Disaster pelvic floor - what to do about second birth!!

[Plebbie25]

Hi all,
My first labour was long and hard, and at the end I was pushing for 3 hours, with 2 attempts at ventouse then finally forceps. I had a huge episiotomy and it took me a long time to heal. I had urinary incontinence and some physio that was starting to help but now I'm pregnant again and it's seriously bad now!
I'm 36 weeks and the physio has suggested a C-Section in order to prevent further damage. The problem is that after the birth my partner has 2 weeks maximum and I live in a place where I need to drive, will have to take my toddler (2 yrs) to nursery, get him ready, into the high chair etc all on my own. As far as I've understood this isn't really possible that soon after a caesarean!
So my question is whether it would actually make a difference to my pelvic floor, coz if it's ruined anyway (as they have suggested!) then maybe it isn't worth me going through a C-section?
Also, does anyone know if having a weak pelvic floor would prevent me being able to push this one out effectively?!
I was just wondering if anyone else has been in this position and what the outcome was :)
Thank you!

Hi there OP,

We're just giving this a bump in case anyone knowledgeable enough to help sees it

As always, we'd recommend going to your doctor as well, as we can't vouch for anyone posting on Mumsnet.

Maybe get a second opinion on how necessary it is if you can. I guess your physio is worried about you having a prolapse (or a worse prolapse), which can be tricky/impossible to fully heal afterwards and can have implications for the rest of your life.

You're in a tricky situation but if a CS really is best for you then an extra couple of weeks to heal might be worth it. Can your partner not take a bit extra annual leave? Any family or friends who could come round to help? Basically if you ended up having an emergency CS then people would have to rally round somehow as there'd be no choice.

Defo talk to your doctor and midwife too.

My pelvic floor reacted differently to each birth ( I've had 4 children born vaginally).
After having my first baby I would constantly wee my pants until I was around 6 months postpartum.
With my second and third children I had no problems with my pelvic floor whatsoever and I never did any pf exercises.
Now after having my fourth (footling breech with episiotomy) I do my pelvic floor exercises just to keep everything together after being cut.
I would suggest you do pelvic floor exercises immediately and go for a vaginal birth as I've heard c sections are very difficult to recover from while caring for older children. If you're partners going back to work so soon you're going to have your hands full anyway. Good luck

I'd go for CS personally.

For recovery, it varies. Is there another parent from nursery who could pick him up on route? Can you get stuff like little table and chair instead of high chair etc so you don't have to pick him up at home?

Getting dressed - get some shorts and t shirts with his fave cartoon character and it'll be easier

I'd go for CS personally.

For recovery, it varies. Is there another parent from nursery who could pick him up on route? Can you get stuff like little table and chair instead of high chair etc so you don't have to pick him up at home?

Getting dressed - get some shorts and t shirts with his fave cartoon character and it'll be easier

I had a c section in the same circumstances. Recovery was great, much easier than first time. I couldn't drive before 5 weeks but was out and about on day 3 being driven by DH and walking short distances, getting longer each day. I had some incontinence due to the second pregnancy putting stress on my already damaged pelvic floor but the stress incontinence has been quickly resolved with physio this time (I still have some urge incontinence but I think that is mainly psychological).

I was just about to post this exact thing but I'm with community midwives and they push natural birth so I'm worried I'll have the additional issue of being refused a c section.
I'm terrified for the state of my pelvic floor after this one

I had an episiotomy, 10 hours pushing, third degree tear and zero pelvic floor muscles after my first. Second sailed through within an hour two years later.

Lego is that actually better though, everyone who read my notes independently said the next one would fly out of me, no idea what they said to illicit that reaction. But the couple of people I know who had surgery for incontinence issues had very speedy births which they blamed for the issues.