cesarean vs natural birth

Gosh so much stuff on this topic!

First, I had an emergency c-section followed by a VBAC. I would definitely recommend the VBAC but if you do need a c/s for whatever reason, you do recover after a while and you don't do much in the first month anyway. The hardest part for me was not being able to stand or carry baby much (sore abdo muscles), or hang washing (not allowed to stretch!).

I've heard that the reason you're not supposed to drive for the first 6 weeks is because if you slam on the brakes, that action can cause immense pain so that you let go - so therefore you are not so safe a driver! It is so tempting though, I certainly felt "back to normal" within 4 weeks. Also, one side effect of c/s is that your scar tissue can rupture in a subsequent labour, but that's not a high probability and you will be referred to an obstetrician for all those stats at 6 months anyway.

As for nakedness, I'm quite a private person too and even after going half-way through labour with the first baby, I was kinda freaking out about it for the second labour. But my midwives were very discreet and by the time you're up to pushing it really is no issue to you at all. Don't worry, they're there to watch the baby, and of course to see that you don't tear.

As for pain relief, I would suggest to anyone going into labour that they keep open-minded on it. Work out what you want to do for light (e.g. gas) or heavy (e.g. epidural) pain relief and just go with what you are feeling. I had an epidural with the second one, but I won't be having that again because I felt it was more distracting than helpful. Fingers crossed for not too much pain this time around....

I am also worried about the naked and humiliation part - but from what others have said to me it doesnt have to be that way... its not like you spend hours and hours spread out on display like a spatch cooked chicken (sorry for the comaprison its all I could think of) - I think from what everyone is sayign and from what I have heard from others is that you are dressed for a large % of the time and then at the end, when you push, certain bits have to be avaiable for the midwife to see... but if you have a gown on and hubby is up at your end then no one else but your midwife need see anything... knowing that makes ME feel a while lot better.. and I think teh further into pregnancy you get the more you will get used to the idea until eventually you will just want it out, no matter how it comes out, just as long as it is out... anyway good luck, I am the same as you, a bit worried, but I think it will be fine...

Well I am a private person too...I had a long labour and in the room (while waiting to Dialate (sp???)) was My Hubby, mum, auntie and later my MIL (Tho I did not want her there) .....and my MW and a trainee. I was covered up (hospital gown) and occationally MW looked down there but was really careful to expose me.

Later when I started to push only people in the room was Hubby, mum and MW and then Doc....


I ended up with a c section and then a whole lot of poeple saw my Private parts....to be quite honest I didnt care...I wanted to see my bubbba come out happy and healthy. So I agree you leave all you worries at the door....or even at home...he he ha ha

The showers in Middlemore suck!! When I took a shower just before they were going to put me in a drip the damn thing flooded both the room (one shower in between two rooms). The rooms were not bad tho....