MFM or regular OB for twins?

[SortaCrunchy]

I checked out Dr. Luke's book on multiples from the library and just got to the part where she gets pretty insistent that all multiple pregnancies should be seen by an MFM - even "just twins."

I hadn't given any thought to an MFM. Of course, I'm only 10.5 weeks so we don't know enough yet to know about any complications, but I like my OB and would prefer to stay with her. She assured me that even though I'm 35 and have had two previous c/s, that I'm not considered "high-risk" at this point which was reassuring at the time, but now Dr. Luke has me wondering if that's a red flag that she isn't a good match for a twin pregnancy?

I'm curious about how other twin mamas have handled this?

[sbgrace]

I had a regular OB. I don't know how your previous sections might complicate things...but ruptures are very rare. I think I read up on VBAC's of twins after previous c section being ok.

I'd be inclined to think the OB is fine. Do you have a MFM near you?

[mamalovex3]

I would say it's fine, but keep an open mind and be prepared that you may need to see one later in your pregnancy, depending on how things go.

For both my twin pregnancies, I started out with a midwife, and was transferred to a high risk unit with a MFM.  The transfer was because of a short cervix which increased concerns about preterm labour, although the first time I carried my babies to 38w2d and this time I'm 35w5d with no signs of impending labour yet!  It is so important to have a care provider that you feel comfortable with, I would stick with your OB since you already have a relationship with them and like them, unless you have reason to do otherwise.

[pammysue]

I was seen by regular OBs at the "low risk clinic" for my twin pregnancy. Since it was at a teaching hospital, I actually saw residents and medical students who reported to attendings. I only saw an attending if I had a question outside of the ordinary. I did have some high risk interventions, NSTs 2x week after 34 weeks, high level ultrasounds read by high risk OBs1x month, and was considered high risk for AMA (36) but stayed with the regular OBs throughout. 

[kristenly83]

I personally think it depends more on the ob or mfm themselves and the way they handle things. I had a midwife and transferred to her back up obgyn when my twins came too early to deliver away from a NICU. That particular obgyn had a ton a twin experience and even delivered my twins (baby a breech and baby b with cord prolapse) naturally without batting an eye.
 

[Adaline'sMama]

I'm seeing my regular OB, but have been introduced to the MFM practice that she refers to and they will be doing my anatomy scan. If I "risk out" of my OB practice then I will be transferred into their care. Discordant growth would be the only real thing that would risk me out of my OB's office, other than preterm delivery. (I'd need to go to the city where there is a Children's hospital if I delivery before 35 weeks).

[SortaCrunchy]

Thank you all so much for the feedback! This makes me feel so much better! I plan to ask her some more questions about her experience with delivering twins, but it is reassuring to know that I don't *have* to move to an MFM practice.

[Red Pajama]

I saw my regular OB and added the MFM docs. They did their own ultrasounds, meausred for growth, monitored for problems, and were the docs to oversee my gestational diabetes. So it's not an either-or, but both.