C-section vs. vaginal birth

[mandz]

Marissa. good on you for doing your research. Although from reading through this there is no easy answer.

I had a VB and was extremely fortunate to have given birth 3.5 hrs after the labour pains had started. I had really stong views on how my birth should go before hand but after having such a short labour I had no choice. No drugs, or anything!!!!

I think what you're doing is right do your research, make the best decision for you. But don't set your heart on it, as things go hay wire really quickly.

Next time around I plan to take it as it comes, although if what they says is true I could be delievering in the supermarket.

Good luck with your choice

 

[zaitsa]

to MayC

Yes of course I could walk before 3 months after my c-section but I could not walk for hours doing shopping for example or standing in a queue for ages.Especially because I had few problems after the c-section due to a blood factor deficiency (don't worry only 1 person out of 1 million has this probem)
Otherwise, of course the main thing is to be obsessed by the scare. I was really scared too.

 

[HappyV]

Dear Tong Tong,
Running, 1 days after a C-section? First of all, I simply don;t believe you. Secondly, you could do yourself major damage acting in such an irresponsible way after major surgery - what if you can gotten faint, or started bleeding? Then how would you care for your baby? I cannot believe that any doctor would advise this, or even allow it.
To the original poster - I think if you surveyed 1000 CS women, 999 would ell you that it is not like Tong Tong's experience as she tells it above.
I have friends who have had VB and CS, and they ALL say that the recovery from CS is longer, more painful and more difficult.
To the woman who said that VB after CS leaves a 1% change of uterine rupture - well, this is one of the highest risks of CS surgery anyway. This is why after a CS they ask you to measure your urine output - to make sure that there is no leakage into the stomach.
Actually, I have to say, I am reqally angry about Tong Tong's post. I cannot believe that it is true, and at the very least, it's a ridiculous thing to say to a woman who is tryng to understand the normal course of events after CS and VB.
There ARE ways to make labout easier - epidurals, massage, gas - but to suggest that cutting through layers of skin, muscle and tissue is EASY in any way, is simply ridiculous.

 

[elephantine]

Happy V, I'm quite sure the poster who said she was "up and running" did not mean that she was literally jogging or sprinting. It is just a phrase that people use to mean up and about. Poor Tong Tong must be feeling unduly attacked for effectively saying she was able to stand up and walk about without a problem.
I do, however, second your views on preferring a VB over a CS, having had an emergency CS myself and found it painful to walk around for the first few weeks. I would hope that I can have a VB for my next child. Though a cousin of mine just a CS for her 2nd child, after having a VB for her first and much preferred her CS delivery, mainly because she tore quite a bit during the VB - so I think we should be understanding of the fact that people do have varied experiences and opinions on this issue.
Marisa, you're very wise to get as much info as you can on the differences between a CS and VB and if you want a VB, what choices to make to reduce your chances of a CS (there's a lot of scientific research out there on delaying the epidural, etc. which I unfortunately didn't research for my delivery). Maybe you could ask your doctor about this. Having said that though, the end result will be partly determined by the circumstances of your labour. I remember being quite disappointed at needing to have an emergency CS at first, especially because of the pain caused by my incision, but having a healthy and beautiful bub in my arms helped me get over that pretty quickly!

 

[Su Mei]

hi,

I think Tong Tong meant "up and running" as a form of expression (ie. up and about) as opposed to literally running a marathon - if she did, she'd certainly be an exception rather than the norm! I think it's only fair that everyone tells their own experiences with their birth, it may sound pretty extreme but despite what books say, not everyone has a textbook reaction.

I had an emergency c-section (was hoping for natural birth with painkillers of course as I had heard sooo many horror CS stories) but was surprised at how it really wasn't as bad as I thought - I had my CS at 2pm and was up and walking slowly the next morning, certainly there was soreness but no severe pain. I breastfeed about 4 hours after delivery and continued to do so right up to when my son turned 12 months 2 weeks ago. The slight soreness was there for a few weeks (I was on 4 types of painkillers during the 5 days in hospital and subsequently given 2 types of painkillers to take for 2 weeks after that) but nothing so terrible I couldn't get on with taking care of my newborn.

 

[sunnysideup]

Yes, Tong Tong wasn't lieing, it was just a phrase (up and running) meaning "up and about" as elephantine explained. So don't take offence from it. Let's chill ladies! We all need to have a happy pregnancy and motherhood :flower:

Like Marisa, I am here to gather info on both methods of birth. It's my first pregnancy, how exciting!

I believe it should entirely be your personal preference how you choose to deliver your baby. I have heard some comments (when I googled on the subject) about women who choose CS and/or who don't breastfeed are considered bad mothers coz they don't want to go through the pain and/or hassle. I think that's very unfair. If the technology is there to make your life easier, then choose that as you want to. If you really want to do it like women in year 1900, then do it without epidural or any painkiller. If you cannot go through birth like that, then don't put down people who has an even lower pain threashold. People choose CS for a mix of reasons, pain maybe one of them but not the sole reason.

Modern life is full of choice so we are very lucky to be living in this time. IT IS NOT A COMPETITON. It's not I can suffer the pain so I am a better mother and my kids should love me more coz I went through it in a harder way than the mother acrossed the street. And is it really harder? CS women has a long road to recovery which some may consider tougher.

