Went back to make sure I hit all your questions. Effacement is a very important part of getting ready for labor. You probably have been having contractions. Painless Braxton-Hicks tightenings or menstrual-type crampings can cause this thinning. Your uterus and your body are working and doing what they need to do. Just cause you're not feeling them yet doesn't mean they aren't there! : )

If you are worried about a c/section, talk about that with your doc. Ask her what her criteria are for stopping an induction if it seems it is not working (like Lillybelle mentioned with the pitocin...would she consider sending you home if it wasn't working and the baby looks good?). There are wide ranges of reasons for c/sections and by looking at the overall rate, you can see how knife happy a practice is (or not).

Sorry if I am rambling or repeating myself. First day of school here. Good luck!

I love the "have sex" advice midwife gave...cause you know it ain't happening with a new baby for a while.

Hey Midwife...not to be off topic, but after seeing heartbeats at 8.5 weeks with naturally conceived twins that were the exact same C-R size with 2 nice even sacs, what would you say the chances of a vanishing twin are? I am 28 years old. From what I read I should be ok, but I like numbers.

You've been given some great advice. I just wanted to wish you luck and you are right to get yourself informed beforehand. I wish I hadn't been in so much pain with my first and just wanted her out and instead researched my options. I may or may not have ended up with my c-section. I even had a nice birth plan written out that went out the window when I was in pain.

Thanks for all the information everyone. Lots to think about and find out. I've been going through this pregnancy with a bit of an ostrich complex - lots of reasons why, but I just haven't wanted or been able to learn much about the whole process. I appreciate all the viewpoints and links and comments, etc.

Hi Dairy, The stats are lumped in for 1st trimester, but the odds of a vanishing member of a multiple preg in the first 13 weeks seems to be more than 20% and less than 30%. Seeing both heartbeats and similar growth is awesome and very reassuring, though, so I think you have lots and lots of diapers in your future.

Thanks midwife...I know there are no definites with any pregnancy, but the 20 percent is scary. I try to remember that half of IVF twins vanish (so I have read) b/c of such early scans, so I try to remember if you took those out then you would have something probably much less than 20 percent.

Mary

I had my son at 32 weeks due to severe pre-eclampsia. I was induced to no avail and finally, after both mine and my son's BP and heartrate were nearly at a deadly rate, I had an emergency C-Section. I was really scared. I didn't find out until much later (months after my son was born) that we had almost died. With that said, we didn't die and I have a happy healthy son. Medical technology is marvelous and babies have a very high chance of survival these days for both pre mature and post mature deliveries. I am not a medical person therefore I leave all that stuff up to the experts. With that said, you and only you, know your body and should make those decisions based on the information and intuition that you have. I know there are many differing opinions about inductions, C-sections and methods/medications to speed up any process, but in all honesty, I didn't care what it took or what I had to go through to get me and my son through our situation. Not that I had much say in it at the time I was really out of it. You catch my drift though. Good luck-- everything will be ok.

This is all so interesting. Midwife, I have 10 kids and I think it would be fun to be able to visit with you. Guess I'll just keep reading. Oh, I am 57 so my youngest is 16. I was in the era of no drugs, not much testing. Never had an ultrasound. Was 2 weeks over once, early about 5 times and last one born on her due date. Such fun!

Has anyone any advice regarding the c-section at 100 lbs overweight? I just had my 3rd baby in June and was 90 lbs overweight when I got pg. I had my first scheduled c-section (had a previous emergency c-section) with this baby. The nice thing is, recovery after scheduled c- was much easier than emergency c-section... the incision was on my bikini line (i believe this is common practice) so its hidden... recovery takes about 3 wks to be able to walk comfortably short distances (like grocery shopping). Hopefully you won't need a c-section... but instead of waiting for induction, can you try other things to get things started? I've heard swimming is a good one... walking... black licorice...?

I was very overweight with my C-Section. I had some extra drainage but other than that, a year out, no problems, incision site healed nicely. Because of the "roll" there--- you have to clean it a little more at first. I used Hydrogen Peroxide to ensure no infections were forming around the site. Other than that, it was just fine. Good Luck.