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?

But there’s also the risk of cutting baby.

cutting your bladder, bowel or surround organs which can lead to severe issues.

breathing issue in baby

death.

post surgery infections

internal infections.

you can’t lift anything heavier than baby for 6 weeks post op, or you risk tearing internal and/or external stitches, or causing an infection.

you can’t drive straight away.

I think the complications of a c-section do outweigh those for a vaginal birth.

Those potential complications are rare

When it's been studied, in Canada they have a lot of data on the issue, long term women with elective c sections do better than those who had a vaginal birth.

Once you take into account birth injuries etc.

Agreed.

I'd rather have surgery and a scar than a wizard sleeve for a fanjo.

I had an ELCS, at my request as I'd weighed up the evidence, over 21 years ago. Very glad that I did. My recovery was very quick, no infections ( other than a UTI probably caused by the catheter according to my GP) which went very quickly. My DM had two very easy vaginal births, with no damage at all, but MIL had a terrible time and lifelong issues. Although VB can be great, I think the unpredictability is the issue.
The important thing, I think, is that people are properly informed on the risks and benefits of CS and VB, without prejudice, and are encouraged and supported to make the decision which they feel is best for them.

Pelvic floor exercises work very well if you do them. Your partner certainly appreciates them if you do them when he’s inside you 😉 No wizard’s sleeve here. No scar either. Best of all possible worlds.

Had one of each, ELCS after a fairly traumatic VB and personally, it's ELCS all the way for me. Mainly because it feels like VB is more of a lottery and I am not prepared to gamble on my or my child's health/life.

You can't say that only off of your experience.

I've had one of each, the c section was so much worse than my vaginal.

I couldn't move for days. Had an infection in the scar. And had trauma over the situation. Was in hospital for 4 days.

My vaginal delivery was straight forwards, I had a shower within an hour of giving birth and was at the park with my baby the next day. I was in and out of the hospital in 6 hours (my choice). Whilst I wouldn't want to push a baby out again, it was miles more preferable than another c section.

For me. We're all different.

This is me too! I loved my home birth. I did allow my midwife to monitor me but she worked around me and was quietly encouraging and just lovely. I did tear and needed stitches but recovered well with no lasting effects. Like you, I accept my view may be different if I had had complications but I genuinely can’t fathom opting for major surgery when it’s not necessary. Scares the crap out of me!! I absolutely respect the choices of others though and stand by what I said earlier. There is no such thing as a “best” way to give birth.

What is a shame is that many people seem to making choices based on fear of vaginal birth. My vaginal births really weren’t that painful - I’ve had worse periods and would rather give birth twenty times than suffer a migraine or wisdom tooth pain again! I’d love to hear more positive birth stories and for the media to stop portraying birth as invariably dramatic. Both my births were quite calm affairs. But I agree people need to be aware of the risks as well. I’m not sure where the balance is.

According to some of these posts those of us that went for a VB are clueless Hmm

eh? who said that!?

This makes no logical sense at all. The fact that some women have positive vaginal births and the risks do not materialise in their case does not mean that it is wrong to say women are generally not informed of the risks.

Please show the posts where people have said those who have vaginal births are “stupid”?

my choice would be cs every time due to potential long term injuries associated with complicated vaginal births. Most birth injuries don’t seem to be recorded or monitored for longevity data wise so I don’t think we have an accurate picture of the injuries to women from vaginal births that aren’t straightforward, particularly forceps and ventouse deliveries. Assisted birth is very rare in US (only in life saving circumstances) due to the long term injuries - basically they were getting sued too much for the damage caused to women. We desperately need to start recording and looking at the long term health impacts of different delivery methods in the uk and using it to make data led decisions about policies

I think the main point for me is elective vs emergency c-section.
I can imagine that emergency one can be very traumatic, while elective gave me a sense of control over the process that I missed during my vaginal birth.

And speaking of forceps, my non-UK obstetrician said that in his opinion if the situation gets to forceps that means that the 'delivery team' made a mistake along the way and should have gone for the c-section earlier, as forceps are really the worst option.

