I had one of my fibroids low down & was initially told I'd need a vertical incision C-section, horror of horrors...However, nearer full term it was found the growth of the uterus had pulled the fibroid up, which is common apparently as the lower section really really grows & stretches during later stages of pregnancy. My consultant thought it best to try labour at least, with blood ready in case needed.
DC1 was back to back, which I hadn't appreciated before can mean a tougher labour, but I was able to deliver naturally with no pain relief despite having augmentation (not my choice though & not recommended). Maybe DC1 was in this position due to the fibroid - who could say?
I had heard fibroids can cause contractions to be less efficient due to disrupting the muscle action of the uterus but again who can say whether that would definitely be the case in any given situation. In my case, the augmentation ramped up the contractions anyway. I do think though, that if the baby had been not back to back, the better positioning would have stimulated better contractions & they would have been more effective.
I ended up with a retained placenta & massive bleed, mainly due to uterine atony/uterus being overly worn out after labour. This can happen without fibroids obviously & is more associated with induction/augmentation, I believe.
For DC2 I was advised specifically not to have a C-section due to bleeding risk, as even though the medics can be prepared for blood loss they are not getting any extra help from the body's own reflex reactions to help with blood loss - as it was explained to me. Due to previous birth they wanted close monitoring of me so I was induced but with epidural beforehand, even though epidural can increase the chance of intervention, & I did deliver naturally, 9pounds! Still lost blood & needed transfusions afterwards but not as dramatic as first birth.
With DC2 I was able to be up & about within the day but with DC1 I was effectively recovering from a surgery (removal of placenta), so was bed bound for the first 24hrs & barely able to do much the first week after, which I would imagine must be similar to C-section recovery, plus there would also be the surgical wound to deal with. So in that respect I was glad I didn't have a C-section.
If I had not been guaranteed an epidural with my induction I would have pushed for a section though due to avoidance of pain! But it's rare not to have the option of an epidural with the use of synthetic hormones, as it's generally regarded as akin to torture! so don't let that be a worry.
In respect to getting the baby out, I had done no preparation for labour as I'd believed I'd be having a section & I was not fit or anything, had not exercised when pregnant or beforehand for about 10yrs probably. I don't really know how I did it! I think I was fully expecting to be taken for a section at any time, especially as I had waters break & false starts over 72hrs preceding (which I would put down to non-ideal position of the baby).
One big tip: make sure you are not low in your iron levels at all, both circulating & stored (haemoglobin & ferritin), because if you do have bleeding it is more detrimental if your levels are compromised to begin with. This was not mentioned to me with DC1, even though I had bleeding whilst pregnant. With DC2, due to cock ups, I was severely anaemic just before birth but despite that & then blood loss, I was heaps better after the birth, as no surgical intervention & associated recovery.
Hope something in that epic tome may be of help!