Vag vs C-section

[Catastrophic]

I completly understand for different circumstances. and I understand the differnce of opinions and beliefs.

But with a routine Vag and a routine csection. wouldn't the healing be better for the Vag.

and as far as wounds/stretching/tearing etc, the csection is more invasive and damaging? I am correct in thinking that yes?

[fionas]

I'm not pro-c-section MN but I am anti-demonising c-sections if that makes sense. My c-section was an absolute walk in the park. ESPECIALLY compared to my VB (which was not a routine one though). Much easier recovery.

[Tuesday's Child]

IMO it's not about VB vs c-section. It's about education. Clearly the person MN had this conversation with is uninformed. Hopefully they can make use of the years before giving birth to learn more about it.

[BellyBelly]

Sex After Childbirth - Will It Ever Feel The Same Again?

There's something for the birth and it's effects on sex/vaginas.

[KimB]

Thanks Kelly for putting up that article I read it with interest. However that was not the case for me. My 1st birth was horrendous. I ended up under a GA with the episiotomy from hell. It would have been easier and kinder to do a c/s. I ended up having repair surgery (that I'm not sure even worked) in 2005 as when they sewed me back up from the epi they didn't sew my pelvic floor muscles back together . I felt then, and still do, the after effects from that 1st birth. I used to have great control of my p/f muscles and now there is nothing, also I have numb patches from the mega scarring that occurred. I'm sure a c/s would have caused much less problems for me. In saying that I went on to have 3 vag births after my 1st (no noticable difference to the sex angle though) and then a c/s due to PE. My c/s was good. Not much pain afterward and I did take it easy for the next 6 weeks but after that i was fine. I'm very well educated on v/b v's c/s but I'm still tossing up what to do with this next birth. Have many aspects to consider and not much time left lol.

[RainbowBrite]

I do think it depends on the person, the situation and the trauma suffered...from either VB or C/S.
I have had 5 natural, drug free VB and two emergency c-sections (one classical) I recovered quickly from my c-section but I would have a VB over a c-section any day.
I think it is about a fully imformed birth...knowing the pros and cons and making the choice for your situation.
But for me I have to agree that the recovery from a VB is much quicker and less painful (I was up showering with in 20min) then from my c-sections.

[Traveller]

It's like anything really, there will always be anecdotes that buck the trend and personal circumstances that must be considered when deciding to have a vaginal birth over a CS. Ultimately the statistics speak for themselves. At a population level, women recover better from vaginal births than CS's and have less complications and long lasting pain. But we are not populations, we are individuals and that is why it is so great to live in a place where our informed choices are respected (hopefully) and we can make these very personal decisions for ourselves.

[mooks]

I had a traumatic induced vaginal birth with DD1. Even 6 months later I was still experiencing pain. I was absolutely dreading birthing DS. His induced birth turned into an emergency csection but even with staples in my belly, I couldn't believe that I felt less pain afterwards. DD2 was born by elective csection and again I had absolutely no problems with the recovery. I wouldn't hesitate to have another csection. Just me though