This in spades

There is a reason many other first world countries don't use forceps

If you get to the point you need them, you should have been sent in for a section.

You aren't comparing like for like though.....a VB where everything goes perfectly is less traumatic for both mother and baby than a c section. A straightforward c section will be less traumatic for mother and baby when compared to a complicated VB. Ultimately its the luck of the draw as to which is 'best'.

You ARE unreasonable to talk about a c section as if it is risk free. I had a failed spinal during which nerves were bruised and as a result will have lifelong symptoms in my leg. I was lucky that they were 'just' bruised or things would have been much worse.

Odds are you're not going to have a straight forward VB

Hence why ELCS objectively is the better option

At our local hospital less than 37% of women in labour get an uncomplicated VB, the rest either have an instrumental delivery or EMCS.

A medic recently told me she insisted upon c section for both babies.

When she told the midwife her choice, the mw agreed and said she wouldn't have it any other way either

In wonder if the c-section stats are skewed by things that go wrong with emergency procedures

Surely an elected section is safer

I have had three vaginal births with no issues either during the birth or after. I wouldn't have a c section unless my life or the baby's life was in jeopardy.

They are

In countries that split the stats elective c sections come out on top of both vaginal births and emcs

Someone has just called people who have vaginal births as having ‘wizard sleeves’ for vaginas. So yeh it’s me being mean.

Im not saying anything about risks. And if you read up thread my strong argument is actually about IMPROVING and INVESTING in maternal care. The horror stories people talk of as a result of VB/ECS are often related to poor care.

Across the world maternity care is second rate. Womens health is not prioritised.

As I said up thread I don’t think this or that debate is helpful as it just makes everyone feel like crap and failures. So now we have a situation where women are arguing among themselves rather than shouting loudly THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

And that does not just mean being able to have C-section because believe it or not but a lot of women do want a VB even knowing the risks. BUT why can’t those risks be reduced by good care? Or when things doesn’t go well there is top quality physical therapy to get women healed.

Just saying we should all have a C-section is not the answer and is fighting the wrong fight for women.

I don’t give a crap what another woman chooses to do with her body. But I do give a crap about when she makes that choice she faces risks because of poor care.

So if we compare VB stats to ECS where there is REALLY GOOD care not shitty second rate NHS on its knees care I wonder what the stats would be?

It depends on the person and I'm glad you recovered from your section well. I've had three emergency sections and my recovery has gotten progressively worse. The second led to a prolapse. The last infection lead to septicaemia and I nearly died. A mum in the bay next to me had a vaginal delivery and her baby was given a bath as was she after her birth, I was told less than 12 hours after my first section that I needed to go for a shower, no help was offered even when I asked so I told the midwife I would be waiting till my dh could come and help me. I couldn't bend to get my bloody knickers on and off. I had to ask for painkillers every four hours and they looked surprised I needed them.

It really isn't a competition, a straightforward birth will have a quicker recovery than a straightforward section and that is fact. Birth injuries from a vaginal delivery can lead to years of complications as can issues after a section. I wasn't aware after my first that I would still bleed from my vagina after the birth but I did and for a lot longer than 6 bloody weeks. My scar was still tender and I would experience twinges there 4 years after my son was born, my mum still does and her one and only section was 25 years ago. This is my experience though and having never had a vaginal delivery I can't compare. Rather than comparing birth stories which are so individualistic would it not be better to draw attention to the fact that midwives are leaving the profession in droves and the standards of maternity care is nosediving.

Odds are you're not going to have a straight forward VB

What are the odds? I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had one. There’s something quite unsettling about your aggressive evangelism for ELCS @CheeseyToasts. I really don’t understand why you’re so invested in other women’s birth choices.

@Sceptre86

Rather than comparing birth stories which are so individualistic would it not be better to draw attention to the fact that midwives are leaving the profession in droves and the standards of maternity care is nosediving.

THIS!!!