C-section vs V-birth

I'm not taking all of this lightly, I am just looking for as much info as possible..and your comments are all really helpful. I have read on the net that tears can take up to 6 weeks to heel...which is sort of on par with c section, but sounds much more torturous....
o and I have a private OB and I am paying for all of it myself so no taxpayer money needed.

I had an emergency c section with my son. It was a total shock to me-it had never occured to me that I might end up needing a c section. I didn't even read that section of the book. I was terrified when they wheeled me into theatre, but he was in trouble & had to come out.

I found the recovery from the c section great. I was up that evening & showering. I had very little pain, & the hospital staff were great. In fact I got more help with my baby because of the c section. They helped me change nappies etc & came immediately when I called. Also, I stayed in the hospital for 5 nights (they throw you out after 3 with a VB), so at least I was in the hospital when my milk came in so I got proper bf advice. I had pretty much no problems with the wound afterwards. There was a bit of numbness around the site for almost a year, but it wasn't a big deal at all. My scar is tiny & almost invisible.

I am not trying to say that C sections are "better" than VBs. What I am saying though is that they are not all doom & gloom either. I had a very positive birth experience, even though it wasn't the all natural experience it was planned to be. In fact this time I think I'll just go for the elective because I don't want the stress of an emergency c section again, & TBH at least I know what recovery is from a csection & it wasn't that bad.

I think it's wonderful that women can deliver babies & yes it's beautiful & natural etc, but I get a little tired of people acting like C sections are the worst thing that can happen, because they're not. Yes, some people have bad c section experiences, but some people also have bad VB experiences. There are no guarantees either way.

No, I don't think electives for no medical reason should be covered by the public system, but if people are willing to pay for their electives then I see no reason why they should be forced into natural births. People choose to have plastic surgery & pay for it themselves, so why not C sections?

Busybee I think you should do lots of investigation & research & do what's best for you. And don't feel guilty if you don't want a VB. It's your money & you can choose.

I'm with Odette. I've only had one, and it was an emergency c-section, but the recovery was nowhere near as bad as I'd expected. Like Odette, I was up and around quickly, took full advantage of the 5 days in hospital having all my meals cooked so I could bond with baby, was out and about with friends after a week, moved to Europe and 7 weeks and back at the gym at 9 weeks. I think I had an amazing c-section experience and am very grateful it was an option otherwise either bubba or me or both of us wouldn't be here now.

The person taking my antenatal class had completely freaked us all out about c-sections so I was terrified when I found out I needed one. Afterwards, I wanted to go back to tell the next class that if it happened to them it wasn't going to be the end of the world, but I wasn't allowed... I don't think they like positive caesar stories

My big dilemma now though is what to do with #2. The risks with a vb are now higher, but recovery from a caesar would be tough on my toddler who wouldn't understand why mummy can't pick him up or change his nappy or anything for 6 weeks. Not because it will hurt, but because it can cause permanent damage. I think if you want more than one child, then that's a really goof reason to at least try a vb because it makes life easier with subsequent pregnancies.

I would suggest you talk to your OB. I think he/she will try to talk you out of an elective caesar, but might agree to go to c-section rather than forceps or ventouse if they were required (they often aren't). Also, some labour is good for baby because it pushes surfactant into their lungs and helps them breathe (less need for suction) and it helps you because it stimulates your milk production. I think if I were you, I'd give labour a go. Also you won't accidently end up with a premmie if your dates are wrong...

GL

Isnt it funny how we are sh*t scared of a VB and tearing but consider a CS as an option . I have had both. VD for my first which ended up a ventouse and with an internal tear...I didnt feel it as I had my beloved epidural....man I recommend those. I did have a prolapsed uterus afterwards and that was damn uncomfy....but came right on its own thank god.

Second time was emergency CS and I was absolutely sh*tting myself. I shook the whole way through and have never been so scared in my life. It is MAJOR abdominal surgery and shouldnt be taken lightly.

Its your choice but I would pick the VB any day. As for worrying about your girly bits being the same afterwards....NOTHING IS....you get stretchmarks, droopy boobs, fat where you didnt have fat before etc....down there is the last thing on my mind...did you know it changes colour?????? I'd say, yes its different....but still working fine and actually a bit better IYKWIM...must be well placed scar tissue

As for CS...scar will ALWAYS be there.

cuppatea wrote: Oh and when you have a c/s you can end up with your belly hanging over the scar, that's attractive

I so know what you mean!!! I hate it!

Just my two cents worth...

I too was terrified of birth. If I had of had the option I would have gone for an elective c-section, at least at the start of my pregnancy. I thought all the stuff about birth being natural and beautiful and trusting your body was a load of rubbish. I also planned to use drugs if I needed them.

Because an elective c-section wasn't an option I went down teh birth part and it wasn't nearly as terrible or awful as I had thought. DS was posterior in the beginning but from going up to hospital at 2am and being 3cm I gave birth to him three hours later with just three minutes of pushing.

Yes, my birth was prolly on the "easy" side of things but it just goes to show that they don't have to be terrible as first time mums.

I was up walking around a couple of hours later, bits are fine!

Find a midwife you trust, talk through all the options, and make sure you are comfortable with your decision.

I've had both a VB (first birth) and emergency c-section (second birth) and I found both were positive experiences. I managed with only gas for the VB, no tears or stitches and was out of hospital at home 4 hours after giving birth (my choice). The emergency c-section recovery was easy compared to what I had heard, I was walking the next day, my scar is minimal 7 weeks later and I've started back at the gym - was about the same time I started back after my VB so recovery wise it's on a par for me.

It really does depend on the individual though, for every awful VB someone else would have had a wonderful birth experience, for every bad c-section someone else like me would have had a great recovery. There is just no way of knowing prior what camp you are going to fall into!

Edited by Febgirl