I had a c/s for my first birth and vbac for my second.
I had a 'great' recovery from my c/s. No complications and was relatively pain free within a couple of weeks. I found though that even though I felt ok and walking etc didn't hurt, overdoing it was very easy. Just pushing the pram to the shop and back could make me bleed again or my scar site hurt later on that day. This was very frustrating and also scary as I would start wondering if I had done real damage.
I had quite a quick labour for my vbac which I fould fairly easy to deal with, but did get a 2nd degree tear. The tear was very painful for a couple of days but only when sitting up straight or going to the toilet. I could still walk, sit up from a lying position etc without pain. It also healed completely much faster the the c/s scar. DTD was scarier and more painful after the vbac.
I agree with christy that it was the difference emotionally that was more significant for me. It was just more satisfying for me to know that I had actually squeezed DS2 out. However if you are really scared about labouring again then it probably won't be a good experience for you and a c/s is a legitimate option. If you think you may want to vb again then you will need to be able to separate your first experience from this one and go in thinking positively.
I have had vaginal births and my last baby was a c/section. I found the whole experience separate from myself if that makes any sense! I felt llike my baby was born but I didn't birth her. The recovery took a very long time and I had multiple infections. I was very ill with other complications. Also the hormonal thing. I didn't have that high that I had after all my births - at least not to the same extent.
The recovery time for my vaginal births and my c/section are incomparable. I was walking to the shower half an hour post delivery with my vaginal babies but my site was still sore at 8 weeks post birth with Immy... HTH.
My mum has had both a VB and CS and has always said to anyone who has had dirt dished out at someone for taking the "easy way out" with a CS is full of crap.
She found that recovery time was much quicker and she liked being able to walk around and do as she pleased after her VB, but after her CS she felt she was bedridden and to scared to move because it felt like her stitches where going to pop out (of course they weren't but that sensation was there!
Good luck with your choice! It is a tough one xx
C-S birth. The lifting / moving / carrying difficulty was the issue for me, even though I was up and moving very soon after and had minimal pain and a complication free recovery. I couldn't get out of bed or sit up in bed to feed my son without pain and difficulty for the first few months.
Caitlyn was an inducted VB - horrible, painful on so many levels and a torture. Not the least because I was delivering my dead baby. I would avoid an induction at all costs - it was hell. But that may just have been my experience.
DS was a beautiful labour (breech) until he required and emergency c-section but the labour was slowly increasing, manageable and empowering compared to my first birth. DD was a VBAC - and it was heaven. Intense, primal, expulsive - but heaven. Those wonderful hormones - aaahhhhhh I was up and showered soon after her birth - I even welcomed visitors within the hour!!! Even the second degree tear was nothing in comparison to the c-section.
Mum2 - I have posted in your other threads so you're prolly familiar with my story.
Honestly, for me the VB was harder/more painful - the pain totally exceeded my ability to deal with it - it's like there was so much pain I popped a fuse somewhere. It meant I didn't function at all well for probably 18 months afterwards.
Whereas the CS pain - was acute and lasted longer - but the difference was at no point did I feel I wasn't able to cope with it. Even when there were problems with the wound healing, the pain was kept under control with pain killers, and I felt like instead of having all the pain piled on top of me over the hours of labour, it was metered out in small doses over several weeks - making it longer but more bearable, kwim?
Good luck in your choice, go with what feels right for you. The best choice you make will be the one that you feel most empowered by.
For me... c/s hands down was more painful. I couldn't even stand for 2 days after. I don't think I'll ever forget the pain and it's 16 yrs now. I've since had 2 VBAC's.. one 2 1/2 yrs ago and one 4 months ago and even with quite bad muscle separation with the last one which made my stomach quite sore after giving birth I wouldn't wish it different. I couldn't believe how great I felt straight after having a baby - amazing.
However if you are really scared about labouring again then it probably won't be a good experience for you and a c/s is a legitimate option. If you think you may want to vb again then you will need to be able to separate your first experience from this one and go in thinking positively.
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I was up and showered soon after her birth - I even welcomed visitors within the hour!!! Even the second degree tear was nothing in comparison to the c-section.
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