Natural birth of planned C Section?

[BonkToTheFinish]

If you’ve been through both, which did you prefer?

They want to induce me, I’m not keen. I either want a natural labour or a planned section (as I know the likelihood of me having an emergency one as a result of induction is high).

Is the healing from a section really that bad?

My mum had a hernia the size of a football from her last one

She was in agony for over 18 months.

I know this isn’t the case for everyone though

[Oldschool41]

I personally want a planned c section but it’s because I’m 41 and all my children are grown up. I’ve had a emergency c section with 1st that wasn’t very pleasant other two were vbac with a second degree tear which hurt for weeks after.

I think everyone’s experiences are different so it’s hard to go off what others feel about vbac and c sections.

[Rockandrollwithit]

I've had both and much preferred the planned section. It was calm and controlled and the recovery was better than I thought it would be.

[BonkToTheFinish]

Rocka May I ask if you had a particularly nasty experience of natural, or did c section just come to be better all round for you?

[BonkToTheFinish]

If I was to go naturally, I would be having an epidural ASAP

[fruityb]

I was dreading having a section - it was in my birth plan as worst case scenario as the thought of it terrified me!

After a long labour and me starting to dilate backwards they went for a section so I had to face it. I struggled for a bit with sitting up as you just feel like an upturned turtle. However I was back on my feet within a few days, albeit shuffling slowly. I didn’t really suffer pain it was just a bit sore. I hated the injections I had to have which DH had to do, they were unpleasant to say the least.

My experience wasn’t too bad at all and I wouldn’t be put off having another in future. I know we’re all different and so my experience isn’t anyone else’s but for an EMCS it was calm and smooth.

I’m fine now though have diastasis recti which I don’t blame the section for. I have a bit of a canyon where the scar is which I don’t think will ever change.

[NameChange30]

Is it your first baby and do you want more children after this one?

Why do they want to induce you? Is it because of going past your due date or is there another medical reason?

I went past my due date and wanted to avoid induction. I had acupuncture and not sure if it helped but then had sex the following day and went into labour naturally few hours later. Just a couple of things you might want to consider

Although I wanted to avoid induction, because of the increased risk of interventions and complications, I don't think induction has to be the end of the world. For example you can have the pessary and wait and see if things get going naturally before going on the syntocin drip. You can also ask them to assess your Bishop's score and make a decision based on that - if it's high then induction might not be necessary, if it's average then it might be successful, if it's low then it might not be successful and you could consider a c-section instead.

[BonkToTheFinish]

NameChange I’m only 36+1. They want me induced at 37/38 due to a mixture of an immunity discorded that may impact the placenta (may well not, but better to be safe than sorry), and continuous reduced movement.

I know that induction doesn’t have the greatest chances of working that early on, and it’s only my 1st baby.

I don’t really want any more but if I had another it’d be my last. No more after that.

[NameChange30]

Hmmm. If I were you I would look up the stats on success rates for inductions at 37/38 weeks. Also as reduced movements are a concern, is there a risk that induction will cause additional stress/distress for the baby? I would be asking a lot of questions I think.

If it was just a matter of going past the due date I would be tempted to try induction, but given your circumstances I wonder if ELCS might be a better option.

It's a tough call isn't it - all you can do is inform yourself as best you can.

[Foggymist]

I had an emcs and recovery was fine, panadol only from day 2 onwards, tiny scar that is half gone 2 years later.

[forfucksakejanet]

I had EMCS after 46 hour labour with Dd due to failure to progress. In fact I got to 9cm but I couldn’t push properly due to epidural

Ds I wanted vbac, and had a 2 hour labour with no drugs resulting in a 2nd degree tear.

With dd I was in hospital for 2 nights which I hated as I was on a ward. Ds I was home by lunchtime!

Neither experience was painless, and both take some recovery, but I’d take the recovery from natural delivery with no drugs over a c section any day

Best of luck

[NameChange30]

The thing is, the choice isn't "natural birth" v c-section. Unless the OP goes into labour naturally (unlikely for a first baby at 37/38 weeks), it's induction v c-section. How likely is it that induction will result in a vaginal delivery with no major interventions?

[LumpySpaceCow]

I would have a planned section over induction - however a section before 39 weeks increases likelihood of baby breathing difficulties and babies do better after some labour.
My induction (for meconium) was one intervention after another and recovery was hard. My planned sections have been calm. First was easier to recover from 2nd. No long term problems.
You mention that if you do go into labour that you want an epidural asap - you do know this increases the likelihood of intervention? If an epidural is your plan then why don't you try the induction and have an early epidural like you want if you go into spontaneous labour?

[Rockandrollwithit]

My natural birth was quite traumatic. Baby was stuck (tried to come out with his arm above his head) so I needed forceps. I had third degree tearing and I needed three blood transfusions.

I had a planned section the second time knowing that it was my last baby.

[CatRash]

I haven't had both but I did have an induction at 38 weeks. It took 61 hours from propess to delivery. Delivery was via forceps so I had an episotomy but also tore internally and lost quite a bit of blood because of it. I had to have six weeks worth of the anti-blood clotting injections. I didn't get to hold my DD until about 2 hours after delivery because of the haemorrhaging I was experiencing.

Worst part? My episiotomy wound still hasn't healed....three months later!! Back and forth to the doctors with it.

If I was given the choice between induction or planned C-section for my next child I'd be sorely tempted by the C-section.

However I'd love a natural labour above either - unfortunately this might never be an option.

I think the thing with inductions is the outcomes can vary sooo much.

[babynelly2010]

I had both. My first was straight forward water birth, second was scary shoulder dystorcia birth at the birth centre and 3rd csection. Although it was emergency I preferred it. I would choose csection over induction any day and over natural birth for that matter.