Like the other ladies have said it is your body, your baby, your birth, your choice... so please don't let yourself be swayed by other peoples opinions. Knowledge is power and will help you feel confident in your decision.

I also want to stress that everyones experience is different. Some people have had hideous VB's while others have had ones that are magical, similarly some people have had terrible CS's and awful recoveries, while others have relished the experience and recovered quite easily. So I suppose what I am saying is just because you read about one bad experience (be it a bad CS or a bad VB) don't let that make your mind up.

Research the techniques, quiz your OB, find out everything you need to know to make a decision that you're comfortable with. Then make a clear birth plan (whichever way you go) and make sure that your OB and midwives know exactly what YOU want.

And for what it is worth I had an emergency CS and I remember DS's birth as being magical. I cried when they lifted him out and I was able to hold him within about 2 minutes of him being born and held him the whole time they stitched me up. While I was in recovery (was only 30 minutes) DH went with him to be weighed and checked out. For the record, they didn't cut through my stomach muscles (I've heard that it is pretty unusual for them to cut them these days, but ask your OB), but rather pulled them out of the way. Yes for the next couple of days I wasn't in great shape, but was up and able to have a shower etc the next day. I was strong enough to cuddle DS from the minute we went to our room and I think I was even changing nappies the next day. The good thing about having had him in a private hospital is that you have 6 days there to recover and you can also have your partner stay with you. I really liked that while I wasn't able to do everything, DH was doing it instead (not a midwife). I had no problems bonding with DS and no issues with my milk coming through.

Good Luck with the rest of your pregnancy and your birth (whichever way you choose to go).