Hello again eliza I remember you from a few weeks/threads/posts ago! I would just like to say that I can only speak for my personal experiences of VB and ELCS. My VB was 3.2 years ago; my ELCS just 8 days ago, so I am nowhere near being fully recovered from it.
It is my belief that if a vaginal delivery is 'normal' - that is, not too long, no intervention, minimal tearing (I.e. 'grazing'), then this is the best/safest mode of delivery. I wouldn't want to push the cause fr CS to anyone who didnt have a real need for it.
However, my experience of VB was removed from this. It was long
(24 hours in latent labour; 7 hours established labour. All felt pretty much the same to me!). extremely painful (but to be fair, I only
chose to have G&A) exacerbated by a very long pushing stage (2 hours) and then developing a problem with my tailbone through excessive strain on my pelvi floor, which contracted my coccyx so I felt every contraction and movement of my first baby there. I was also given an episiotomy and my daughter delivered by ventouse. It was
exhausting. Of course, I was overjoyed by her arrival, felt a rush of love and was as high as a kite on wonderful hormones for months afterward, but I was left with a very sore fanjo for about 5 months and a problem with my tailbone that never completely went away, and was
intensely painful for about 4 months after delivery. The pain never completely disappeared.
Hence my request for ELCS. A big battle to get one, completely agree with Bethpp that the OB's try to brow-beat you. But it was a battle won and I'm glad that we persevered, as I feel sure my coccyx
wouldn't have taken the strain of another labour. In relative retrospect, my ELCS was a lovely experience because of the level of control. I had researched CS, so I knew completely what to expect (assuming that all went well) and, although certain risks were very frightening, I knew that those risks were very low, and that my individual risk of
redamaging my spine was significantly higher.
I loved the atmosphere on the day; the theatre staff were so upbeat, it was nothing like the sweat and fear in the labour room. I loved how 'with it' I was - no fuzzy head from lack of sleep, lack of food and gas
and air - and how I was told that 'in about 10 seconds, your baby will be here'. It really was joyful and beautiful, even though I was a bit freaked out at how snuffly my baby was (knew to expect it; still panicked a bit). Oh, and I didn't feel any pain for at least 24 hours
due to good pain control. Felt pain when I tried to stand 20-odd hours or so later but nipped it in the bud with more lovely pain meds :)
Recovery-wise, I feel much better than after my VB. It certainly hasn't been a walk in the park so far: I nearly fainted the first time I true to shower and for the first couple of days I was quite uncomfortable. But, that's just it: it's discomfort and not really pain. You know that it should only last a short time. I have been able to use the toilet and
not wince and now, 8 days on, I am feeling quite a bit stronger. Admittedly, I have got all the help I can get. I'm lucky in that I have a very supportive family. I haven't done much except cuddle our newborn, make a fuss of our 3-year-old and gently potter around the house.
Of course, my tummy is still bruised and I have got a lot of swelling and bruising around the scar. My skin kind of looks like a ridge over the scar and I'm hoping that this is just swelling and will disappear on time. The scar itself is not the prettiest thing but I am going to grow my ahem pubes to cover it.
I hope that this answers your question and that at least some of what I've said helps you, OP. if anyone wants to know more, I'm happy to answer, if I can x
pubes over the scar! T