I haven't had a caesar, but I've had uterine surgery and the recovery was nasty and it was extremely painful, for this reason I am terrified of needing a c-section. Like Caro said, adhesions are a major factor too, I have these from the surgeries I had and they aren't nice at all.

The biggest thing that scares me about having a caesar (and I have been threatened with it this pregnancy because I am apparently having a baby that might be too large), is the whole not holding your baby straight away. I have had two vaginal births, and I wasn't parted from my baby afterward, I can imagine going into recovery and being stitched up without the baby would distress me. I also worry about the BFing aspect of it by not being able to BF straight away, though many women seem to be able to do this okay, I just had trouble even having a vaginal birth with it because of a delay in attaching.

Definatley research both sides, you hear as many good c-section stories as bad, and in the end you have to decide. I can't imagine what a third degree tear would be like either, but Id imagine it would be nasty so I don't blame you for wanting to weigh up your options.

From what I've heard, the pink kit would be a good thing for you to look into if you are going to go a vaginal birth again, they have alot of information about tearing and avoiding it, as well as much more. There is a link to it in the labour forum at the top.

Good luck