Mums who have had both vaginal delivery & a c section?

Ive had both and would chose vaginally every time. Emcs for first. Vbac second.

Absolutely the opposite for me! The section was a dream! It was literally a magical experience, so calm, husband by my side, music, skin contact and breastfed immediately. Was out of the hospital within 24hrs.

I walked around the local park on day 4 (after a quick trip to the post office!) and we stopped for a drink in a pub garden after. I took paracetamol regularly as they told me to do for a week, so I didn’t experience any pain (they gave me stronger stuff if I needed as can’t take ibuprofen, but didn’t need it).

I’d happily do it again!! Scar is below my bikini line, but you can barely see it now a few years on, much less worse than the stretch marks!!

Had 3 vaginal then emergency c section. The section was a lot harder. After vaginal I was up and walking about. With the C-section I found the post surgery pain relief crap and the nurses missing my pain medicine time. I had to beg for pain relief.
Also found recovery hard. Also I felt like at least with others that have only had csections they didn’t stretch out their vagina. And with only vaginsl you don’t have a big scar. Well I now have both.

Had both. C section for second longer recovery, but it was a quite straight forward process. Vaginal birth for first was long and quite rough (hence the CS next time). For some time I did get flashbacks of the birth which I found difficult. I would not be afraid of a CS, but we are all different. Personally I would listen to the medical advice and decide on the best approach. CS nothing to be scared off from my experience though.

I had elective section for my 1st due to breech. Section was absolutely fine, all very civilised, very clinical. However, recovery was a bitch. I had zero complications, scar healed up lovely, don't think you can even see it anymore - it isn't belly it is very low down. I found it so painful though and was so hard trying to look after baby at first. I couldn't even sit up without help. Obviously also can't drive for a while.
I pushed for Vbac with my 2nd. Ended up forceps delivery and 4th degree tear which sounds hideous BUT recovery was SO much easier. Was up and about fine afterwards (thank goodness due to being given a ton of laxatives!). Not sure how I would have coped with looking after both children if I'd had another CS. Bonding with baby was so much easier, first time I felt I didn't as I was in so much pain myself I was pretty miserable for a while.

I had abdominal surgery nine months before having DC1 by emergency cesarean, then VBAC with DC2 15 months later. I was in my mid thirties and didn't find recovery bad, about 6 weeks after DC1 arrived I had two tonnes of gravel delivered and they dumped it on the pavement so I literally just shovelled it and breastfed for a full day and was fine.

When I had the abdominal surgery 9 months before I had DC1, I felt awful and recovery was slow but I lost a lot of blood. I also was not supposed to get pregnant then.

Had both. Elective C section was a dream. Much faster and easier recovery than vaginal for me.

I've had two vaginal births and two c sections. The vaginal births were a better experience I recovered quickly. My elective section was fine long recovery but the cat 3 one was terrible-I would never let them go near my spine again they made an absolute mess of my second c section

My scar hurts when I walk sometimes I don't know if that is the norm- I'm 10 months pp and it looks a lot better than it did but I still get the pain

Had my first birth normally and although no major issues (still lots of bleeding, nearly needed forceps etc) I found it all brutal. Recovery was not easy, difficult going to loo etc for a good while after , exhaustion from labour etc. Not great at all. I opted for a C-section (just chose it, not medically necessary, on NHS) and it was wonderful. Relaxing process, much easier recovery, scar is almost invisible. Having a section was a breeze by comparison

Can't compare emergency sections to planned sections

Had both. Not comparable really. The c section was 20 million times easier than natural birth. Both the process and the recovery. It took me far longer to recover from the natural birth due to tearing and infections in the wound. I could barely sit down so driving was a problem. Recovery after the c section was plain sailing. The scar doesn’t bother me at all. You can barely see it. It’s silvery and it’s below the top of your bikini line so even the skimpiest bikinis still cover it.

Lucky me 😭 have also had 2 home births and both time the week after birth was worse than any of the labours.

I’ve had both.

