Why vaginal birth?

[SantaSusan]

Inspired by another thread. I'm really interested to understand the reasons for most women opting for a vaginal birth.

Disclaimer: I really, really want this thread to be a nice discussion to share views. I'd hate for this to descend into a judgy or unkind thread! Obviously, however anyone chooses to give birth is their choice alone. And as long as your precious little bundle arrives safely at the end, then who cares how they got there!?

I ended up with an elective. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd have anything but a vaginal birth. However, for reasons I won't go into, it was decided during my pregnancy that a c section would probably be the best option for me. Everyone I spoke to absolutely loved their c section experience, and 99% of the comments online were so positive, so I wasn't worried about it at all once it was decided upon.

I had absolutely no pain during my c section or during recovery. I breastfed right away. I was up and about pretty much immediately. This seems to be the experience of most women who've had elcs. I would have an elective section again and again. If I'm lucky enough to have another baby, it'll be another section.

As such, I often wonder why more women don't choose to have their babies this way. It's so common in other countries. I think there's a lot of misinformation around c sections. The risks are also lumped in with those of emergency c sections, so electives are often painted to be riskler than they actually are.

You often hear people saying it's major abdominal surgery' in quite a judgemental way, which of course it is. But as far as surgical procedures go, it's generally very straightforward and in most cases, is easy to recover from.

I also repeatedly hear that vaginal is best as it's the most natural. But just because something is the 'natural' way to do something, doesn't necessarily mean it's the best. There's lots of things we do now with technology and with medicine that isn't the 'natural' way, and nobody bats an eyelid.

I can't quite put my finger on why I was so opposed to c sections previously. It's like it was subconsciously ingrained in me for no reason other than popular rhetoric. Which is why I'd be interested to hear why others decided a vaginal birth was best for them? Or why others knew they wanted an elcs? Has your subsequent birthing experience changed your minds at all?

I wanted a vaginal birth but ended up with an emergency section.

I wanted a VBAC and had to have a crash section under genera anaesthetic.

both times my recovery was a lot longer than a day or two. Second c section I didn’t leave the house for a week.

Loved my elective. Was home the next day, out walking (slowly) two days after that. Recovery was a breeze. No trauma, no complications, such a positive birthing experience and was able to bond with baby instantly. Will 100% elect again if I have another.

I’ve had an emergency section, vaginal birth and planned section, in that order.

EMCS was scary due to baby being in acute distress. They wanted to give me a GA but I asked if we had time to just try with a spinal and they agreed, for which I’m grateful. Recovery easy as pie, was walking round the hospital a few hours later and went home in no pain at all.

Vaginal birth next - made me feel POWERFUL. Really loved it, very special, recovery just as easy as the EMCS.

Planned section came last - due to mental health on my end and a traumatic event a few months prior which I was scared to get flashbacks to during another vaginal birth. Section itself was fine but recovery unexpectedly dire. Nothing went “wrong” but I was in significant pain for more than a week and needed a lot of support to look after my new baby

Overall, think I preferred my vaginal birth out of the three and wouldn’t choose another elective section due to the horrible recovery last time.

A VB is best for the baby because of the gut flora they pick up which strengthens their immune systems and also because being squeezed out clears their lungs.

An elective C section certainly sounds better for the mother, particularly given complications as a result of labour.

To me the bigger question is why women are encouraged to give birth without pain relief.

I had a vaginal birth with DS because I didn't like the idea of surgery and was happy enough to do it with an epidural.

This time I'm having twins so have requested an elective c-section because I have no desire to attempt to give birth to twins vaginally.

The no driving after 6 weeks of c section is just advice btw you can drive as soon as cleared by GP..my SIL was driving less than 2 weeks after. Edit to add: check with your insurance company tho! Hers was fine as long as GP cleared.

I didn’t even consider a c section unless it was necessary as I didn’t want the pain of recovering from a wound like that while trying to care for my first baby. However, I will say that when I was literally minutes from actually giving birth, I did say to my midwives “I can’t do this, please can’t you just get him out some other way?! I can’t do it, I don’t care how, just get him out some other way!! Please, I’m done” 😂😂😂

I'm reading this really interesting book called Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution. There is a bit explaining how vaginas evolved and why vaginal walls are so easily weakened and why prolapse is so common. I had an ECS and for my second I'm probably going to have an elective because protecting my continence etc is personally more important to me than a slightly longer recovery.

I had 3 vaginal births. The first a failed ventouse and eventual forceps delivery (on 3rd and final attempt). I had a lot of stitches, extensive bruising and a good couple of months recovery.

DS2 I didn’t even consider not trying for another vaginal birth, I felt the epidural I had at DS1’s birth contributed to an assisted delivery, plus he was back to back. DS2 was a straight forward vaginal delivery with no stitches, just some pethidine a couple of hours before the birth. DD was another straight forward vaginal delivery, no drugs at all, again no stitches. If medically I needed a C section at any point I’d have complied. But I felt amazing having birthed my babies vaginally, perhaps I’d have felt the same around a C section, I don’t know as I didn’t have one. I didn’t feel the same for my assisted delivery, so I do think it’s because I felt my body did what my body should.

