Maryland’s Health Matters - St. Joseph - Spring 2017 - 6

VAGINAL TWIN
BIRTH COMPARED
WITH C-SECTION
"Natural twin births are not
as rare as you might think
at UM St. Joseph Medical
Center," Dr. Rossiter says.
"All our mothers are able to
have a prenatal consultation
in which we discuss and plan
what type of delivery she
would like. Patients expecting twins have the option of
a cesarean section, but there
are patients, like Sarina, who
would like to have a vaginal
delivery. We advise them
that even if the ultrasound

Sarina and her husband,
Narayan, with their four children;
inset: Monique Klapka, CNM.

shows that both babies'
heads are down (vertex
position), once the first baby
is delivered, the second
baby can flip sideways or

In Shrestha's situation,

perform a breech birth.

completely turn to become

Klapka delivered the first

I'm pleased that I was able

breech (feet first)."

baby boy, who weighed in

to avoid a c-section for

at 8.5 pounds. Next, Dr.

the patient since that's the

Rossiter stepped in to do

choice she wanted. At UM

the breech extraction.

St. Joseph, this is an option

However, there is an

those finely tuned skills.

THE ART OF
NATURAL TWIN
DELIVERY

"There are special maneu-

"When Dr. Rossiter or one of

obstetrician first needs to

vers that a doctor needs

the other perinatal special-

reach up into the mother's

5.8 pounds. Although it's

to perform. The physician

ists at UM St. Joseph Medical

uterus and gently pull the

optimal that both twins are

needs to have a lot of

Center does a breech extrac-

baby's feet down. Dr. Rossiter

similar weights, Dr. Rossiter

experience in this kind

tion in our delivery room, the

explains: "I break the water

says that if the larger twin

of delivery," she explains.

staff are in awe," Klapka says.

and continue to pull the baby

presents first, it makes for

up to its armpits. Then I need

an easier delivery.

art to delivering a breech
baby, and Dr. Rossiter has

To perform this, the

to bring out the arms

that's available."
The second twin weighed

CHILDBIRTH PREPARATION CLASSES

separately. Then I carefully

Classes include baby care, breastfeeding, grandparents update and infant massage classes for parents
and baby. Call 410-337-1880 to register. Fees apply.

to the chest to bring the

EXPERIENCED
OBSTETRICIANS
IN BREECH BIRTHS

head out safely. For me, it's

According to a twins study

very gratifying and fun to

at Sunnybrook Research

tuck the baby's chin down

To learn more about UM SJMC's
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland’s Health Matters - St. Joseph - Spring 2017