I am keeping my options open. My GynOb said the risk is pretty equal for both methods as there can be complications in both cases. Luckily I still have months to go so I will carry on my research.

To mothers in both clubs (CS and VB), well done you for bringing in all these angelic faces to this world making life more hopeful to all and thanks for all your stories and advices. Keep them coming please!!

Sunny :burnout:

 

[Su Mei]

dissolvable stitches for CS

hi,

skimmed the emails quickly and saw 2 posts that said the removable of their stitches for their CS was painful, I had dissolvable stitches (I think that's what it's called) which meant there was nothing to remove when the scar healed, all very efficient I thought!

Some advice for those pregnant and considering these birthing issues - while it's certainly impt to concentrate on how you want your birthing process to go, in the large scheme of things, it's a very short time (we are talking at most 24 hours labour and birth right) in relation to the months later when you have to care for your baby. I remember post delivery in the first month being amazed at how quickly the birthing process was done with and how unprepared I was for the huge challenge of taking care of a newborn.....

 

[Erin]

Medical technology definatly has its place; however, I think that it's important to remember that every medical intervention increases your risk of complications often making further interventions necessary.

You really don't know what labour is going to be like until you have experienced it. I went into both of my labours with the goal of doing it as natural as possible (within a hospital setting), but at the same time I wasn't going to beat myself up if I NEEDED drugs or other interventions. Lucky for me my labour/deliveries were 4 and 2 hours and I was ably to do it no drugs. I can't say what I would have done if I had long labour/deliveries. You don't really know till you've been there.

In the end, everyone wants a healthy mom and baby. I guess that's why personally, I have a difficult time understanding why anyone elect to have a c-section in situations where there is no medical reason to do so.

Just my opinion.

 

[ICmom]

MayC & Mandz

You both mentioned symptoms similar to mine and so I just want to alert you ladies to a couple of things I encountered. Not to say these are the only symptoms, but just FYI because I'd hate for you to go thru the problems I have.

Severe period cramps were my first clue that I have endometriosis. I was only diagnosed after I was in agony with an oozing cyst the size of a grapefruit, coukd've been averted with an ultrasound and earlier treatment.

I also had a very short labor (5 hrs) with my firstborn, no drugs as I was able to cope with the pain. Dr and everyone were thrilled. Then I lost our second baby in 2nd trimester, the diagnosis was incompetent cervix--cervix prematurely dilates. I didn't even know I was in labor, same as with firstborn only ofcourse much earlier. I just had another baby full term, and again delivered with no drugs and had 5 hr labor. But I had a lot of precautionary measures to ensure I wouldn't lose this little guy. There's no way to definitely test for IC, but there are a few tests that can indicate it. Also, you can have your OB in next pregnancy check often on your cervix length.

I don't mean to scare you, just something to keep in mind if you wish. :gl:

 

[blediting]

Successful c-section!

Mandy - well done on researching the options of child-birth. I too read so much (perhaps too much) information before giving birth to my son 5 month ago.
I was very definitely wanting a natural delivery - no drugs etc and definitely NO c-section. Due to feotal distress I had to have a c-section and all I can say is THANK YOU GOD!
Those couple of hours of labour I experienced were not fun at all, the contractions were so damn painful I was wondering how long I could go without screaming for some drug intervention.. when the OB told me I'd have to have a c-section I was almost relieved! I wasn't scared as I had read up on c-sections too, just in case it had to happen and so I was well informed about the procedure that was about to take place.
For me personally (and I have 2 friends that echo my words) it was the EASIEST thing ever! The actual operation was a breeze, obviously you have an epidural so you can't feel anything. I recovered really well, I was up an running the next day (just an expression, don't jump down my throat too! haha). Sure, I was a little bit sore and I was walking slowly but I showered myself the next day and sat cross legged on my bed for the rest of the day - I felt fabulous. I was waiting for the time I'd start to feel like I'd been run over by a truck (again, figuratively speaking) but I never felt that way. I couldn't believe how easy the procedure had been and how well I recovered. I didn't take any pain-killers and I could honestly barely feel the stitches being pulled out. Within a week I was driving my car and doing grocery shopping. Sure, you have to take it easy, don't lift very heavy things - but you have to be careful after having a vaginal delivery as well. I even organised my son's baptism - invites, church, restaurant etc 1 week after he was born!
From the horror stories I've heard of vaginal deliveries, a number of my friends have had 3rd degree tears, a couple were too scared to have sex until 3 months afterwards (!) and some were saying how painful it was for them to go to the toilet to pass bowel motions after vaginal deliveries. Plus the stories they gave me of how difficult their actual labours were freaked me out - some laboured for over 17 hours and then had to have emergency c-sections anyway - oh my goodness!
For me, I'm definitely having a c-section 2nd time round - it was just too easy.

Having said that though - everybody has their own experiences and the above is my opinion. Some do not recover well from c-sections and some also do not enjoy a VD and swear they'll have a c-section next time. The choice is very much up to you and you won't know how your body or you will react to either until you do it yourself!!

As someone else said in here, "The birth itself is such a small amount of time in the whole scheme of things. Try to focus more on what you will do after baby is born, will you breastfeed? will you have a sleeping and eating routine for your baby? do you have your nursery ready? etc... Easier said than done of course as I know I was far too preoccupied (and scared!) about the whole labour/birth process too.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do and let us know how the birth goes for you!