It never even crossed my mind either to ask for anything other than vaginal delivery, as that’s usually the best choice for mum and baby. My friend who had 2 sections struggled for weeks, infections, very low iron, she looked like a ghost. I think you’re very lucky to be cut open and not feel any pain. I’ve had a few abdominal surgeries and even just cutting through the muscles is painful when you move when healing. So for me I wanted and thankfully got 3 vaginal births. All bar one of my close friends had sections, most emergencies but one elective following an emergency with their first

@LuckySantangelo35

I suppose its instinctive to want to give your baby the best start right from the start. But of course there's also benefits for everyone involved. I look back on my birth experiences very fondly, totally natural. Although very painful nonetheless.

I’ve had 9 vaginal births, all quick and straightforward, was induced either peasant for my first and had the drip to induce me with the last but labour kicked off as soon as they were out in.

had no pain relief for any of them except for gas and air with a few and I had water births for number 2 through to number 6, after that they wouldn’t let me because of the risk of pph which I never had.

recovery was fine, up and walking around straightaway and breastfed them all for varying amounts of time, one for two years!

when I had my first I was open minded but it never crossed my mind to ask for a c section if there was no medical reason. I love giving birth and my body seems really good at it! Wouldn’t have done it so many times if I’d had a hard time with it tbh.

Sorry that should’ve said induced with the pessary with my first!

I’m terrified of needles and squeamish of surgery, so really wanted to avoid an epidural / surgery while awake! Luckily I had three uneventful VB’s with gas and air for pain relief. That was a number of years ago and more common to give a GA in the case of a crash section versus a spinal and I think I had in my birth plan that I’d prefer a general in that event.

Everyone is different and every body is different. I had a planned Section first time because of complications. It felt like I'd been sawn in two, also the drugs, the pain, it was excruciating afterwards. Good friend of mine however loved her C-section and healed up nicely.

I had the choice of vaginal birth with baby 2. I just had a 'feeling' it would be better for me, and it was.

I think yes, cost is a big factor in NHS deterring it, but I genuinely believe that the consensus is vaginal birth is easier to get on your feet - i was told this right up to labour as i wobbled. Again, not with everyone, but I think in general terms people report they bounce back sooner. It'd be interesting to see how true that is.

Yes I'll prob be told on here by a number of posters that a vaginal birth ended up unfortunately with bedbound for months with ongoing issues, so I'm just talking about generally and the mindset behind that. I don't know if it's true, only stats will tell you.

I had three natural births; first two in hospital and last at home. I actively chose natural birth due to all the reasons previously stated and chose a hospital that could not offer an epidural to reduce the risk of intervention during labour. I did all the recommended actions the midwives advised; stayed home as long as possible, was moving and active during second stage and didn't labour on my back at all. Used water and heat for pain. Kept moving and upright to help baby move into optimal position.
I had a natural third stage with the last two births: had to fight the hospital for that with my second.
I had no stitches, was up and felt normal working half hour of birthing all three. Didn't even hurt as much as I thought it would.
That why I chose vaginal birth. I felt, for me, that this was best for my baby and my body.

I had the whole shebang, 24 hour active labour, about an hour pushing, attempted forceps and finally, emergency C section.
Obviously I would’ve preferred not to have a C section after coming so far!
I was up on my feet very quickly, going walks after 2 days but the recovery was still not fun and I definitely pushed myself too soon. I remember really struggling to sit up/get up out of bed for at least 2 weeks, I had to get up by doing a 30-part manoeuvre because it BURNED, I felt like I’d split open.
Also got a very bad water infection due to the catheters & that was almost as bad as labour pain (probably not really but it was bad)

I read the first line of your post OP.

It’s very simple.

Caesarean is major surgery.

You shouldn’t have it unless you absolutely have to.

The vagina is built for birth with comparatively less contraindications short and long term.

I can understand that, but statistically a vaginal birth is safer. Did they not point that out? As a non medical person I’d always go with the safest option. Or was it more than you had the baby earlier by choosing a CS and didn’t have the worry of going overdue / placenta problems etc?

What a very odd thread to start. OP has buggered off now as she is, by her own admission, far too sensitive a soul to cope with criticism.

Turning her faux-naive question around, I had a really good vaginal delivery experience* and I just CANNOT understand why all women aren't me! I can't fathom why - because I had a fabulous time - all other women don't do exactly as I did! They're just being silly-billies.

Anyone else get more than a whiff of journalist from this one, or was that just me?

*I didn't, not particularly. I mean, angels didn't sing, but both my babies came out more or less as planned, and I didn't sustain bad tearing or any complications.

because when it comes down to it, we are primates and primates have virginal births. It’s simply nature. We do sometimes forget we are animals. Also why would I tie up a surgeon who could possibly be saving someone’s life ?

It didn't even cross my mind to not have a vaginal birth unless there was a medical necessity for it.

Lucky really, as DD was born 2 wks early at 90mph in a 70mph moving car. Catch!!!!!

Had an emergency c-section and a vaginal birth and the difference in recovery time was insane. I was up walking around, taking a shower, eating toast and drinking tea straight after the vaginal birth. C-section was hideous. Couldn't move, couldn't do anything, longer hospital stay, long recovery, stomach muscles went to pot. Very very hard looking after a newborn after major surgery. I still have the scar but it has shrunk. Initially it went from hip bone to hip bone. Also my baby after the caesarian was very very bruised and head was a bit squashed and wonky, though it sorted itself out. There are also health benefits for the baby in coming out through the existing hole. Feel a bit sad that one benefited from that and the other didn't. But hey ho a lot of this is out of our hands. We all do the best we can and make the best decisions we can based on individual personal circumstances.

I thought that planned c-section= slightly safer overall for baby, attempting vaginal birth= slightly safer overall for mum