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.
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.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks