C -section vs Forceps

I am pregnant with my second child and my first birth experience was horrific. After a long drawn out labour, i ended up with an episotomy as well as 3rd degree tearing. My son was posterior so they used forceps to try and turn him and also to deliver him as i was too exhausted to continue. They told me it would probably be better to have a c-section next time. I'm not sure which way to swing. I know what i'm in for with a vaginal birth but that means more tearing and more strain on my already damaged bits. The c-section is major surgery and no driving but maybe it will save my girly bits from anymore damage. Has anyone had a similar experience? What seemed better for you?

Roo, just because you ended up going down that path the first time, it doesn't have to be the same next time around. No 2 labours or births are ever the same hun. This time you are wiser and know what it's about. Set about informing yourself. Learn about positioning and being upright during labour.

It's hard to know what else to tell you as I don't know alot about your previous birth. But you are right in saying that a c section is major surgery. I have had 1 c section and 3 vaginal births. I know which one I would prefer :D

Hello, I'm pregnant with my second child, and my first birth (a poorly managed induction) was horrific. I ended up with post traumatic stress disorder (as I stopped believing I would ever make it out of there alive), as well as significant tearing through to muscle, vaginal prolapse and anal fissures. It was 18 months before we could DTD without pain. This time round I have chosen to go with a C/Section, simply because the thought of experiencing anything like that again is enough to send me climbing out of my own skull! While I appreciate it is major surgery, it is still a preferable scenario for me than risking a repeat of my first experience.

BTW another thing that has influenced my decision is that this will be our last child. There are other side effects/risks that having a c/section may place on subsequent pregnancies and births. So that is something you might like to consider when making your decision.

The one thing I will never know is whether attempting vaginal birth again with a set of more supportive caregivers would have resulted in a different experience this time. That is something i have had to come to terms with inside myself. You will no doubt get lots of strong opinions expressed in this thread, but I just want to encourage you to read widely, speak to many people, weigh up your own circumstances, and do what your own spirit urges you to. Good luck with your decision.

I can only speak from my POV, and it sounds like you had a really awful time last time :( I haven't been there, but I have had a C/S. And my advice would be to try to avoid a C/S. There is no reason to think that this birth will be the same as your first, hopefully it would be much smoother sailing. :hug: I hope you come to a decision you feel good about soon.

I sustained a 4th degree tear from the forceps delivery of my daughter. She was induced, talk about a cascade of intervention.

I'm going for vaginal again this time. A natural gentle birth - not too much pushing baby down if any. Allowing stretching of the perineum, breathing the head out. I'm researching and it's very very do-able. No two births are the same. My Ob has given me the go-ahead to birth normally after my anal-endo scan and he's happy (not that he would have had a choice in this matter!).

I'm actually looking forward to birthing this baby, with my daugher I was scared, I'm not this time.

I have not had a c/s, but I also had a rough time giving birth to my first baby, but my second birth was much better and my third birth was even better than that! Your first birth is not necessarily a blueprint for all your births to come - it doesn't have to be that way.

I would suggest doing your research into both vaginal birth and c/s, and then weighing up your options. Also, I would be asking the midwife/doctor who was present at your last birth why things happened the way they did, what was the reasoning behind certain things, etc. And why is it that they think a c/s would be better next time? Then you will have all the info you need to make the best decision for you, and feel happy about it.

I had a forceps rotation and delivery with Jenna and an episiotomy that took a while to heal, and I was a bit worried about Hamish.
It was completley different, my body worked him down so much better, and while the natural birth hurt alot, my personal recovery was hours rather than weeks. I kid you not - I felt a million dollars afterwards, and even the midwife was surprised when I said I had been worried about my epi scar. She didn't even know I had one, and had not been worried about me tearing at all.

Try not to be too worried - I would avoid a c-section like the plague, but thats just me.

I had forceps with Lachlan and 3rd degree tearing, im recovering, but as a wound has reopened i have a nurse come out everyday to repack it. I was told in labour that it was forceps and/or a c/section.
We are planning on no 2 in a yrs time, this experience although painful and taking a longer time to heal, i would go through it all again, as others have said no 2 labours are the same, i want to avoid a c/s unless i had no choice (bubs or my health at risk).

But the choice remains soley yours, if you feel you cannot cope with a vaginal birth with the fear of going through the the same as you did last time, the by all means opt for the c/s. But dont think just cos the doc said it, you have to do it, just remember no 2 labours/births are the same, but there is still a chance it can happen again, do some research, ask advice from other dr's/nurses, discuss with your DH and maybe your GP, and make your decision then.
I too am worried about my girly bits being damaged again when we have no 2, and i may change the way i feel about having a natural birth when the time comes, all i can offer is how i feel/think now.......
I hope i have helped somewhat......but i do realise the more you discuss things openly with people (generally the fear type thoughts/feelings) the easier i seem to deal with things iykwim.....
Take Care