C-section vs. third/fourth degree tear - which is hardest to recover from?

[PirateWeasel]

Has anyone got experience of both? I had a third degree which resulted in two months of pain and struggling to do normal things. But I was allowed to drive and got to leave hospital after just one night, so I'm assuming recovery post C-section would be harder, but I really don't know. Because my chances of having another bad tear with baby number 2 are high, I'm weighing up whether it's better to have an elective CS.

I had a 4th degree tear, coccyx fracture and PPH all of which took a while to recover from, I don’t have experience yet if c-section but am due to have one with my current pregnancy due to previous 4th degree. I’ve been told as long as everything goes smoothly I am likely to find the recovery easier and pain less than from my previous delivery. We shall see!

I’m two weeks post c section having had a third degree tear with my first. Honestly so far it’s been a breeze in comparison. PM me if you’ve got any specific questions I can help with. It felt like a really difficult decision but I’m confident I made the right one.

I have had 2 elective sections after an epesiotomy +tear with my first. I would pick the sections any day!

Only c sections here but mine were fine recovery wise. Discomfort for a few days improving each day. Took it easy for a couple of weeks and didn't do things like hoovering even though I felt ok. You can drive as soon as you feel able to do an emergency stop confidently. The 6 week rule is a bit of a myth.

Never had a vaginal birth but have had 4 c sections and was moving around grand after a couple of weeks. I didn't drive by choice as the tummy is tender where seatbelt sits, and I didn't really need to. I'd choose a c section any day over damage to my nether regions. At least the c section wound doesn't affect bodily functions. I can't imagine the trauma of a third degree tear.

3rd degree tear hardest without a shadow of a doubt. I had the same as you with dd1 so dd2+3 were born by c section. The second c section was harder than the first but only for a few weeks, whereas 11 years on I am still impacted daily by the 3rd degree tear

C-section 100% easier mentally and physically.

A planned section is way easier than an emergency one, and you are likely to be on your feet within 24 hours. I would suspect no mental recovery required usually, whereas a 4th degree tear sounds extremely traumatic. Go easy on yourself. I will always be profoundly grateful for elective section

I had a third degree tear and my friend has a section two days before. We both came out of hospital the same day due to both babies being in ITU.

She was back to normal in about 8 weeks. I was still in pain six months later and just about well enough to go back to work.

I'm fine 22 years later though!

Thank you so much everyone, I'm feeling a lot better about it now! Those of you who had CSs - did you have problems breastfeeding because of your wound, and did you have to stay in hospital for ages?

Hi pirate - no staying in hospital for ages at all- two nights both times (once with EMCS) - they want their beds back! Both times I was up and walking about quickly (emcs was 4am, remember being up by the time ghastly MIL put in her uninvited appearance around lunchtime; elective was slightly longer as they gave me something involving morphine which v much didn’t agree with me - I was drunk and threw up which was quite awkywith fresh wound and baby in arms - check what they plan to give you!). Elective was at 38 weeks but still no issue at all establishing or continuing feeding. Contrary to a lot of posts I read here, I found it no big deal at all (after a first labour that was no fun but came nowhere near the trauma of what you’ve had). It was a really positive experience

I’ve had both and my elective c section (which I requested because of my awful first birth) was 100000 x better and easier to recover from than my first, even factoring in an undiagnosed placenta previa and 2.5 litre blood loss! I found the c section recovery really straightforward, yes I had some pain but I could sit down comfortably and once I’d got moving about the pain got better and better everyday- with my 4th degree tear I could hardly walk for months without pain!

I’d have another c section in a heartbeat. I bonded much more quickly with my second child as well because the whole thing was so much less painful and traumatic.

I had an emergency c sec after a long and difficult labour, and the recovery wasn’t as bad as I thought. We were in hospital for a week, but this wasn’t because of the section. I breastfed, but it was a bit more uncomfortable with positioning, however the midwives showed be how best to feed, with different positions.

Within 6 weeks I felt completely normal, and have no complications at all. Due to type of section I had, I would need an elective next time, and I will actually look forward to it!!

Sorry meant to add, I chose not to breastfeed but I could have easily done so if I had wanted to (I was on medication for other health problems that meant it wasn’t a good idea).

I would have thought that the recovery time is perhaps of less importance than what the effects of another tear would be.

The thing to factor in is care for your elder child - in either case, doing a achy/ nursery run is going to be tricky Fay while. Mine was just under 2 and I just skipped the childminder (had to pay still) until I could drive there - childminder was 20 mins away on route to work, not local. Getting elder child into and out of bath was also hard. Washed baby in the basin for a while so didn’t need to bend.

I've only had 1 baby and that was by c-section so I can't comment on a natural birth with tears.

I found my c-section recovery tough, I couldn't move properly for about 2 weeks, I struggled getting out of bed and off the sofa as well. My husband had to leave everything I needed on the kitchen counter as I could not stretch up.

It effected my mental health massively and I think it has in part caused my PND, I had my heart set on a natural water birth but due to my little one having an unstable lie they recommended me for a section or if I laboured and birthed naturally there was a high chance baby would run into difficulty (I also had polyhydramnios so cord prolapse risk was massive) I felt like I had failed my son and felt like I hadn't actually given birth to him.

The positive was that I was still able to breastfeed, milk came in at about 5 days after giving birth and after a few hiccups we are still going strong 9 months in.

I've only had cesareans but I recovered from both including my emergency one faster than my friend recovered from a tear.

I've only had sections (EMCS and ELCS) and while the EMCS was a hard recovery I seem to come out the other side far quicker, and with no complications, compared to friends with bad tears.

Those of you who had CSs - did you have problems breastfeeding because of your wound, and did you have to stay in hospital for ages?

I did have problems breastfeeding but that's because I had a PPH and my twins were extremely premature. When I had my cesarean full term there were no issues with milk supply. In the NICU other women were able to breastfeed after cesareans too

I haven't had a tear but did have an episiotomy and would choose the section over that every time.

Emergency c section here with my first and only son. It was a piece of cake imo was up walking within 12 hours and out home within 24hrs. Breastfed and he latched easily and painfree only slight downfall was with some c sections your body takes longer to make the proper milk so he lost quite a bit of weight the first week. All fine after that thou x

I had a 4th degree tear after emergency forceps delivery which required over 200 stitches as they had to 'remake' me from the inside out literally. Was a riot the best way I can describe it was it was just one big hole as both passages had been destroyed due to their neglect but that's another story 😂 I was in hospital 8 days after for recovery but when I got home I was fine. I had a c section 10 month ago and found it far more painful afterwards, I was told it could be more painful afterwards as I got sterilised at the same time. From my belly button to my scar is still numb and sometimes when I lift heavy things I get pain in my scar. I was unable to deliver naturally with DD but even if I had the choice I would have still chosen a c section as the whole delivery was relaxed and I got to hold DD straight after I never got to do that with D's as he was as distressed as me after the delivery

Only had a section so I can give you a comparison, but recovery wasn't that bad. The scar is quite low down, so below where baby lies when breastfeeding. DS latch on straight away in recovery.

I had 3rd degree tear with my 1st baby, section with my 2nd. 12 year on I don't know what to choose myself as can do either this time. I personally found recovery from tear much easier to recover from, but I'm also scared if I go for VB I'll end up incontinent.