Through the roof or down the hallway?

[throughtheroofordownthehallway]

Alright ladies?

Posting here for traffic... sorry.

Just need your honest opinions on what you would do in my situation.

I'm pregnant with numero 2.
Wahoo! However, the first little one caused grade 3+ damage on her way out 😬 and so I have been told by my gynaecologist that there would be an option for a csection.

That's because if this next little darling does the same thing (not a given) then let's just say all the kegel-ing in the world won't help me this time around. Possibility of double incontinence for the foreseeable.

I'm under no illusions that elcs is the easy way out that it is often made out to be. So ladies what would you do?

2 elective csections here and the scar in nothing to worry about. Annoying not being able to drive for a while and of course it is surgery, but recovery for me wasn’t awful.

Def go for the section.

ELCS. My first birth caused a posterior and anterior prolapse which I had repaired when he was 4 years old. I had horrendous problems for the entire 4 years with incontinence. The next two were bath born by ELCS, just a year apart, so as not to undo the repair. The recovery was fine much quicker than my first birth!

C section all the way. I had a difficult vaginal first birth W forceps, lots of painful stitches and incontinence for a few years. Next one - elcs - recovery was 100 times easier than a difficult vaginal birth.

I had same issue. ELCS much better than the incontinence. I was recovered much quicker after the CS than after the awful tearing plus episiotomy of my first birth. Plus because it was an actual operation, I got proper care and medication afterwards. Whereas after all the tearing I got nothing.

But someone has said they've had both and that's really helpful to know

I've had both as well and the elective section was no worse. Section was my second child too.
Even in those bygone days you were up and about quite quickly

In fact the section was easier as no labour!

Thanks so much everyone! You've made my decision for me! 🙏

So I was in the same situation and have just had my 2nd baby after the first caused a 3b tear. I had a very lengthy consultation regarding mode of birth for my second pregnancy and it was very interesting. A C/S in a subsequent pregnancy actually does very little to reduce your risk of incontinence. If you put your individual details into the following link, it gives you your individual risks based on a future vaginal birth and future C/S...you will notice that the stats don't change very much at all! I opted for a vaginal birth but I won't lie, it is something that played on my mind even through labour. However, I had a small 2nd degree tear and was up and about within a hour. I am genuinely really glad that I took the risk. The risk of a subsequent 3rd degree is 5% so given that plus the lack of protection a C/S actually seemed to offer was pretty good reason for me. I healed very well from my 3rd degree, if I had any ongoing complications then I would have opted for a C/S.

riskcalc.org/UR_CHOICE/

Thanks for that @stopchewingeverything - I'm currently trying to decide the same thing myself after a 3a tear.

I agree I'm confused by the stats: I was told 4-5% risk of another similar tear, which is only increased from 1-2% for most people. For. me, the main issues are: despite the tear, I healed very quickly, v little pain. Was home soon, and found labour ward hellish. was up and about same day.

With c-section, there's the risk of needing to be in hospital for a week, not being able to drive immediately, not being able to lift baby immediately (likely to be heavy) or wrangle large and likely to be confused toddler. My first had allergies and I know there are big benefits to the gut of vaginal delivery.

I was told by my consultant - specialist follow up after the tear, not the OBGYN - that the tear I had could lead to future problems around menopause (due to hormones) and it wouldn't be affected by future pregnancy. @throughtheroofordownthehallway was there a reason your risks were higher? Because I know its different depending on the woman/pregnancy. I'm still in two minds: I was told if I started showing symptoms of incontinence later in pregnancy it was a reason to go for c section so I'm waiting to see a bit. But I don't think its quite as straightforward as everyone is saying.

It’s an individual decision and that’s the problem people really are not comparable as I was the opposite to @cindarellasbelly , with my vaginal delivery I was in hospital for 4 days , couldn’t pick up my oversized baby , needed a blood transfusion and to top it all fainted and got a head injury . With my section ( 2nd baby) I was out in 2 days , doing everything myself within the week and driving in 2 weeks , probably not all that I did was advisable but it certainly never did me any harm .

My kids are all teenagers so the details have mostly faded over time, but if you have Dr support in opting for a c-section I'd say take it. I have no lasting effects from three difficult and long vaginal births but the second one in particular was incredibly distressing because I was refused a section (and should have had one the first time round but that's a different story) which didn't help either my mind or my body. Not all hospitals and Drs recognise the need for the option to be available and given the potential long term damage you're risking, I'd say go with the section.

@stopchewingeverything

So I was in the same situation and have just had my 2nd baby after the first caused a 3b tear. I had a very lengthy consultation regarding mode of birth for my second pregnancy and it was very interesting. A C/S in a subsequent pregnancy actually does very little to reduce your risk of incontinence. If you put your individual details into the following link, it gives you your individual risks based on a future vaginal birth and future C/S...you will notice that the stats don't change very much at all! I opted for a vaginal birth but I won't lie, it is something that played on my mind even through labour. However, I had a small 2nd degree tear and was up and about within a hour. I am genuinely really glad that I took the risk. The risk of a subsequent 3rd degree is 5% so given that plus the lack of protection a C/S actually seemed to offer was pretty good reason for me. I healed very well from my 3rd degree, if I had any ongoing complications then I would have opted for a C/S.

riskcalc.org/UR_CHOICE/

Ohhhhh interesting thanks