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?

most women opting for a vaginal birth.

I didn't opt for vaginal births. It was assumed that this is how my babies would be born unless there were medical reasons not to.
There was never a discussion, though it must have been noted that I didn't express any concerns and was feeling positive about it.

For my second I was very much more keen to have a vaginal birth as my domestic situation would have been very difficult if I had not been able to drive or do all the other things I needed to do. I really wanted to be on my feet asap.
Luckily it turned out that way. One day I did the school run with DS1 and a big bump, the next day I collected DS1 from school with a smaller bump in a different place (DS2 in a sling). I'm pretty sure I would not have been able to do that if I'd had a c-section.

Eek, crossed posts OP!

Apologies, your later posts give the impression that you're a nice, level headed and curious new mum. Apologies for my snarky post.

I guess the very recent bottle vs breastfeeding thread, the influx of AI posts and the obvious journos makes me feel defensive!

Apologies @SantaSusan

Elective Cs weren’t a thing when I had my DCs. They were reserved for emergency situations and not discussed as a ‘you can have this or that’ choice. Not that it mattered to me, all mine came too fast so VB it was every time.

That seems logical, it was a long time ago but I do remember being told.

I had vaginal births with both of mine and didn't have much choice as very quick births. First one was 3 hours and second one was 48 minutes. Mine are in their twenties now and there didn't seem to be the choice of a C Section like there is these days.

If I had my time over again I would probably opt for a C Section as I had no pain relief as it was too close to giving birth. I remember, particularly with the second birth, screaming out for a C Section as I was in so much pain! I think women should have the choice and there is no shame whatever choice you make. Both have advantages and disadvantages to them.

I wanted the experience of a vaginal birth, to be able to whisk them up into your arms straight away and just that rush of emotion. I had an emergency c-section and I couldn’t hold my daughter when she was born as I was so shaky from the anaesthetic. I feel like I missed out on something. Not sure if I’d try for a VBAC if I have another, or an elective section.

I'm 17 weeks pregnant with my 1st and very interested in this. I've spoken to lots of mums and drawn the conclusion that an elective C section has a far better and easier recovery than an emergency C section. A vaginal birth can be very easy to recover from and experience or it can be an absolute nightmare there doesn't seem to be any rules or patterns. My biggest fear is trying a VB and then having to go for EMCS anyway.

I have had two c-sections. One was an emergency after a three day labour following an induction as I was two weeks overdue. I lost a ton of blood and had angina afterwards. My baby wouldn't feed. The whole thing was so traumatic I had PTSD. I had wanted a water birth. My scar troubled me as I have a tendency to keloid scar so it was raised and itchy for ages.

For my second, they agreed that they would let me go five days over, sweep in attempt to induce labour but if nothing happened by the next day they had booked in a c-section. I'd had hypnosis and trauma counselling but it turns out that I just don't dilate.

Whilst that experience was much nicer and was less frightening, I developed a superbug infection in my wound which needed to be dressed every day and if I went out I risked a build up of bloody fluid behind the wound which would then leak out when I least expected - and quite a lot of it. I have horrendous scar tissue and that area is still numb 18 years later. And I have a hideous "shelf."

People shouldn't underestimate that it is major surgery, your body might not cope well with it or you might get complications with lasting implications.

I was more scared of having an epidural / section than a vaginal birth.

I was mentally prepared to have a vaginally birth then in the end I didn't have the option and needed an EMCS.

Recovery was fine, was up and out the house a few days later (against all advice) but felt good enough to do it and don't have a nasty big scar.

Second time round was twins and I didn't consider anything other than an ELCS. Was night and day to the EMCS and has no issues. Weirdly was a really nice chilled out experience.

I understand that but everyone has a different experience. I had a vaginal birth 4 years ago. Couldn’t walk more than about 50m for weeks. Terrible pain for months. Still painful now but manageable and no longer need painkillers. Have had to give up my hobby of running, which has had a real impact on my mental health.

C-section 2 years ago. Other than the injection to give me the spinal, never felt any pain and no long lasting effects.

I was probably unlucky with the VB and lucky with the CS. I just think it’s hard to generalise. When you look at the evidence of risk, there are risks to both and the risk profile is different.

God I hate these posts. When the op makes a judgy, barbed post. Follows it up with faux disclaimers.

Then feigns disappointment and surprise when people respond in the same tone.

