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

ELCS and no issues at all. I can jog, jump and trampoline with impunity.

To your point, OP, I must be really naïve because two of my friends who had "straightforward" vaginal births, both of whom are keen runners, said they'd had to stop or dramatically scale back their running because they just wet themselves all the time. I had NO idea. I was genuinely shocked.

C-section here 17 months ago. In answer to your question, yes I do. I do crossfit 3 or 4 times a week, so its not due to lack of fitness. If skipping is included in the workout I cant do it and have to find an alternative.

@GarnetsandRubies

No issues at all. In fact, if anything, you will probably have less issues with your pelvic floor if you have a c-section. Not saying you'll have issues for sure with a natural birth, but it's a bit less likely you will if you have a c-section.

I should add it was an emergency csection after failure to progress. Apparently my cervix refuses to dilate more than 4cm.

2 C-Sections here, I did used to have a problem, but worked hard with pelvic floor excercises (Kegels) and even using the kids trampoline and now alls well.

My c-section was an emergency and I have no issues. I run regularly and can bounce on the trampoline with DS without any issues. My core stomach muscles were weakened but I took up pilates with a trained physio and that helped massively.

The only issue occasionally is that if I sneeze hard, my scar really hurts. Proper take your breath away pain. It's scar tissue. It's not a massive issue though.

Two and no issues.

No issues at all. In fact, if anything, you will probably have less issues with your pelvic floor if you have a c-section

Yes this is what I thought. By the looks of the poll most women who have voted have no continence issues whatsoever after their c sections. I wonder if I started a poll asking women who'd had vaginal births how many of them suffered incontinence what the results would be. My money is on the majority of them having problems...

My first two births were vaginal and wrecked my pelvic floor. My third and final was an emergency C-section and was so much better. No further damage.

I seriously wish that all three had been c-sections.

No continence issues (although I did have painful sex for quite a while afterward which I found weird) and on a good day I'm glad I had a section. On bad days, I wish I didn't have a 'mothers apron', the risk of adhesions in later life, the limit on how many kids I can have due to sections or two hideous scars. So on balance I think you just have to say child birth comes with sacrifice. On the plus side I didn't die and nor did my kids

1 EMCS and 1 vbac no incontinence here

No issues at all in that regard

I do remember after emcs being shocked at being told I still needed to do pelvic floor excersize though ( not that I did them because I’m lazy 🤣 ) so yeh must have some effect I guess

How long ago did you have your baby? I found that after my vbac there were some changes with my body that I wasn't prepared for, but now she's nearly 5 they're a distant memory and I've embraced my "new normal" give your body time to heal and keep up with your kegels. You can also be referred for physio if that's not helping. Good luck. Childbirth is really shit, no one really warns you. 💐

1 ELCS, no incontinence. Purely from friends that have had both EMCS & ELCS the side effects and experiences are very different between the 2 apparently.
My baby ended up being breech although I was opting for a CS for other reasons, even on the day I had midwives saying to try and turn the baby to have a natural birth, despite that not being the sole reason for ELCS. They cost more so women aren't encouraged to have them electively.

I know quite a few women who have had horrendous injuries through vaginal birth, but I also know a similar number who have serious issues following both planned and EMCS (including severe life-threatening trauma for the baby).

What kind of severe life-threatening issues can a c-section cause for the baby?
The leaflet about c-section risks that was given to me by my hospital didn't list any. All the risks to the baby we relatively minor things like temporary breathing problems or minor cuts. Nothing comparing to brain damage, for example, which can happen during vaginal birth.
So I'm curious to know.

Two c sections here. No issues at all after the first one. I did notice a slight issue/weakness when I went on a trampoline after the second one but nothing major and I’d put that down to the effects of a second pregnancy rather than the c section.

1 induced full term delivery, forceps, episiotomy and tear. No continence issues. 2.5 years later - cat1 section for twins (both 6lb) - no continence issues. Recovery prob equal for the two as bruising pretty horrific from vaginal birth. I can run, trampoline and hold my bladder when needed. I realise how incredibly lucky I am to be unscathed. It really is luck of the draw but think BMI, fitness, pelvic floor exercises etc play a big part.

I can jump on a trampoline but sneezing is very hit and miss.

My sister is pregnant and opting for ELSC due to tokophobia. I fully support (as a GP) - am a strong advocate for maternal choice. It’s such a personal event and as long as decision is informed, it needs to be supported.

It really is luck of the draw but think BMI, fitness, pelvic floor exercises etc play a big part.

I've always been slim, fit and healthy. Low BMI. Always done pelvic floor exercises too both before and after birth. Dont drink, dont smoke.

I couldn't do it after 2 vaginal births. I think it is down to pregnancy rather than birth. I don't think I've even tried since having a C-section with my 3rd

GarnetsandRubies

A c-section is major abdominal surgery which comes with its own risks both to mother and baby. I don’t have incontinence but I know from mumsnet that many women do, due to numbness in the scar area. I have numbness. I can barely feel anything from my scar to my pubic bone. Almost completely no sensation after 7 years. For several years I had no idea when my bladder was full. I don’t have any urge to pee anymore. I have to remember to go. I sometimes only realise because my tummy just feels bloated. I also have numbness in my lower back and legs if I carry anything heavy (which included my baby so I was never able to use a carrier).

Natural births have a different set of risks. I think your poll is asking the wrong people. How many women who gave birth naturally have incontinence? Is it more or less than the 22% of women who had a c-section?

@GarnetsandRubies after a csection which got infected (just as an aside) I have ultra thin womb lining now due to scarring so I can’t have more children due to the high risk or rupture - that’s not an ideal outcome.

Not to mention the hideous pouch from where they see you so tight!

My babies finger was deeply cut due to my thin womb (surgeon misjudged the cut) which could have required plastic surgery - I was just pleased everything else was ok. I’d still choose a ceection over vaginal though.

Yanbu.
Anyway, the NHS could afford to give more women planned c-sections. At the moment women put up with post birth problems, leading to lack of fitness and cardio health, which costs more in the long term. It makes my heart sink at the number of women I've heard casually say they can't run or do cardio due to their pelvic floor.
Someone on here once broke the numbers down and a planned CS was almost the same as a natural birth.