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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

On a scale of 1-10 how much does a CS hurt in comparison to a Vaginal Birth?

78 replies

dejags · 29/03/2007 08:50

Our third DB is due in just over 7 weeks time. She is breech atm - I saw the Ob yesterday and she said that although we can try an ECV at 36 weeks that DB seems very happy in her current position and that I should start preparing myself mentally for a CS at 38 weeks (oh shit, that's five weeks away ).

I am absolultely and totally terrified of the whole procedure. Mostly I am scared of the anaesthetic not working (I had two failed epidurals when I was in labour with DS1) but I am also afraid of the pain afterwards.

So, give it to me straight. For those of you who have had both, how much more painful is a CS than a vaginal birth? (before, during and afterwards).

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Original poster

dejags · 29/03/2007 08:55

anybody?

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Karmamother · 29/03/2007 09:02

I haven't had a cs but I've had many years experience of looking after women during & after a cs. With a planned cs, it is calm & relaxed. Your anaesthetist isn't trying to get an epidural in whilst your contracting & moving about. A lot of anaesthetists prefer to give you a spinal anaesthetic which is basically the same as an epidural (as far as you're concerned) but it lasts for 4-6 hours. They are very reliable but if there is any doubt, the anaesthetist can do some fine tuning before the surgeon comes anywhere near you. For pain relief afterwards you may have a machine containing morphine with a button you press to administer. This is safe for baby if you BF so don't worry. Some anaestheists may give you an epidural instead. Ask your Ob next time what the preferred choices are. Obviously, after the initial 24hrs, you'll be out of bed & moving around with help. This can be unconfortable most women have the added incentive to move around, your baby! You can't drive for 6 weeks, shouldn't lift anything heavy for 3 months.
HTH & good luck.

Cloudhopper · 29/03/2007 09:10

I've had an emergency CS after a 12 hour normal labour(dd1) and a VBAC and I have to say that there wasn't much between them in terms of pain and mobility afterwards. I was unlucky to get very SPD complications and couldn't walk for a month after the VBAC. The CS was better.

Certainly CS is major surgery and you need to let it heal properly (hence the 6 weeks), but as long as you get the pain relief right, you shouldn't need to experience very much (if any) pain. If you have fears about it, I would make sure in advance you have a plan for pain relief afterwards, and agree this with the medics.

But I was very disappointed to find that the pain after VBAC was pretty much as bad as the CS, if not worse. I don't think if you have been through a VB you have anything to fear from a CS.

Given the choice now, I just can't say. People's experience of VB varies hugely, from walking around an hour later to third degree tears. I suppose somewhere in the middle is a CS.

saralou100 · 29/03/2007 09:10

well i had an emergency section under a general, so i can't tell you about the during, but after when i woke so very very painful!! i felt like a druggy on the search for my next hit of painkillers!!

after i had ds1 (normal vaginal birth) it was a bit sore to sit on down their and moving up the bed could hurt.. but after the section every movement hurt, bending, standing, sitting! but then i also ended up with an infection...

sorry! maybe too straight? but you did ask!!

and that was just my experience some people are fine... my sis had very little pain after and was fine!

MarsLady · 29/03/2007 09:12

Have you seen Mary Cronk's website? It gives you some info about breech births and maybe give you some other options.

I'm not saying that that's the route you will want to take but I'm letting you see an alternative to what is currently in front of you. If you have the ECV it shouldn't hurt. Don't be manhandled honey. Also try getting on all fours, scrubbing the floor, bum in the air etc to see if baby will turn on her own.

And just to let you know that 4% of babies are breech at birth and lots of those babies are born vaginally if there is an experienced midwife.

There.... you can email me if you want some more info, but I'm not around today. Look at Mary's site and see what you think. You could also shout out for LargeGin&Tonic. She's currently got a baby in breech position and may have some more thoughts for you if that's what you would like.

lovelymarslady at aol dot com

hth

Cloudhopper · 29/03/2007 09:14

I think CS under general anaesthetic is reputed to be much more painful than under a local. THe advantage of a local A is that it only wears off gradually, so that you can phase in pain relief when it starts to wear off.

I feel rather out of my depth here as not a medical expert - maybe someone else will comment and tell me I am wrong.

Furball · 29/03/2007 09:15

They don't give and epidural for a planned CS they give a spinal anethestic. I haven't had a natural birth but with my cs I can honestly say I never felt a thing. They give you really good painkillers for afterwards, that said I don't think I needed that many. But then, I didn't have any other children to look after as well.

Roskva70percentcocoa · 29/03/2007 09:16

My accupuncturist claims to have a good success rate at turning breech babies. It may be worth a try!

flamingtoaster · 29/03/2007 09:19

I've had two CS - one emergency when son got distressed while I was in labour (good call as he had the cord twice round his neck and was very blue when delivered, fortunately no lasting effects though) and one planned CS. Overall (even allowing for pain afterwards) I had much less pain (and less intense pain) with the planned CS than with being in labour (I had a general anaesthetic both times so someone else needs to tell you about an epidural CS). After the planned CS I woke up quickly with my hubby and baby there which was lovely. The main problem I had afterwards was wind! Very painful wind - which was solved by one experienced midwife giving me warm water with peppermint in it. Yes the scar was painful for a few days (but I had good pain relief) but at least the pain is on your tummy and you are not sitting on it as can be the case if you have a tear or stitches during a vaginal birth! I know it's like telling the sun not to rise because I'm a natural worrier - but try not to worry too much and good luck with the delivery.

