Hellobee Boards

I haven't done the c section yet, but i've had two vaginal deliveries and asked my ob for a section for this. Its totally cheating but I hate labor and never want to go through it again.

I really wanted a vaginal delivery, but ended up with a c-section. I'm grateful for the medical technology that gave us the option. If I had lived in pioneer days, I would have been screwed.

I had a scheduled c-section because my son was breech. I was totally nervous beforehand and did everything in my power to try to flip him into position to avoid the surgery. I was so worried about evicting him before he was ready! However, I was lucky and my water broke about 4 days before the scheduled surgery. The whole thing was actually a very pleasant and relaxed birth experience for me. Recovery was uncomfortable of course, although never painful. My milk came in right away and my son and I had no problems with breastfeeding and bonding.

I'm not sure whether I will opt for the c-section or try for a VBAC with future number #2.

I think the hardest recovery is when a woman labors and then ends up needing an emergency c-section at the end of it all. The body is exhausted and had been through so much! I can't imagine.

I've had both, but my vaginal delivery was at 20 weeks with our first. I had to have a c section with my second because she was breech. I'm a little over 2 weeks out from my section and I feel like it is totally a better recovery than my vaginal delivery. I didn't have any complications, so that was good for me. I will have to have a section with my next baby and I'm looking forward to having it. The scariest thing for the section was going to the bathroom afterwards. I was really worried about pooping, but all was okay.

My sister had a emergency C-section w/LO1 and VBAC w/LO2. After seeing what she went thru w/her 1st birth, I would never opt for an elective C. Long story short, her incision became infected and required a (painful) 10-day hospital stay after her original 4-day stay. No thanks!

Totally depends on how difficult your recovery is - and that applies for both types of births. You could have a simple C-section with no complications and an easy recovery, or you could get an infection, need a blood transfusion, be slow to heal, etc. You could have a vaginal birth with minimal tearing and feel pretty good soon after, or you could have awful third degree tearing that takes many rounds of treatment/stitches/silver nitrate to get it healed properly. Luck of the draw, pretty much.

I luckily had a very easy recovery from my C-section. However, I was in labor for 24 hours before LO's heart rate dropped dangerously low, and at least 6 hours of that was incredibly difficult hard labor where I had no medication. So I certainly wouldn't call it cheating. Although next time if I have the c-section again without having to deal with labor and have another easy recovery, that would be amazing!

I gave birth naturally with our first - like @Jennimac: at 20 weeks and the recovery was okay but I guess it was a very different situation. We are due next week with our second and I'll be having a scheduled (elective) C-sec. I think like @wonderstruck: said, there are so many factors that influence which option works out better for each person. For us, waiting to go into labour naturally, pushing etc (esp as our baby is LGA and so has risks for getting stuck) would be too stressful and emotionally taxing after our loss. So C-sec is what works best for us.

I've only had one uncomplicated vaginal delivery, with easy recovery, so if course I would opt for that again. But a close friend had a vaginal delivery with really bad tearing (external and internal), followed with an undetected bladder infection that had her alone in the ER days after coming home. Her doctors said she is likely to tear again and gave her the option of an elective c section at 39 weeks, which she is happy about and I totally understand.

I agree that the worst for recovery is actively laboring for hours and then having an emergency c section.

I had a fairly miserable labor; 47+ hours of every two minute contractions, pitocin, on four days of no sleep and an emergency csection for an LGA baby. I was shocked at how easy my recovery was. If LO2 is 10+ lbs I'll be having a repeat.

I've only had an unmedicated vaginal delivery & I would do it again. I didn't have any problems & recovery was a breeze.

I have had one all natural birth and one c-section, I personally would never choose to have another c/s because of my experience with all of it. I hated that I couldn't bond with my baby immediately because I was soooo out of it because of the drugs, I didn't get to even see her until she was all clean and bundled and we didn't get skin to skin until much later. Also, even though I had a quick uncomplicated recover as far as c/s goes it was way harder on me than the vaginal birth.

