Elective C Section or risk another third degree tear?

[floops]

I have to make a choice as to whether I opt for a c section or go ahead with a normnal delivery and risk another third degree tear. My consultant has basically said she can't guarantee the effects on my pelvic floor either. I don't particularly want to have continence problems at 33. She has aid it is my choice and she will support my decision either way. Hs anyone else had to make this choice? Does anyone have nay views in terms of baby's safety and mine?

Oh Spudballoo - how utterly dreadful. If you do decide to have another child, then I have to say I found both my caesarians to be very serene, lovely experiences with a quick recovery - home after two nights and doing everything very soon. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one to anyone in your or Verso's position.

Oh Spudballoo - how utterly dreadful. If you do decide to have another child, then I have to say I found both my caesarians to be very serene, lovely experiences with a quick recovery - home after two nights and doing everything very soon. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one to anyone in your or Verso's position.

I had an emergency section with dd1 and a vaginal birth with dd2 and am pleased I had a VBAC as I did feel a bit 'cheated' the first time round. Stupid I realise now, but I know where you are coming from when you say you felt guilty.

If I was in your position, I would go for an elective section, just because I would be worried sick throughout labour as to what would go wrong. If I had had a bad first labour, I wouldn't hesitate to go for a section the second time round.

My second labour was easier to recover from than the section but I only had a couple of stitches, no major tearing or damage.

Good luck with your decision.

xx

Floops - i'm facing the exact same dilemma. Glad you started this thread. Don't feel guilty at all about whatever decision you take. It's not about any one else's opinion, it's about what is right for you. You're not doing it for shallow cosmetic reasons - your doing it to ensure your well being. It's you who has to live with what ever your body endures.

Think next time, i'm going to choose to have the EC, as i don't want to risk further problems 'down there' like incontinence issues. I am kacking myself now about my next pregnancy - i really am.

Hope you make the right decision for you. It would be nice to know what you decide to do. Let us know! x

second births are NOT always easier - I had my second dd 5 months ago and the labour was as long as it was for dd1. I still had to endure the venthouse, stitches and everything so don't assume second births will be a doddle - they aren't. It was exactly the same for a close friend of mine who had her second child 2 months ago. A bloody long haul.
Go for a section if you feel it will help. Why have continence problems if you can avoid them ?
HTH

I'm in the same boat, floops, and may not even go ahead with another pregnancy as the first delivery was so traumatic (not to mention the surgery, etc that has followed to try to correct all the damage). My straight-talking consultant said that he thought there was a fair chance of similar damage next time due to weakened tissue, which would not only undo all the (successful) reconstructive surgery I've had so far, but would also be likely to leave me with more profound continence problems than I have now as healing is less successful second time around. His take on it was that 'no risk of incontinence is acceptable when there is a good and safe alternative method for delivery', and (like spudballoo's consultant) he pointed out that given the trauma of my first delivery my experience of another labour would almost certainly be an enormously traumatic one from which I would gain nothing emotionally.

I found my physical problems extremely difficult to come to terms with first time around, and having made a pretty good recovery (with more improvement to come, I hope) I would not hesitate to opt for planned controlled surgery performed by my consultant in place of the emergency poorly-judged delivery I had last time in the hands of an inexperienced spr. In fact, I think I might find it quite cathartic to deliver in theatre again, but this time without the drama...

All cases are different, but I am quite sure that for me (and baby) the greatest risk would be to allow another labour to progress. For me, there is the question about why it went wrong first time (which nobody can answer and therefore it is hard to be confident that it won't happen again) but even without that issue, I would be opting for a section as a safer choice than uncontrolled damage for which one might require lengthy rehabilitation or further surgery.

Best of luck to you!

I'm in the same boat, floops, and may not even go ahead with another pregnancy as the first delivery was so traumatic (not to mention the surgery, etc that has followed to try to correct all the damage). My straight-talking consultant said that he thought there was a fair chance of similar damage next time due to weakened tissue, which would not only undo all the (successful) reconstructive surgery I've had so far, but would also be likely to leave me with more profound continence problems than I have now as healing is less successful second time around. His take on it was that 'no risk of incontinence is acceptable when there is a good and safe alternative method for delivery', and (like spudballoo's consultant) he pointed out that given the trauma of my first delivery my experience of another labour would almost certainly be an enormously traumatic one from which I would gain nothing emotionally.

I found my physical problems extremely difficult to come to terms with first time around, and having made a pretty good recovery (with more improvement to come, I hope) I would not hesitate to opt for planned controlled surgery performed by my consultant in place of the emergency poorly-judged delivery I had last time in the hands of an inexperienced spr. In fact, I think I might find it quite cathartic to deliver in theatre again, but this time without the drama...

All cases are different, but I am quite sure that for me (and baby) the greatest risk would be to allow another labour to progress. For me, there is the question about why it went wrong first time (which nobody can answer and therefore it is hard to be confident that it won't happen again) but even without that issue, I would be opting for a section as a safer choice than uncontrolled damage for which one might require lengthy rehabilitation or further surgery.

Best of luck to you!