To think C section is the best birth option?

[LilacSky95]

I've had 3 vaginal births and 1 c section. The recovery from the vaginal births was a breeze, but I've been left with a host of issues from those that will last a lifetime.

My c section recovery was harder, but after the initial pain etc were off I was ok, and it was so nice to be intact 'down there' afterwards.

AIBU to think surely it's better to risk any of the problems that can arrise from having a section, over all the awful things that women often have to deal with for a lifetime after vaginal birth?

Yes I know c section is major surgery, but loads of women end up needing surgery to correct the damage done by vaginal birth too, and even then will never be the same again. At least your problems that come with a c section will be sorted out at least 12 months after delivery, and tour vagina is unscathed.

I've already had one lot of surgery to try and fix my prolapses, and will need more surgery in the future. I cant help feel jaded that if I'd had c sections I wouldn't have to go through all of this so maybe my views are skewed. What do you think?

I don't think there is any singular "best option". Just a best option for that mother at that time.

I had 3 VBs. Only issue was a slight internal graze/scratch from DD1. No issues at all with the next two.

Problem is that it's a crapshoot, no matter much you buy into all the hypnobirthing stuff. If a straightforward vaginal birth was guaranteed then most people would go for that. But I didn't fancy rolling the dice on a VBAC and being left with birth injuries and a lifelong regret that I didn't take the ELCS. Maybe I would have been fine, but a section felt like much more controllable risk (plus a known quantity as I'd had one previously).

I have some lasting damage from my vaginal birth, chose a c section for the second time and it was amazing! No pain, no exhausting long labour and my vagina/vulva felt normal straight away! I found the recovery a breeze compared to the damage I had (episiotomy, infection and a readmission for IVs) plus a long labour that I felt completely out of control with as it was an induction.

The best option for baby 2 was emcs. It traumatised me for months afterwards, and I say that as someone not easily spooked by medical procedures normally. Recovery was hideous and I really believe it affected my bond with baby. VB all the way for me.

I've had 3 vaginal births but my third was breech it did come up in discussions about a planned c section to the point where I was actually prepping for one the night before, but the consultant on duty the next day changed their minds and felt I could handle a vaginal birth regardless of position and it would be safe.

I will admit I spent my other 2 pregnancies scared of a section as my mum or sister haven't had one, but when my friend had her babies she had a c section with the first and it was great!

It sounds like a lovely, calm experience to have a planned section and I've heard recovery can be very good. Of course there are risks but there are plenty of risks with vaginal delivery too.

I was happy with my deliveries but that's because I got very lucky really. No birth injuries and healthy babies. So even though it was bloody painful I don't think there is one superior way to give birth, just whatever you are most comfortable with, and they both hopefully end with wonderful squishy babies anyway

well, I have one DC and he was c section, but I was so close to having a VB that afterwards the doc said I needed stitches down there too, so I had double the fun 😣
I have heard stories of long term difficulties from others though, including being stitched incorrectly (I mean, good grief) and fear of using tampons afterwards etc

Due to health concerns with baby was induced, then epidural, then ventouse, then forceps, 2D tear, blood loss almost requiring blood transfusion and then got an infection and stitches came out.

I'm starting to think a c-section would have been less traumatic and quicker recovery but somehow I still quite liked my vaginal birth.

YABVU

I could tell you my c section horror story and it would put you off for life

Yanbu. Once your butthole tears open in childbirth, it never really works the same again in my experience.

Whilst c sections are more expensive, this should be offset by the cost of the suffering of women's birth injuries...and NICU stays for shoulder dystocia babies. I'm sure the cost of my daughter's NICU stay and the cost of my own treatment to try and rectify my birth injuries would have funded more than a few c sections.

I think it depends on birth expectations, desires and experiences as to what the best option is. I wouldn't wish the two sections I had on my worst enemy. First was horrific and left me having flashbacks for years. Second required revision surgery. My home birth was absolute bliss after those shit shows! I know women who have elected for sections and loved them, women who've been left infertile post section, women who have elected for vaginal and loved it, women who have had terrible vaginal births and subsequent complications. We're all different.

I am a midwife and the most serious complications I have saw for women have been due to C/S rather than VB, however it would be the other way round in terms of safety for the baby (though overall birth is very safe for most babies of course).