@runsyellowlites: this is totally off topic, but recent research suggests that home births carry a higher rate of infant mortality. I agree that elective surgery can be dangerous. Home births can also be dangerous. Vaginal births in a hospital can be dangerous. People die from having babies, babies die during child birth, it happens sometimes no matter which method is chosen. I think it's offensive to suggest that the negligence and disregard for others safety that is inherent in the choice to drive while intoxicated is present in any woman's choice about how she brings her baby into the world.

@runsyellowlites: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/home-births-more-risky-hospital-deliveries

I guess I feel like folks who advocate for home births / minimal interventions (and I'm one of them!) frequently say that it's about more than just a healthy baby at the end. That a woman's experience during labor and delivery is also important and should be considered when making choices. Babies who aren't breastfed also have higher rates of asthma...would you like to compare formula feeding to child abuse? Although I understand the connection you are trying to make I think it is a hurtful analogy. It is enough to say "there are higher risks associated with x, and so that is not a choice I would make." Comparing that choice to a thoughtless crime, and one which is clearly abhorred in our society, is hurtful.

@runsyellowlites: Wow, so you actually meant to be offensive! Thanks for the clarification. I only have one child who was an emergency c-section, but you're saying that you MEANT to call many woman on this website irresponsible and say that they're just as bad as drunk drivers and don't care about their child's health. Now that is what I find hard to wrap my head around.

@Foodnerd81: that was my biggest fear as well, going through labor and then having a c section. Luckily, I had an easy recovery from my vaginal birth.

@runsyellowlites: I think the trouble people have with your statements comes from the fact that you aren't knowledgeable about every mom and every baby or the reasons women chose to have repeat sections. Making blanket statements about how having a repeat is akin to driving drunk is offensive and hurtful. Mothers don't go around making these decisions casually. It's not like picking a nail polish color, and It's certainly not like deciding to down a bottle of whiskey and drive away. These are measured decisions. The risks are considered as well as the outcomes.
Pregnancy and delivery are not without inherent risks. Everyone has different risks. It is hurtful and insensitive to say that someone making a different choice than you is willfully causing harm.
My insistence on a vaginal birth the first time very nearly hurt my daughter. Had I not been in the hospital I very likely would not have had a live birth. My choice to avoid that in the future is not like driving drunk it's like choosing between having a baby and having a dead mama and dead baby.
I only mentioned the ease of my recovery because many women, when faced with a non-elective surgery, are terrified. There are horrifying vaginal and Caesarian birth stories online, I offer my positive section because I hope that someone finds it and doesn't feel the same despair I did when faced with an unwanted c-section.

@runsyellowlites: I'm relatively sure no doctor would ever recommend (or allow) an elective c-section if it were as dangerous as choosing to drive drunk. It's fair to say that wouldn't be *your* choice, but as moms and women I think the best we can do is research the options and trust our medical providers. C-sections, home births, whatever.

Wow! Interesting the turn this thread took!

I find it offensive when people (not you op) call a c section "cheating".
I fought long and hard for a vaginal birth, labored for 20 hours without pain meds, then had to decide whether to have myself cut open, or risk both the health of me and the baby. If anything, I feel "cheated" out of a natural birth. I feel like I failed at something so natural. I have these feelings of failure daily and have seen a professional about them.

Choosing for baby #2 will suck. I would love the opportunity to VBAC and the risks to me are somewhat greater, but I've read uterine rupture horror stories and I know there's a mom out there with a brain injured child due to it.
On the other hand, I almost bled to death with my C-Section, the thought of another one is scary...but if it was scheduled, my doctor would be prepared for all of that.
My worst nightmare is laboring for 20 hours again, putting baby and I thru that, only to end up with an emergency section again, potentially hurting both of us.

@runsyellowlites: I like you a lot, and actually agree with most of your viewpoints on various topics....but I have to disagree with you here. My decision is going to be so hard. I keep flip flopping between VBAC or section, but whatever I choose, I don't need judgement for it from anyone.

Yikes.

Well, I haven't experienced a section and my recovery from a vaginal birth was probably around average. Like PP's have said, both presents risks. The introduction of the c section (whenever in time that happened) has saved an incredible number of lives for both babies and the mama's. I have two really close friends who would never have survived had the option of the csection had not been available. So, I guess we can put our trust into the people who know best and whatever decision is made, will be the best one.