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?

Once they said l would be having a c section, l was super excited about having the baby - spent all my pregnancy dreading giving birth.

Totally agree op!

Best is a bit strong. I had two and found the recovery hard going and much harder than the vaginal birth first time round but maybe that was the fact I already had one/two babies/toddlers to care for when I had them?

The best birth is the one the mum feels comfortable about I guess whether that’s in planning or after the event.

I have damage from my vaginal birth over 20 years ago. It was “fixed” when my child was 4 but the repair has started to break down. Due to the damage my next two children were born by ELCS. The recovery was a breeze compared to the vaginal birth. However it’s not one size fits all. Personally I’d chose a section over vaginal birth every time but I know plenty of mums that have had uncomplicated vaginal births.

Someone else has probably already mentioned this but there's a huge difference between 1 c-section and 2, or 3, or even 4 (which I believe is advised against). I've had 2 and, tbh, it's a right mess down there (in the scar area). After my first it was quite flat but after my 2nd I have a pronounced 'paunch'. My sister calls it a Mum tum. I was just on holiday and was so paranoid about it wearing a bikini. I've heard others say the same - that it's worse after subsequent c-sections. Scar tissue on top of scar tissue maybe, I don't know the reason.

Also, you are lucky your c-section has a straight forward recovery. Again, I'm sure others have pointed that out on the thread. My first one I got an infection and ended up with internal adhesions where the wound fused with other organs. In particular I had excruciating bowel movements for years afterwards. In fact it was really only fixed after my 2nd section when the surgeon informed me what a mess it was in there. :) Maybe that's why by the time he'd sorted it all out he wasn't so bothered about the scar area.

My SIL had 3 (elective but abroad) and was told under no circumstances should she get pregnant again.

My first was an emergency with premature twins and my second I tried for a VBAC (after horrendous first c-section experience) but it wasn't to be. Mostly because I felt the medics were quite anti it and that made me nervous as the implication was that I was putting my baby in danger. I was all for it and I know loads of people who have had no issues after a vaginal birth. Those I know who've had prolapses have had a mixture of vaginal births and c-sections too! Not sure how connectd it is. All to say, it's not as simple as it seems!

Emergency and elective sections are entirely different, with different outcomes for babies and different recoveries for women. It’s unsurprising that some women who underwent emergency sections struggled with difficult recoveries and complications.

Anecdotally, I don’t know anyone who regretted their elective C section or suffered serious complications from it - I researched a lot online and tried to get a balanced picture when deciding how to give birth, but the experience of electives seem to be very positive on the whole.

Also, to the poster who said that women with uncomplicated vaginal births get ‘ignored’ - that is literally the status quo that is projected onto all pregnant women and implicitly held up as the standard experience. They are not ignored at all!

And this thread is not scaremongering - no one tells women routinely about the very real risks of vaginal births, and women with birth trauma want to share their experience because many of them feel duped by the system. I haven’t come across ANY woman who was told by her midwife voluntarily about risks of prolapses, pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence etc. Even when those concerns are brought up they tend to get dismissed. I’ve also been told by medical staff that I am “anxious” about vaginal birth - I keep correcting them that I am not anxious, I’ve just weighed up the risks and made an informed decision. Even then, my consultant midwife suggested I try a “low threshold c section” where I attempt a vaginal birth first to see how it goes. The push for women to give birth vaginally is dangerous and unethical. Give women the information and let them make up their own minds. It’s true that there is no risk free way to birth a baby but pretending that vaginal deliveries are problem-free for most women just isn’t corroborated by the evidence and is leading a lot of women to go in blind to their birth experience.

@StolenCookie well said, that's exactly how I feel about it

1 failed forceps followed by emergency section and 1 elective section. Highly recommend elective section - very civilised, all done and stitched up in 45 minutes. No issues with pelvic floor.

2 assisted (two ventouse, one shoulder dystocia) vaginal births, followed by 1 emergency C-section. I'd not choose the cs but recovery for me felt no different from the previous births. I detest my post cs tummy though.

Just because you had no issues after c-section doesn’t mean that’s true of all. I had no issues after vaginal birth (small tear) but c-section left me with crippling pain for 4 years, and long term health issues.

our of my closer friends I have none with long term issues after v birth and 4 with issues after c-section.

Both C-sections and Vaginal deliveries carry risks / pros & cons and everyone's experiences of both are different.

I think the celebrity culture of elective C-sections gives the impression they are better/safer.

I remember thinking half way through my vaginal birth, omg give me a c-section, the idea of having a painless delivery and control over when and where and how opposed to the unknown of an induction & vaginal birth appealed to me.

However, I ended up being induced and having a straightforward vaginal birth (with grade 2 tear) and some stitches, my recovery was fairly easy and I'm glad I was able to drive relatively soon after birth and recover well. Albeit that isn't everyone experience of a vaginal birth so it's all down to the individual and the circumstances surrounding their birth journey. Hard to say one is better than the other, it's subjective depending upon your personal experience.

I think being listened to is key here. In my experience I was not.

