C-section vs V-birth

I know a lot of people will crucify me for this but I have to ask. I am kinda freaking out about the thought of vb and all that can happen. The tearing and forceps and the suction and the stretching to your ladybits (does it ever go back to normal size). Just the whole idea kinda scares me. So I am thinking about getting and elective c-section...I know it is controversial so I would realy like to know if any of you have had experience of both and how it went. I know a lot of people say normal birth is beautiful and your body have been designed to do it and c-section is unneeded major surgery...but I really need facts to make my decision. People say recovery from VB is easy...but I don't know if I believe that it is as quick and uneventful as they say...I mean no disrespect....I'm just seriously looking for some quidance that is untainted by an agenda.

I had a hideous vb with vontouse with my first. It was long and horrible. I went into it just thinking when it gets too sore I will go to hospital and probably have an epidural and whatever i need- thats all the preparation I did. One intervention let to another- I ended up with the apidural being attempted twice, then one drip to make the contarctions more effective, ne to slow their rate, fluids, a catherter, and the the vountouse and being ripped apart with and 3 rows of stitches needed. It wasnt an easy recovery, mentally was worse than phyically which took 4 weeks for the swelling to go and to feel ok down there.

This time I wanted to do it as naturally as possible cos Im sure that the birth went the way it did because of all the intervention. I read heaps on natural birth, hypnobirthing, practised breathing, visualisation, positive affirmations, and practiced and taught my mum and dh accuprssure techniques. i wrote very very clear detailed intructions on excatly what I wanted each person to do. One for me, mum, dh and the midwife, and we all read each others lists and knew what every persons roll would be.
I had the most amazing birth experience as a result! Was a planned homebirth, but we transfered to hospital as there was muconuim in the waters, and Aiden was born an hr after that. It was always the plan to go to hospital if anything happened that meant it was safer to be in hospital. I had no pain relief at all, not one even tiny graze or tear. He was the same length and had same head circumference as my daughter (37cm head which is big) and weighed slightly more than her - 8lb 14oz, yet I managed a completely natural birth this time with lots of thought an planning and being incharge of my own birth experience!

I dont know if any of this helps you. I havent had a c-section. But I really dont think its the 'easy way out' at all, like u said it is major surgery. I do beleieve that like anything, if u do research and plan how u want it to be, then even if unexpected things arise, you will feel more relaxed and prepared and less anxious than u would have been if unprepared.

hiya i get you on the freaking out part...

in chch at least..and i assume the rest of NZ you dont get an elective unless you have had a c section before or there is a medical reason.

I got to 9.5cm and he got stuck so had c section and i was induced and so i get the scary parts of the VB but mine was as medicated as it gets and normal VB's are not like mine!:) i am not a 'birth is natural and VB is the only way either but it is certainly way way better for your body than a csection..

forgot to say i am going elective this time though

Edited by Four_eyes

Thanks for posting this busybee, I had a c section with my first and would like a vaginal birth this time, but am terrified of the pain, possible interventions, tearing especially!

I will be having an elective C Section this time around. I think it really is up to you and what you feel and want. Things can go wrong either way and you need to be aware of the risks of both. I had a horrible birth with my first and ended up with a 3rd degree tear and 39 internal and external stitches. My "ladybits" have never been the same.
I suffered infertility for 7 years and have had many surgical procedures done and am more confident in having a c- section and healing from one than putting myself through the risk of another worse tear this birth.

You may have to go private and pay for it if there aren't medical reasons.
Like I say it's a personal choice and sadly some people may judge you on it but at the end of the day it's your birth and your choice.

Hiya,

I've just had the one Vag Birth and there were no major issues really (I had a tear) but I was walking around within a few hours, showering myself etc. It would have been sooner but I was too busy having skin to skin time with my son and buzzing out about having a baby!! My ladybits felt a bit funny afterward but at least not numb like a CS scar can feel.

My friend had an elective CS and it was aaaages before the drugs wore off. She wasn't able to do much. She had to call the nurse to pick up her baby and pass it to here while she was in hospital because she couldn't sit up well. She couldn't lift anything heavier than her baby, wasn't allowed to drive for six weeks and family had to come and stay to help her out (as her husband had to be at work).

Just remember that it is major surgery and you won't be able to do a heck of alot for quite a while afterwards which will be hard when all you want to concentrate on is your new baby.

Definitely listen to what others have to say and talk to your MW so you can make a well informed decision.

And personally, worrying about what my ladybits look and feel like afterward is not a good enough reason to deny myself the experience of childbirth. I found the whole experience so so interesting.

Edited by MrsH

Must say I was so bloody sick after my c section that this is the reason why Im really wanting to try a vaginal birth.And yes feeding was a huge issue, besides the stress of having a sick baby I bled so much that my platelets were 43 instead of within the range of 150 to 450, which also made healing a long painful process.
I have no issues with my scar now, but then its 20 months since I had my baby

I've just had the one birth, a VB with a lot of intervention, ended up with a ventouse delivery in theatre after being prepped for a c-section. I had to have multiple stiches in layers after being cut. The birth was not at all what I had planned (as much as you can plan) but yet I am still incredibly happy with it and would do it all again in a heart beat. As someone else mentioned, it is all in your mindset.

My ladybits still look a little different (it is only 3 weeks since giving birth) but they feel fine, in fact we are just waiting for the all clear from my MW next week before we "try them out again".

 

To me, and it is just my opinion, I would do anything, go through anything to avoid a c-section. I cried when I was told I had to have one, then cried again (happy tears) when I was told we could try for a ventouse.

Hmm out of the 8 women in my antenatal class that gave birth naturally not one needed vontouse or forceps and only a couple of them needed stitches so not that common.

I personally would also do anything to avoid a c-section and I think it would be more common to have long term side effects from scar tissue from a c-section than from a VB.. thats not to say it cant happen. Oh and my boy was a c-section...

You can have an elective for physcological reasons, may need to talk to your LMC.

GL

Chiqa - you're reasons would be medical because of the previous scarring and chance of bowel problems etc. I think the 'lady bits' thing is more to do with if it'll be the same for sex etc again.

I guess it doesn't really matter as long as you and baby are OK, BUT I would be really peeved if our taxpayers dollars went on elective c/s that had no medical need. We need to start trusting our bodies more and not giving into the modern notion of not pushing a baby out - they get in that way, they come out that way (of course, I'm not lumping medical c/s in this group - there is often a need for them and I am very grateful that there is an option for these mothers and babies - I was prepped for one but fought tooth and nail not to have one until all other options were exhausted).