That being said, I had two vaginal births then was advised a section for my third; I declined as I really didn't want a section. I had a third VB and all was fine.

I completely disagree with the thread title, the 'best birth option' is one where the woman was listened to and had her wishes facilitated. Whether that be home birth, water birth, vaginal birth, elective section etc.

You don't get to decide what is best for other women OP.

Some babies end up in NICU due to TTN - generally caused by babies not experiencing labour and having fluid pushed from their lungs during contractions. Also complicated by the fact the baby wasn't actually ready to be born yet. I see this more often that babies being admitted to NICU due to shoulder dystocia.

i think in any sane country every single woman should have the option of an elective c-section if they wish. No judgement, no hassle, no justifying.

SO MUCH myths exist about ELECTIVE c-sections as emergency c-section data is often mixed in for the dangers, the cost etc which needs to be addressed as it completely goes against the right to balanced and accurate information for decision-making women.

Who has emergency c-sections? Mainly women attempting vaginal births!

I don't know - I had two VBs, the first with ventouse, the second with a tear, needed a fair number of stitches both times.

But I haven't been left with any real issues at all and I was back in pre preg jeans within 10 days both times.

I don't think it's necessarily the best option for everyone but I absolutely want every woman to be able to make an informed & personal choice.

For me that would mean explaining the possible repercussions of both VB and CS, any factors that might affect your decision eg age, number of children you want, position of baby etc.

I wanted and got 2 sections, I researched it thoroughly and I'm happy with my choice. No one tried to influence me (had all kids abroad, I'm aware there's more push towards VB in the U.K.)

For what it's worth, the sections themselves were unpleasant but the recovery was straightforward. No problems with bonding or breastfeeding, and no damage to my vulva or vagina. No prolapse, no incontinence, sex feels just as good as before. I had twins for my second birth so I feel pretty lucky overall to be left with no more than a pale scar with slight lumpiness at one end of it. (I did have appalling piles and had to have surgery on those at 34 weeks pregnant so I didn't get off scot free!)

Could I have had a straightforward vaginal birth? Unlikely given my age and a breech followed by twin pregnancy. But even if they'd been totally normal pregnancies I was more afraid of the possible outcomes of VB vs a section.

I come from a family of women ( my mum and 3 sisters) who had uncomplicated, quick vaginal births with their babies ( no medical intervention, except for one of my sisters who needed stitches for big baby no.3)

I (very) wrongly assumed I’d have a similar labour/birth, but I ended up being induced after my waters broke but contractions stopped, I was in labour for nearly 2 days, then needed an emergency forceps delivery with an episiotomy.

If the forceps didn’t work, I would of needed an EC. I was more scared of the thought of a c section tbh. My close friend had a very bad experience with recovery after hers and has had some complications years later because of it.

Despite the rather dramatic delivery - I think I was lucky. My stitches healed quite quickly and were not very painful. I didn’t suffer any short term or long term issues like prolapse, which could of easily happened.

I am currently pregnancy with baby no2 - I am quite nervous about the delivery this time around, but as it stands now, I would still rather have a vaginal delivery over a C section.

I don’t think there’s a “better” way to give birth, each woman will assess her own risks and decide accordingly. I agree with you in terms of my own experience, but I also know lots of women who have had great experiences with vaginal births and absolutely didn’t want sections.

What is absolutely wrong is the NHS’s insistence that vaginal birth is objectively better. It isn’t, and they wouldn’t be saying that about any process which had a significant risk of obliterating men’s genitals, where a surgical alternative existed.

Yes I agree OP and the reality is you can opt for an elective section on the nhs although it’s only accepted more so in some trusts since the occenden report.

I had a recent elective section, it was an amazing birth. Home within 24 hours, out and about by day 4. I’ve had 2 friends since say they’ll be opting for the same and other friends initially a bit aghast as very pro vaginal births, hypnobirthing birthing etc but every one has since commented how I recovered physically much quicker than them.

I work in the nhs and unfortunately have heard/seen the results of vaginal births gone wrong. My friend who worked as a junior doctor in obs and gynaecology said there was no way she’d have a vaginal birth and that made my (already fairly set) decision for me. Two of the midwives looking after me also said I’d made a great choice.

Theres no knowing if you’ll be the lucky one and have a straight forward vaginal birth before you try so to me an elective c section was less risky.