I begged to be induced early, I knew the baby was huge (could feel the head engaged and was still suffocated by legs and feet) and I am tiny, measuring 95th centile plus, I had anaemia and my bladder was blocked by the baby so I could barely wee other than drops, I also had a previous difficult birth with a 5lb baby I couldn’t get out so a history of being crap at pushing out babies.

And yet despite all of these risk factors they insisted I go overdue despite me practically begging a consultant over and over again. Their reasoning was the baby was fine. But I wasn’t fine and nobody cared.

The result was DC2 getting stuck , a long long pushing stage (hours and hours) and the heart rate dropping plus further damage causing a prolapse. I still class it as a good birth as I didn’t have forceps or have to be cut open. If people ask I say I had an uncomplicated VB…

Yes. It could have happened anyway, but had they listened maybe not?

Now I’m terrified to give birth to DC3, to be dismissed over again despite knowing my history hence considering pushing for an elective as it’s the only way I can get some control of the situation.

I agree. Vaginal birth for DS1 - no stitches no pain relief and was home within a few hours of delivery. Bit long term issues were caused and I still have to take medication now as a result (bowel damage). I also found the discomfort and pain bad for first week from birth (that's just pain to vaginal area, and not even considering the bowel pains).

Chose (demanded!) ELCS. Went so smoothly and just felt a wonderful experience. Yes uncomfortable for first 5 days if I needed to get up from lying down but I wouldn't say I felt pain. More like tugging on the incision if I moved to fast. No lasting damage from the section and I'd highly recommend that route to anyone. The risks to the mother are downplayed I feel for vaginal birth.

@StolenCookie your post is brilliant. I will be choosing an elective c-sec if and when my time comes and am already armed with my research and rights to make sure that happens. It’s depressing reading that you’re being coerced into trying a vb, well done for asserting yourself and your rights.

I’ve read so many women who’ve had this experience it makes me distrustful of midwives and feel in opposition to them before I’m even pregnant, which I worry will do my no good if/when I am under their care. I wish private birth was more accessible in this country if you live outside of London.

Loved my two sections and no regrets. Went to sleep and woke up with a baby both times 😆 I have no trauma to anything down there that women have to put up with, didn't have the chaos and unpredictability of natural birth.. I have an overhang but 🤷🏻‍♀️

So for all the posts of women saying I loved my c-section those who say actually my vaginal birth was not that bad nor was the recovery we are apparently ‘not informed of the risks’.

You can argue that this is not a scare mongering thread but a lot of you are being very anti vaginal birth. So as always on MN it’s ‘my way is the best and you’re all stupid to do it you’re way’.

And I hate to break it to you but not all of us who gave birth V have a broken undercarriage. 🙄🙄🙄 Some of ours just went back.

I’ve seen some c section scars and they have healed really badly. Tbh that’s something I would worry about with a c section as it’s in quite a visible place.

This. Mine’s fine, not much different than before.

I think the figures on risks/complications are probably skewed slightly in favour of vaginal birth because so many sections are emergency/unplanned, so there was potentially an issue there with the health of mother or baby anyway.

I had a relatively straightforward VB in the UK (induced and almost led to a section, got her out just in time) but my arsehole will never be the same again.

Emergency CS in the UK was absolutely fine, and my recovery was easy compared to what I've heard others have experienced. I was in the shower within hours (with help) and then helping other mothers on my recovery ward who were in not such a great state. I also had a linear recovery, unlike the up and down of recovery post VB when I developed internal piles that were cripplingly painful and caused me genuine terror whenever I needed a poo.

Elective section abroad (it's the norm here) was fine but recovery slower, because they wouldn't LET me get out bed or even sit up for a whole day! Opposite extreme from the UK, I think a middle ground would be best!

I would choose a section if I had my time over because the risks are more predictable. I knew recovery might be hard physically after a CS. I didn't know much about birth injury when I had my VB but now I do I wouldn't risk it. I think if I'd pushed another baby out I'd be one of those women suffering prolapses and life-changing problems, who nobody talks about (except on MN).

I've had 3 vaginal deliveries, all big babies and a 10lb plus baby who was a difficult forceps delivery, over 20 years post menopause (sudden as surgical) and mine is still fine, no incontinence, no dryness, only issue was tampons being a bit uncomfortable but obviously that hasn't been an issue for over 20 years. Still have issues with numbness round my CS scar and itching that you can't scratch.

My scar was improved when I had a hysterectomy, made much tidier and it did reduce the other issues but at almost 70 I am reconciled to the fact that 35 years after CS I still have issues.

I had an elective section and it was the most traumatic experience of my life. Vaginal birth any day for me!

One thing I will confess to on here that I'd never say in real life was my VB were orgasmic, well 2 of the 3 were (God that is embarrassing and I just told myself the midwife would think I was moaning in pain) never got that with CS.

Definitely, but it's still a massive risk and women should be more informed about it.

Wow, you lucky bugger @ancientgran! I’ve never heard of that before. Mother Nature’s wonderful sometimes.

And I hate to break it to you but not all of us who gave birth V have a broken undercarriage. 🙄🙄🙄 Some of ours just went.

Good for you! But that does not mean other women should not be made aware of the potential risks does it?