If you had a c section

[GarnetsandRubies]

Do you suffer with incontinence / weak pelvic floor? Could you jump on a trampoline without leaking?

YABU = I have incontinence after a c section

YANBU = I don't have any continence issues

There was a thread on here not long ago about birth injuries. Reading what some women have been through is absolutely horrific, and lo and behold 95% of their problems would have been avoided with ELCS. I think emergency C section is a different kettle of fish compared to elective, in the sense more can go wrong.

@RedPandaFluff so true, I know a GP who used to go to the same toddler group as me and she had 2 elective sections.

I'm sorry that you've suffered so badly from a vaginal birth but not all are the same. I've had 3 and am extremely lucky to say that very little has changed in that area for me. I can still run, jump, sneeze etc with no problems. Had sex 2 weeks after giving birth to my 9 pounder
I needed emergency surgery for a ruptured ectopic - the incision was as it would be for a CS and I found the recovery awful.

@RedPandaFluff

Oh and the medical profession needs to stop solely comparing c-sections to "normal"/easy vaginal births and start comparing them to the all-too-common vaginal births that go wrong or are difficult. THEN we'll have a better understanding of the comparative risks.

Same thing should apply to csec, the fact that you had a good experience does not mean they are a piece of cake.......... Thanks to this type of comments people assume csec are the easy way out and dismiss traumatic experiences.

My first pregnancy gave me incontinence, not the 6 vaginal deliveries I've had. There are risks with everything, and for every woman that has a lifelong problem after a vaginal birth, there'll be another who has a lifelong problem following a section. For the majority of women, vaginal births are better, but unfortunately you can't predict what's going to happen during the delivery.

and for every woman that has a lifelong problem after a vaginal birth, there'll be another who has a lifelong problem following a section

I honestly doubt that. I don't know anyone who has lasting damage from a c section, but can think of 6 women i know off the top of my head who have damage from vaginal birth

I don’t have any problems; I had an elective section as I really didn’t want vaginal birth. I was also rigorous in going my pelvic floor exercises before and after my birth. I used the NHS Squeezy app. No one, not a single clinical person involved in my pregnancy pushed them importance of pelvic floor exercises and I was so shocked. They’re absolute game changers.

@GarnetsandRubies

I would have much rather taken my chances with any complication that would come from a C section than have to deal what I've been left with, I just didn't have the choice because when you are pregnant no one tells you what can actually happen. Yes C section is harder initially but what are the chances you will be left with severe, lifelong vaginal damage? Zero.

I've already had one lot of repair surgery and will require more in the future. I honestly feel so bitter! Why aren't pregnant women given the proper information to make an informed choice. No one ever said, oh by the way there's a chance you can never run again, never lift weights again, never dance or jump. Sex will be impossible, and so will your smear test due to the pain.

I have had 3 c sections and I have no issues with incontinence or vaginal issues. However I have other long lasting issues from my c sections.

but unfortunately you can't predict what's going to happen during the delivery.

But surely the midwives, drs etc can warn you of what can go wrong, what can potentially happen and what injuries it can cause instead of leading you to believe it will be sunshine and rainbows.

So many typos in that but you know what I mean.

However I have other long lasting issues from my c sections.

Can I ask what?

@GarnetsandRubies

*However, this limited survey will tell you nothing. Are you writing an article or researching? Or do you have a problem you'd like help with? A bit more info will encourage useful replies*

I just feel lied to. And after talking with my friends they feel the same. I've been left with so much damage after vaginal birth I dont understand why this isn't explained to pregnant women. Vaginal birth was sold to me as the much better option but I know for a fact if I'd option for a c section I wouldn't have ANY of the issues I'm dealing with now. Why aren't women told they can avoid life long incontinence if they have a section? I don't think we are given all the appropriate information about what exactly can happen to you post birth, and the injuries you can be left with that completely change your life.

The NHS can't afford to give every woman a csection is the long and short of it.

@GarnetsandRubies

*and for every woman that has a lifelong problem after a vaginal birth, there'll be another who has a lifelong problem following a section*

I honestly doubt that. I don't know anyone who has lasting damage from a c section, but can think of 6 women i know off the top of my head who have damage from vaginal birth

Doubt it all you like. Firstly I'd question how many women you know who've had sections in comparison to vaginal births. Secondly, just because you know something anecdotally, doesn't mean it correlates with the true statistics. Many women have lasting problems from planned sections.

I leak a bit, but that’s pregnancy related not C section

One emergency section. Everything bladder/sex wise is the same as pre-baby so no issues.

The NHS can't afford to give every woman a csection is the long and short of it.

Surely it would save money in the long run instead of having to treat so many women of their injuries and for physio post birth though?

Cost, cost, cost @GarnetsandRubies

Whenever something is pushed at you as the ‘better’ alternative it usually means the cheaper. It costs the NHS nothing if you pee yourself for a decade. C sections are comparatively expensive.

Push (pun intended) for the birth you want.