Pruni · 29/03/2007 09:21

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Twiglett · 29/03/2007 09:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

saralou100 · 29/03/2007 09:22

i know of research that has been done which shows that people who are prepared and made aware of what will happen and painrelief discussed will cope better with their pain, whereas people who undergo emergency procedures will have worse pain control... sorry i can't source this though!

i had issues with the way the mat unit dealt with my pain though... completely seperate issue!

oliveoil · 29/03/2007 09:23

I have had both

dd1 was an emergency section but my epidural wouldn't top up so I was out cold with a GA, so didn't feel a thing (obviously). If you are awake apparently it feels like someone rumaging around in your stomach - no pain, but you feel tugging.

Afterwards my stomach hurt a bit - I had to send my sister away as she was making me laugh and it hurt - but fine after a couple of days. No complications. No pain relief after either - and I am a MAJOR wuss - just lots of injections in case of clotting (I think).

VBAC was fast and I just had gas and air - at the time I would have paid good money to be wheeled into theatre but recovery was fine.

One point is that with a section, you wouldn't be able to pick up your other children straight away so in that way I was very pleased not to have one the second time.

fishie · 29/03/2007 09:23

only had a cs but just wanted to say that hospitals differ in the pain relief they offer afterwards - my friend had a self administered morphine drip, i had paracetamol - so that's another thing to check out. i was fine on the para btw.

i've also seen some posts on a cs thread about (oh grr i can't remember what it is called) but basically is 'natural' csection, baby delivered onto your stomach etc.

oliveoil · 29/03/2007 09:28

I remember telling dd1 at 4 days old that she must sleep and stop crying or my scar would not heal

Original poster

dejags · 29/03/2007 09:30

Thanks all.

Marslady - thank you for the link, I have looked at Mary Cronk's website. Unfortunately in South Africa, vaginal breech births are considered medical malpractice and are not performed, ever (well they must be in the rural areas, but certainly not in city centre hospitals). My suggestion that I could go for a vaginal breech delivery was met with horror.

As for why at 38 weeks, I think this is something to do with medical insurance guidelines - i.e. they perform the caesar early to ensure you don't go into natural labour, thus avoiding any possibility of a vaginal delivery.

I am trying visualisation and am off now to speak to an accupuncturist and/or reflexologist to see if that might help.

I am still pretty scared

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Twiglett · 29/03/2007 09:30

oh if you're considering breastfeeding I have to say I had no issues with either of my children latching on nor with milk production

will also say, though don't know if it can be attributed to the cs, that both children were very placid newborns and slept for quite long periods and were easily fed and straight back to sleep .. they were also fairly placid, easy babies

mine only turn on me when they reach 3

Twiglett · 29/03/2007 09:31

my first CS was at 38 weeks ... he was 8lbs, 2nd was at 39 weeks and she was 7lbs 2

megandsoph · 29/03/2007 09:32

Dejags, I'm also worried about this

After have a vaginal birth with both my girls, this wee monkey is currently transverse and I have 8 weeks left

I ended up having a spinal with dd1 with a forceps delivery, as the epidural just wasn't working and I can say it was heaven.

Original poster

dejags · 29/03/2007 09:33

Thanks Twiglett - I could use a passive baby. The two boys are horrors, so a nice quiet little girl will be lovely.

I am not so worried about 38 weeks as both my boys were early and good birth weight.

OP posts:

Pruni · 29/03/2007 09:33

Message withdrawn

Original poster

dejags · 29/03/2007 09:34

Megandsoph, what's the difference between a spinal and a standard epidural?

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Original poster

dejags · 29/03/2007 09:37

me too Pruni - the CS rate here in developed areas is in excess of 70%.

I have absolutely no problem with a CS, my babies health is paramount but some of the buff fed to first time mothers about needing a CS by professionals is mind boggling.

The myth that once you have had a CS all future babies need to be born by CS is also widely perpetuated.

I have just changed hospitals at 32 weeks because the first one I went to was horrific in this respect. All very fancy if you like bells and whistles but the worst advice ever and still believing in structured feeding and babies sleeping in the nursery .

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Original poster

dejags · 29/03/2007 09:38

Oh I have also heard of gynaecologists who will not take you as a patient if you want a natural delivery . They freely admit that this is because they cannot commit to being availble after hours.

OP posts:

Twiglett · 29/03/2007 09:38

I think its where its located in the spine .. I think a spinal is lower than an epidural (I had 2 spinals .. you feel pinpricks of local anaesthetic then just pushing) oh and the delivery is quite an interesting rummaging sensation and its easy to convince yourself they're just pushing on top of your tummy

you'll be fine .. honestly

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