I dont know which way I should go.

[fionas]

it's a very difficult decision to make and one that I'll be faced with if I have a second child though my condition doesn't sound anywhere near as bad as yours so big hugs.

For me it's kind of not just about the stats and doing the research - it's about how I feel.

I had SPD and a vaginal birth (with forceps) and was in severe pain for six months after the birth. I am still niggly 20 months later and feel far from normal. This had a serious impact on my relationship and although I coped reasonably well with the pain and the limitations that it brought, I simply do not want to go through all that again. Just the thought of doing that again reduces me to tears and I'm not easily reduced to tears.

So, this is kind of the way I think. If I do the same thing as last time (VB with a long, long 2.5 hour pushing phase) and end up with the same result (severe pain for six months afterwards), I will not only have to put up with the agony, I will also have to put up with the thought that "I was stupid, I should have tried something different." If I ask for an elective caesarean ie. do something differently to last time then at least if I still have the pain, I won't have the, "I was stupid," thoughts.

For those reasons, I'm edging towards a caesarean but my ob is like yours, he will not do a caesarean lightly. He has the lowest caesarean stats in Melbourne. All this has been churning through my brain even though I'm not even pregnant yet so I've made an appointment to go and see him next month to talk it through.

He may mention something I haven't considered. I have a feeling he will say to aim for a trial by labour in positions that shouldn't exacerbate the SPD and to put a time limit on the pushing phase rather than going for 2.5 hours with my legs held open against my chest which personally I think caused the extended pain afterwards.

What I'm trying to say is DO ask for more opinions and do your research etc. but also don't ignore your gut feel if it is telling you to do one thing over another - even if that gut feel contradicts your research IYKWIM.

I did start a thread on outcomes of VBs versus caesareans in SPD cases, I'll try to find the link and come back.

[fionas]

OK, here's the link to SPD and birthing choices https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...es-wanted.html

[kelebek]

Don't really have any answers for you but just wanted to send a

[alioops]

I have been doing a lot of research and I still havent found any numbers as to the risks of doing damage with a VB. DH and I have been discussing it quite a bit though, and considering that it will be an induced labour if it is a VB then there is more chance of intervention, which I think would increase the risk of damage. Depending on what the Ob says we are almost 100% certain that we will ask for a CS because the recovery for a reconstruction if I do need one is so long.

It really is a hard decision but I am more concerned that because I won't be able to use the bath that I will be wanting pain relief, which would increase my chance of moving too far, or having my legs pushed too far apart.

[tiggerlinda]

hun good to hear you and dh have had a chat

[Peg]

hi alioops,

i have never heard of the condition so i cant comment on that, but i can comment on c-sections...i've had 3 of them myself.

C's are not as bad as they sound. The recovery time was more like 3 weeks for me. You are actually up and walking around in 24 hours and the more you walk, the quicker you heal. I never got any infections or complications and the most blood i ever lost during the operation was 400 mls.

the best advice i can give is if you are going to have a c-section...plan it before hand because emergency operations are higher risk due to things like getting you to the operating theatre in time, dr's and nurses rushing which could lead to errors being made etc...also after being in labor for a length of time, then having a c can be harder for your body to recover because of what its already been thru.

So dont leave it to chance. Weigh up the risks with and without a caesar and get a second opinion from another doctor, and decide before you go into labor.

good luck.

[alioops]

A wonderful BB member PMed me the info booklet that medicos are supposed to make their recommendations based on. This booklet says that the only time a CS should be done with DSP is if the pain free gap when I open my legs is too small to allow a head to fit, which it is. I had a physio appointment today and she agreed with me.

We have made our decision now, For a CS, and I really couldnt be happier now. If I had gone into it without having done the research then I probably would have had the 'what if?'s' but having done the research I am actually quite excited!! I know that this is one of the circumstances where a CS is a medical necessity, and as such I will not be calling it elective, rather medically necessary, but I am at peace with the decision.

[Arimeh]

Ali

Good on you babe
xx

[Gigi]

what a dilemna for you Ali

i have no advice
i'm glad your dh is supportive
i'm glad Defense is prepared to assist with care options
i wish i was medically educated so i could help you - it sounds like a very specialised area of medical expertise that you need

thinking of you

i just saw your newest post - i can hear the relief in your voice, and can understand why that brochure helped you make the decision, makes sense to me too.

One less thing to stress about heh? I'm glad you have a solution now, and one that won't give you the lingering "what if" thoughts.

[Nadine216]

not all CS take a full 6 weeks to recover from. I was driving with Dr permission at 3 weeks post-op

I just wanted to add also ... I agree. Not all CS take that long to recover. In fact, I was amazed that I recoverd so darn quickly. I was driving on day 4 ... without my dr's appoval

Personally ... if I were you ... I'll go for the planned c/s, for almost all reasons Peg mentioned. That and you will be more relaxed and can prepare yourself for it

Goodluck

[Nadine216]

Oops sorry!! I missed the second page of this thread LOL!!!

I'm happy you are confident about your decision and that you are excited ...