I refuse to believe a C section doesn’t hurt. It hurts because surgeons have cut through skin, fat, abdominal muscles and the uterus. Whether it’s elective or emergency it’s the same. It hurts.
I’ve had a vaginal with episiotomy. It made sitting down sore for a while.
I’ve had an emergency section. Sitting down wasn’t sore but coughing/sneezing and any form of getting up or down hurt for longer than first time round.
I’ve had a vaginal birth with no tear and realised how easy it can be. And it’s a hell of a lot easier than recovering from a section. And safer than surgery, so I can understand why it’s usually the preferred option.

My son and daughter were the same and had lung issues. During vaginal birth the baby releases a chemical to help the amniotic fluid be pushed out of the lungs during contractions and pushing. The baby can then take a breath when it is born and the remaining fluid is usually coughed out or absorbed. In a C-section the baby does not go through this process and it has to be suctioned out before the baby can breathe. This leads to a higher incidence of wet lung and the chances of RSV complications and hospitalization in C-section babies is very high because of this for the first two years of life.

Wait, so I didn’t need to be torn open twice - I could’ve had a c-section? Is this just if you’re wealthy or did I miss something? I wasn’t offered a c-section, so I’m really confused lol.

Could I have opted for this and saved myself from peeing my pants every time I cough or laugh too hard?

I’m done with having children but mine were born with very little medical intervention and I’m puzzled why so many women seem keen to have operations if they don’t need them? Obviously if they do need a CS for whatever reason that’s completely understandable but it feels as though the OP is touting for work here 😆

I’m sure the OP will be along shortly to berate me for expressing my opinion on her discussion thread but I’m sure that’s what is meant by discussion?

Statistically, a C section carries more risk and has a longer recovery time. I think the lines are becoming blurred in the UK because pre and post natal care have become pretty awful and that extends to maternity care in hospitals. Unlike other countries like France we don’t get proper post natal checks to check pelvic floor etc. People are sharing their terrible experiences, often caused by unnecessary inductions etc and decide C Section is better and safer,

I had three home births, supported by independent midwives. I get frustrated by the dominant narrative that you can’t have any impact on your birth experience so there’s no point educating yourself and planning. Obviously I was lucky that labours were straightforward but suspect same labours in hospital may have panned out differently. Third baby was 42 + 5 for example. I had the same midwives for all three births, trusted them implicitly, didn’t have to listen to contradictory advice or wait for appointments etc.

@CutiePatooties - yes. You are entitled to a C section if you do choose. The Nice guidelines cite maternal choice as a valid reason.

Because I can't imagine ELECTING to have major surgery! I understand that it's medically necessary in most cases, but given the choice I would always go for the least intervention possible. And having seen my friend have horrendous complications due to adhesions following her two c-sections I feel lucky to have been able to have two vaginal births.

Yes, I'm always surprised by how many people come out with this. If you're a believer in Intelligent Design it might make a degree of sense, but most of the people I've heard say it aren't.

I had an emcs with my first and a VBAC for my second. I was offered an elective, but was fearful of the recovery this time around with a toddler and newborn.

I found giving birth vaginally to be a really positive experience for me. I enjoyed my labours (even though I was screaming haha) but love the process of pushing my babies out. I’m probably one of those rare ones who enjoy labour, pushing and babies weren’t in any distress either. However I really respect those who choose a c section :)

Doesn't the baby get covered in beneficial bacteria when it comes down the birth canal? I'm sure I read that somewhere

I wasn't given a choice.

If I had been, I'd have needed a very good reason to have chosen to be sliced open.

The risks for a VB are on the whole LOWER especially if you have multiple children.

The risks for a single elective CS are largely comparable with a VB for first time mothers but slightly more risky for babies.

The catch is the risk rise for electives for each subsequent birth and decline for VBs.

I cavet this by saying that the risk isn't stacked equally. Older mothers are generally more at risk for giving birth generally - so having an intervention free VB is less likely but the risks of an elective are also higher. But older mothers tend to have less children.

Also you don't really want to be having an elective CS if you are in your early twenties because you are much more likely to have multiple pregnancies and have less complications.

So I'd say that a 40 year old woman planning to only have one child might be wiser to have an ELCS but I'd hold the opposite view for a woman in her twenties wanting two or three (or more) kids.

But there's a real range of differences even within this - it's very much a case by case and there's not necessarily a right or wrong way overall though a more sensible approach based on personal circumstances.