A straight forward elective section is not more expensive than a complex vaginal birth and there are a lot of complex vaginal births. Plus a large amount of statistics on c sections lump elective and emergency sections together and if you’ve had a long labour, complications and then a c section it’s not the same and emergency sections typically have different outcomes/recovery times.

Women should be able to choose the birth they want whatever that is.

This is so true!

I had 2 vaginal births and 2 c sections - 1st an emergency and 2nd was recommended.

I've since spent years writhing in pain with scar tissue/surgical adhesions that's wrapped itself around my uterus and bowels.

I am very grateful that mine were born healthy and alive (2nd was stillborn) but if I'd known the long term implications...... I'm not sure I'd have ever signed that consent form.

I’ve had one VB and one C Section.

First VB an anaesthetist punctured my spine and caused me to have low pressure in the brain which resulted in a spinal headache. All because I needed an emergency epidural (I needed to be put on a drip to push my contractions together as DD was in distress and she needed to come out asap) and he went too far to the right. I also lost 3L of blood and had a third degree tear. 7 days stay in the hospital where the midwives were absolutely AWFUL which resulted in DD loosing a lot of weight and getting ill. Oh I also needed CAT scans, MRIs and three procedures to fix what happened to me. I now suffer from permanent migraines and neck pain/stiffness. A negligence case is currently open towards the NHS because of what happened to me.

C section was an absolute breeze. Because I had CBT therapy after what happened to me with DD, my therapist helped me write up a physiological birth plan which told everyone what happened to me and what I’d like to happen during my second labour. I was given an anaesthetist consultant who was aware what happened to me and took extra care when doing the spinal as I was scared to get back into that position. I was able to hold DS straight away and I wasn’t able to do that with DD. Amazing experience and I wish I had requested a C section first time round. Only downside is that DS was in NICU for 6 weeks and was having seizures and many different issues so that made my experience much more stressful than the first. However the C section itself was a 10/10 experience.

I realise I’ve been unfortunate both times and hopefully my experience is rare but seriously, I’d never have a VB again. I don’t see the importance in it at all

There are so many myths surrounding vaginal births too.

This is what annoys me so much with these threads. It's all vaginal birth = shit, c section = great.

It's not that binary and it's possible to have a great vaginal birth. I'd hate to live in a country where my only real birth option was a c section. Sadly that is the case in some places.

Oh and I have friends who had emergency c sections without attempting a vaginal birth first.

"LilacSky95 · Today 17:14

It's fantastic some women are happy with their vaginal birth, i just think women should be more informed of what you could be potentially dealing with for the rest of your life if you choose vaginal birth. The midwifes make it sound like it will all go back to its pre pregnancy state with no issues, and that c sections are awful. I was utterly shocked by the reality. No health professional ever told me I could end up with severe prolapse, painful granulated scar tissue, and issues with sex following a vaginal birth. I think if I'd been given that information I honestly would have chosen C section first time round"

You could invert the terms here though couldn't you? You yourself are not listing the potential complications of a CS. I have friends who have scar issues etc many years down the line. One acquaintance had weeks of an open wound that wouldn't heal - she had to have a team of nurses visiting and a vacuum system attached...

I know many many women who had v straightforward vaginal deliveries and for them, an operation risking infection, epidural issues, bleeding, reduced mobility, blood clots, adhesions, scar numbness and puckering, continence issues etc would be completely disproportionate.

There is no certified, risk free option to giving birth. You're not able to state that one is better than the other for everyone. Each situation has a different balance of risks, benefits, preferences and circumstances.

I personally would have given my house to not have an epidural - the thought absolutely terrifies me and I luckily had 3 totally fine VB with absolutely no long term issues over a decade later.

I've got friends who have had to have counseling due to the flashbacks from the CS, some who have only had one child due to trauma from their VB. I've got friends who've escaped scot-free from both situations too (the majority).

YABVU to make out it's a black and white case.

I've had emergency C-section and then a vbac. Initially recovery of vbac was harder as had episiotomy but once that healed (which it thankfully did without issue) I found them similar.
For me sitting down after episiotomy stitches was so much more painful than anything my section threw at me.

This. I had 4, then two 2s! My babies reflect their births too - first is crazy whirlwind and needed loads of things ironing out in the newborn days, and the second two are so chilled (and amazing sleepers!).