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I think both can have cons. My recovery time was similar with both, but I found I had to be way more careful with my body for the c section, for lifting heavy stuff, bending, twisting, moving etc. I had an unplanned csection with my first and it was an uncomplicated surgery. I was in the hospital for two days.

I would always choose a vaginal over a csection because of potential surgery risks to my own body even though it is a very routine surgery, and also so I had the ability to care for my other children. I would have been upset if my second birth had been a csection and I couldn’t pick up my toddler and take care of her by myself easily.

I’m very hopeful I’ll have another vbac this time as well for my third baby.

Pros I see for a c section that is scheduled:
-you know when it will happen
-no worrying about the what if’s of labour and delivery and risks to the baby during delivery

Cons:
-more body trauma (in my opinion)
-inability to lift more than 10 pounds, or that’s the recommendation, which means you aren’t supposed to lift your baby in their car seat which is super annoying. I had to carry the car seat empty to my car and then carry my baby separately because my baby was nearly 10 pounds at birth. I couldn’t unfold my stroller and lift it to snap the car seat on to
-potential of using narcotics and being limited because of those (I was only given Tylenol and Advil though)
-sleepless nights because of a newborn with pain on top of that and struggles caring for your newborn in the night while you are trying to heal.
-potential breathing issues with baby because they didn’t cue your body into labour and also get fluid squeezed out of them during delivery. So some csection babies that are taken before 40 weeks have to be on oxygen.

Following. I am being offered a c-section this pregnancy since my two prior deliveries were vaginal assisted but I am also not being discouraged from vaginal.

I had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery with my first and a scheduled c-section (breech) with my second. The recovery with my 2nd was way easier for me. I much preferred pain in my abdomen than down below. And being able to schedule it was so convenient with already having a kid at home. The one downside for me was not being able to hold DS2 right away, like I could with DS1, though apparently this policy has changed at my hospital. I’m honestly not sure what I’ll do next time...

I had an unexpected c section for my first and a VBAC with my second.

The c section was 100x worse.

I don't know if it's because I had a full 18hour labor before (it seems that scheduled c sections are much easier) but I had such a hell of a time recovering. I was in so much pain walking for probably 6 weeks after, I had to ask for so much help because I couldn't bend down to lift up my baby, I had to sleep basically sitting up for about a week, I needed help getting in and out of bed, and I swear to God.... going number 2 after my c section was more painful than by VBAC

I would go vaginal any time

Maybe I am in the minority but I had a very good C-section experience the second time as it was scheduled. Scheduled is SO much better. My first was emergency C-section after laboring for 28 hours and that plain sucked but because of all the laboring beforehand. This time at 9 weeks and i'm pretty much healed completely. My doctor is all about "natural" C-sections and we got skin to skin immediately with our DD and breastfeeding went great! The incision was sore for the first few weeks and walking kinda sucked if I didn't stay on top of the Tylenol but we were out of the hospital in just two days. I would definitely have another planned C-section if the choice came up.

With my first, i was induced and 24 hours later after laboring, it ended with csec. Recovery was great. I was up and going by day 3.

My second was a vbac (not by choice..he can early at 37 weeks and also super fast). It was unmedicated. Labor was brief. We got to hospital at 3ish and he was born at 5am. Recovery was harder. You’re dealing with older child and newborn. You’re older and more tired. And it hurt major to go to bathroom.

My 3rd was also induced and ended up with vbac number two but I got an epidural. Recovery was way worse than my other two. I had third degree tear. I was now dealing with two kids and newborn. I was maternal age (35).

So for me, csection was much easier. But I chose vbacs to get out of hospital faster which helped with logistics for other kids.