Vaginal first; awful labour, bad tear, long recovery. Elective c-section (at my request) second time. Calm, much easier recovery.

I've had 2 vaginal births followed by a planned section.

Scar is unbelievably neat! I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw it. Hardly visible now. My stretch marks are much worse than my scar.

Recovery was fine. Husband had 2 weeks off work. Weeks 3 and 4 were a bit tough as I also had a 1 year old and a 3 year old but got earlier after that. Keep doing your pelvic floor exercises, that is what helped me feel back to normal.

So pleased I did it, both my vaginal births were not great. Lost a lot of blood so maybe that's why recovery felt comparable with the section. I understand emergency sections can be really difficult but I found my planned section really easy and lovely!

I had a planned C section with my first. It was a calm but surreal experience. No problems healing and scar is minimal. I also felt no pain but I do have a fairly high pain threshold as I gave birth via VBAC with my second with no pain relief (Only because they said I wasn't in labour properly yet and kept ignoring me when I asked for gas and air!). I was actually 10cm! VBAC was quick and also no complications.

It totally depends on your individual experiences. I had "normal" delivery for my first and it was horrendous. Broken coccyx and huge PPH and transfusion needed. Left me traumatised and with PND which I didn't even recognise at the time.
Second we went privately as I was so traumatised after the first and an elective section was recommended for me. After the experience of my first where I passed out in the shower due to blood loss and couldn't lift my baby easily at all with coccyx pain, the section was very bearable. The wait for it was stressful knowing the day etc.
Third one an "emergency" section instead of a planned one. Thought there may have been a partial placental abruption so they decided to go for it and risk the wait. It was my most straightforward and recovery was fine.
Scars I don't really notice at all. Well under bikini line. It is tricky rolling in and out of bed for a few weeks but compared to my complex vag delivery it was so much better and safer for me. If recommended I wouldn't worry too much.

Hideous vaginal birth with DC1. So awful that I actually considered abortion of DC2 because I didn't want to risk it again. Got a c section for maternal request (which actually became EMCS as DC2 was breach and I went in to labour at 36weeks).

The c section was a breeze. The recovery quicker and easier, the pain was very manageable and predictable. The scar is tiny and in my pubic hair.

Same, if I’d had the c-section first I probably wouldn’t have done vbac.

I have had a grim vaginal birth (shoulder dystocia, foreceps, PPH) and an ELCS due to the hideousness of the first birth.

The ELCS was an absolute dream as a procedure, but the recovery was quite long. As you can’t guarantee an easy vaginal birth, I’d go ELCS

I’ve had both, planned section first. Baby was due to be enormous - was actually very average. VBAC with no2. Both had their benefits; would honestly say if they both go smoothly there’s not much between them.

One of each - vb with 1st, 2nd was an emergency c section.
I was actually offered an elective c section with 2nd ( due to 3rd degree tear with 1st) but opted to try a vb again, which didn't work out.
I don't have a preference really, if id had a 3rd child I'd have given due consideration to either another vb or an elective c section.
Both have their positives and negatives.
If your only concern is the scar, you can barely see mine and I don't have an overhang ( my c section was 18 years ago).

1 Crash section and 1 elective. Hated the elective, I felt very scared after a very difficult pregnancy and secondary infertility. I was very disappointed in myself after the first section, I had been taught by NCT that if you only relax and know all about the stages of birth it will all be fine. Nope.

Now it doesn't matter any longer, mine are teens and their method of birth is irrelevant. I was happy enough to be able to EBF both babies, which made me feel my body wasn't letting me completely down.

In my experience, my slowest recovery was after my vaginal birth. I was the only woman on my ward who delivered vaginally and every single one of them were up walking before me, even the ones who had had their sections after I delivered my baby. I tore so badly and really felt that I'd been sold a lie about v births being faster to recover from!

I've had both. Csection recovery was far easier! Scar is non existent 7 years later

I had 2 completely natural home births and I didn’t experience any of this, so I definitely don’t think it’s a universal experience.