Vag vs C-section

[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

[kelsbels]

Brilliant c section here as well, despite a bleed and subsequent transfusion. I was out walking around town with the pram and my shopping just 5 days post op and never had a single problem with my recovery,yet my friend had a vaginal birth and was laid up with terrible pain for about 6 weeks after birth, despite no tearing or stitches.

Every experience is completely different.

[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.

[Catastrophic]

That's beautifully said trav!!!!


Love MN ;-)

[Fleur]

My situation is a bit unusual because I had SPD. I had a VB first time around because everyone told me that SPD did not mean I would need a caesar. Worst thing I ever did. An 18-month recovery and for the first six months I was basically housebound. Also meant I delayed having no. 2.

Opted for a caesar the second time around, despite many well-meaning people on here again telling me that I needn't have one. THE best thing I ever did. I was better after six days than I was after six months after the VB and immediately contemplated no. 3, the recovery was that good.

I agree that some people are misinformed and seem to think that a caesar is an easier option but I also think that some people put a VB on a pedestal that is not always useful for people like me who face a unique set of circumstances that make it totally advisable.

^^ That's the exact reason you can't make blanket statements. It's all about the individual.
Unfortunately there is no real way of knowing how any labour or birth will go. I know of one woman whose relative had an experience so bad, she chose a CS thinking to avoid the same thing happening. I know someone who had a CS, loved it, had another & the recovery was horrific. She said if she'd known the second time was going to be like that, she would have considered a VBAC.
My own VBAC was born originally, from the fact that I found my own CS so horrible, and I had had a previous VB which was quick & easy.

There are so many different stories, so many different scenarios, the only thing I wish is that women would be informed. When I was 16 & pregnant with my first I was terrified of giving birth & would happily have accpeted a CS, had one been offered

Traveller that was beautifully said.