I've had 4 c sections and yes I have a weak pelvic floor. I wet myself a couple of times in my third and fourth pregnancies and I do leak pee. I always need to wear a pad.

I think it's the pregnancy, not always birth method that causes it.

@GarnetsandRubies

*The NHS can't afford to give every woman a csection is the long and short of it.*

Surely it would save money in the long run instead of having to treat so many women of their injuries and for physio post birth though?

I suspect the issue is that a lot of women just either aren't treated properly postnatally or are made to believe that wetting yourself after having a baby is just something you have to deal with so never seek help. So it probably is cheaper for them

Have you had any counselling or therapy?

It would be all too easy for me to detail the stories of a couple of friends who respectively have a lifelong injury and the worst and most devastating outcome for their baby post Cs that you can imagine. And both could have had different outcomes with vaginal births. Or they could have had worse outcomes. There's no way of knowing.

Getting pregnant is the start of risk management from the moment of conception onwards. Perhaps we do need more education about the realities of child bearing and the risks. But we also have a population which won't accept that education. Until you realise the need for it. I've been told and read on here many hundreds of times that anything other than positive, textbook descriptions is a "horror story" and we shouldn't scare pregnant women. Bodies are made for birth, your body knows what to do etc. Keep your reality quiet because it's upsetting. I don't think we can counter that. I have tried but you meet such resistance.

I think in the meantime, decent support for individuals who need it is VITAL.

@GarnetsandRubies

*but unfortunately you can't predict what's going to happen during the delivery.*

But surely the midwives, drs etc can warn you of what can go wrong, what can potentially happen and what injuries it can cause instead of leading you to believe it will be sunshine and rainbows.

There's such a thing called personal responsibility. There's plenty of literature on birth and, as an adult woman, I would expect you to do some research. No midwife or doctor would lead you to believe having a baby is easy. If they went through every potential injury from vaginal births and sections, they'd be there all day. There's a huge list of potential injuries on the section paperwork when you give consent for it.

@GarnetsandRubies I'm so sorry you're going through this shit. I too have sustained injuries from my first birth. On paper, it was a textbook birth so midwives dismissed any concerns I had post partum, which was that I could feel a bulge in the entrance of my vagina. It turns out I now have Grade 2 rectocele. I remember one nurse telling me to my face "well, things are going to be different down there, you've had a baby" and me crying all the way home in the car. Wtf.
I'm now pregnant with baby no.2, was told my rectocele 'probably' wont get worse with a subsequent vaginal birth, but I'm not taking that chance whatsoever. I'm booked in for an ELCS and honestly, I cannot wait.

One emergency crash csection - after a nearly four-day labour) and one planned. Absolutely no issues, continence or otherwise.

You are definitely not being unreasonable. Csections definitely seem to be the very very last choice - I faced barriers with both of mine.

The first ended up being a category 1 emergency in the end (ie medics rushing in and wheeling me straight to theatre, signing a consent form on route).

This was despite me having been in very slow progress labour for nearly 80 hours and DD already showing signs of distress. They even ended up doing a probe (vaginally to see 'how much' distress she was in - I can't remember exactly what they were testing, blood o2 levels maybe?) but still batted away my questions about when they would do a csection and said 'the preference' (whose?) was for vaginal delivery. The consultant ended up saying that even if I managed a vaginal delivery, it would likely require an episiotomy and/or forceps due to my narrow pelvis (HOW was that preferable?!).

In the end it took my DD's heart rate dropping for the csection to happen (as a category 1, could have been a less panicked emergency had it happened earlier!) And unfortunately after being awake and having extremely painful five-minute apart contractions for the best part of four days, I was in no position to advocate for myself.. And besides, as a first-time mum, I knew no different and trusted those with the education and experience!

Second, planned csection. Despite my experience above, I was very much encouraged to try a VBAC pretty much my entire pregnancy. Having asked for a birth debrief to try and get my head around what happened and to find out the liklihood of something similar happening again (I was given very conflicting information - the consultant at DD's labour said that at 8lb 8oz, she was too big for the size of my pelvis - I'm quite petite in stature - all the midwives said that was nonsense), I turned up to the appointment to be told they'd lost my notes

Anyway, was even 'encouraged' to have a VBAC at final 36-week consultant appointment (by female consultant) who pretty much emotionally blackmailed me by asking how I was going to look after and comfort my 22-month DD if I couldn't pick her up. (My DH was off work for a month which I told her - she replied and said she'd want me!)

Also basically said my SPD would be a lot worse after being laid down for the duration of operation and recovery. (It actually resolved as soon as DS was born and probably a lot sooner than VBAC as csection was 39+5 and I reckon I would have gone another week otherwise).

Anyway, sorry for the rant but again YANBU.

I've had 3 sections. 1 EMCS and 2 ELCS. Absolutely no issues whatsoever, continence or otherwise.

2 emcs, no damage to my vagina thankfully, no piles and no problems with incontinence. I do have severe adhesions which means I've been advised not to have any more children though.