crazy about Inova Alexandria, and would prefer a hospital with a real nursery and probably a NICU with twins on the way. I would also love to attend a practice that won't assume from the get-go that a C-section is the way to go. If I must go the C-section route, that's fine, but the idea of recovering from major surgery with 2 infants and a 4 yr old makes me want to do everything I can to go the traditional route.

If any twin parents have recommendations on great experiences with certain practices/hospitals, I'd love to hear them. I was very focused on having a second child, but I must admit that the blessing of planning for #2 and #3 at once is overwhelming! Thanks.

Only twin mom I know who had a vaginal delivery was at GW

[Anonymous]

Had head down twins and was told I needed a cesarean at Inova Fairfax. This was a few years ago. I didn’t know any better and had a cesarean. Both kids are fine. I had an ECV and VBAC at GW with baby number 3. When I met with the doctors at GW they said most of their twins attempt a vaginal delivery unless medically indicated for a cesarean. One of their doctors even does ECVs on breech twin A (success is clearly less)!

Fairfax was more luxurious for sure, but I got better individualized care at GW.

[Anonymous]

I delivered twins vaginally (with no pressure for a C, though they were well positioned / both head down) at VHC. I was with Northern VA Physicians to Women.

[Anonymous]

Scheduled C section delivery was a walk in the park compared to my bad vaginal delivery, relatively speaking. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

I was at Reiter Hill (delivered at Sibley) and they were game for a vaginal attempt as long as twin A stayed head down and B didn’t get too much bigger. Wouldn’t let me go past 38 weeks though. (In the end I needed a scheduled C but that’s another story)

[Anonymous]

GW. my niece and nephew were delivered there at 24 weeks (vaginally) but amazing nicu

[Anonymous]

VHC or GW will be your best bet to avoid a C-section. On the other hand with twins I’d *really* want to be at INOVA FFX, even though their post-natal care is absolutely nothing to write home about.

[Wally5]

Anonymous wrote:Had head down twins and was told I needed a cesarean at Inova Fairfax. This was a few years ago. I didn’t know any better and had a cesarean. Both kids are fine. I had an ECV and VBAC at GW with baby number 3. When I met with the doctors at GW they said most of their twins attempt a vaginal delivery unless medically indicated for a cesarean. One of their doctors even does ECVs on breech twin A (success is clearly less)!

Fairfax was more luxurious for sure, but I got better individualized care at GW.

This is really helpful- I did some digging yesterday on GW and twins. Got a recommendation for Dr. Steven Ralston at GW MFA. I've just heard that things at GW MFA are a bit chaotic with the midwives practice losing most staff, etc. I may just need to interview a few practices with privileges at FFX, GW and VHC and see who's willing to do what. Obviously with twins I'm sort of just along for the ride, but good to know in advance who has expertise in twin vaginal births.

[Wally5]

Anonymous wrote:VHC or GW will be your best bet to avoid a C-section. On the other hand with twins I’d *really* want to be at INOVA FFX, even though their post-natal care is absolutely nothing to write home about.

Have heard this about FFX as well-- do you say this mostly because of the level 4 NICU and nice facilities compared to VHC and GW?

[Wally5]

Anonymous wrote:I delivered twins vaginally (with no pressure for a C, though they were well positioned / both head down) at VHC. I was with Northern VA Physicians to Women.

Thanks for this rec! Have heard good things about Dr. Prather at Nothern VA Physicians to Women.

[Anonymous]

Wally5 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Had head down twins and was told I needed a cesarean at Inova Fairfax. This was a few years ago. I didn’t know any better and had a cesarean. Both kids are fine. I had an ECV and VBAC at GW with baby number 3. When I met with the doctors at GW they said most of their twins attempt a vaginal delivery unless medically indicated for a cesarean. One of their doctors even does ECVs on breech twin A (success is clearly less)!

Fairfax was more luxurious for sure, but I got better individualized care at GW.

This is really helpful- I did some digging yesterday on GW and twins. Got a recommendation for Dr. Steven Ralston at GW MFA. I've just heard that things at GW MFA are a bit chaotic with the midwives practice losing most staff, etc. I may just need to interview a few practices with privileges at FFX, GW and VHC and see who's willing to do what. Obviously with twins I'm sort of just along for the ride, but good to know in advance who has expertise in twin vaginal births.

Twins are typically outside of the scope of midwives practice at GW. If you see the doctors it shouldn’t be chaotic. Also, the GW doctors seem to have midwife skills and surgical skills. I would 100% see them.

[Anonymous]

Wally5 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VHC or GW will be your best bet to avoid a C-section. On the other hand with twins I’d *really* want to be at INOVA FFX, even though their post-natal care is absolutely nothing to write home about.

Have heard this about FFX as well-- do you say this mostly because of the level 4 NICU and nice facilities compared to VHC and GW?

Level 4 NICU. With twins your NICU chances are just higher. On the other hand for a full-term pregnancy I would vastly prefer the approach at VHC which is much more focused on avoiding surgery.

[Anonymous]

You are high risk and will most likely deliver early. Find an ob who delivers at inova Fairfax.