Who's had natural and planned C-section deliveries?

[Courtney555]

Had an elective C-section with DS 11yrs ago (he was huge, I was tiny, talk of pelvis fracturing...) The whole thing was an absolute walk in the park. Only pain was the scratch in my back to numb before spinal anaesthestic administered. Up and out in 48hrs. All good. Have been in full support of C-sections as a result of my experience.

Now, we're having twins, and they've booked me a planned 37 week C-section, booked in one of my first appointments weeks ago, based on preferred delivery last time.

The consultant we saw today asked "how prepared are you feeling in case you go into labour early and it's really fast (both highly likely with twins) and you are too advanced for a C-section by the time you get here?"

I replied "fine, if they're early, they'll be small, and therefore I'm not petrified of a long labour with a fractured pelvis, I'm happy to attempt a natural birth, but of course, if it's not a fast labour, they'll just do the c-section as planned"

She replied that this was correct, they would try and perform one as I was on the list as C-section delivery. But then went on to say, why on earth was I on that list if I was considering a natural birth too.

I said, I wasn't really considering one as my experience last time was so pleasant, so whilst this time, I'm not dead against a natural birth, why would I not want a C-section given the zero pain and home perfectly healthy with DS within 48hrs.

She then went off on one to be honest. Not in a bad way, but in astonishment it seemed. How could I possibly think a C-section was a good idea, there's so many more risks, the healing time is so much longer and I just got lucky before, I shouldn't look at that experience as normal, it's best for me and baby to have a natural birth, even when it's twins. How had I not been asked this question before? Why had I not been seen by anyone to discuss this and just been automatically put on a C-section list.

I've come home a bit overwhelmed. I appreciate she's seen 1000 births, and I only know how I experienced one, so I take what she says very seriously. But in balance, whilst I know every birth is different, why should I not think it plausible that my body will recover in at least a similar manner, plus of course, zero pain again.

Sorry for the essay.

I know many people have had bad experiences leading to, and resulting from, emergency sections, so I don't want to bring that into the mix. I understand it's very different to walk in very calm, ready, mentally and physically prepared for a planned C-section, to having "ok, we're going to perform emergency surgery" after you've been in labour 15 hours, wanted/expected a natural birth, then experience complications and get rushed off to theatre.

So, may I ask, those of you who have experienced both a planned C-section, and a natural birth, what was good/bad about each? Does one make you think, I wish I'd never done it this way, the other way was so much better.

Thank you x

Birth one vaginal. Horror show.
Birth two c section. Marvellous.

Everyone’s experience will be different but I think it’s myth that people will recover more quickly/better from vaginal birth.
Do what you think is best for you.

It blows my mind that you're considering a c-section as your first preference in your situation. It blows my mind further that you've even had to write this post for clarification!

It blows your mind that the suggestion from a consultant the first time round, stating "DS is very large, there is a high risk he may get stuck and crack your pelvis, in which case we'll have to perform a C-section anyway", that I then decided just to go with a planned C-section, as opposed to chance it? Blows your mind

Fairly straightforward decision imho.

No, not that you had a c-section for your first birth, that you would consider one when there's no ongoing medical rationale for having a second one

Birth one vaginal. Horror show.
Birth two c section. Marvellous.

Everyone’s experience will be different but I think it’s myth that people will recover more quickly/better from vaginal birth.
*Do what you think is best for you."

@Quickcook

That's what I'm struggling with. I thought I was doing what's best for me until today, but she's really worried me that I was a real exception and not the rule. She was not far off chuckling at me when I said "but...I had a great experience, was it really that far from the norm as a C-section delivery?". And she obviously knows what she's talking about. I came out feeling really uneducated, really undecided, really unprepared, and quite belittled, although I know that wasn't her intention.

I had a planned c-section (breech baby) and it was a perfect birth. No pain whatsoever, baby was born safely (which I had some major anxiety around, as I'm sure most mothers-to-be do), felt pretty rubbish in the immediate aftermath but didn't actually care because I was so happy with my baby, discharged within 36 hours. Struggled at times with pain but had food support so was again, manageable and was back fully on my feet (doing housework, pram walks etc) by day 7. Would definitely choose a c-section again!

OP has previously had a planned CS which she found an extremely positive experience both procedure and recovery-wise.

She is now expecting twins and, rather than attempt a vaginal birth that will be both a twin birth and a VBAC, she’s opted to have another ELCS. Why would that blow somebody’s mind??

It’s a very personal decision and it can sometimes be hard to make sense of other people’s birth choices.

I had an EMCS first time round and an ELCS the next time. I don’t regret it for a moment. I wouldn’t say they were zero pain, but certainly neither involved prolonged or serious pain.

To be honest, I can see how you’d want a section considering that you’ve had such a good experience previously. (I just remember being SO grateful for the invention of sections the first time round - absolutely evangelical about them - as I was so bloody grateful to get a healthy baby out after 60+ hrs, and into my arms.) Whether it’s the right decision for you is something only you can decide, I guess!

Well quite, neonglow!

@Basil90

Aaah, gotcha, sorry I misread.

So they've offered it to me automatically as last time I definitely wanted one. And then, on the basis it was a great experience, fast recovery, very calm, zero pain, DS and I both really healthy immediately after, I immediately said yes. Especially as there's two in there this time.

I guess I didn't expect her reaction, as at 12 weeks when they booked me in, it was much more, "sure, all booked for you, have a nice day."

I think she was less angry at me, and more angry that nothing had been discussed with me by her colleagues, and I'd just been given a systematic tick in a box. She said, put it this way, if I was her daughter, there was no way she'd be recommending me to be on the c-section list, and that hit home.

I had two fairly unpleasant vaginal births. When I was offered a c section as dc was measuring big, I snapped their arm off. Was my best birth of the three, no doubt.

I had a c section and felt awful, I wanted to be up and about and was stuck in bed and in some pain, difficulty with stairs and tired from the drugs.

I then refused a c section with twins and had to insist on trying a vaginal birth, which went smoothly and after delivery i felt like i could run a marathon!! Much better than a c section.

I think it wouldn’t harm to try and not just assume C section is the best option. It sounds like the doctor was disappointed you weren’t spoken to about alternatives first.

I had a planned section, all went well & recovered fairly quickly minus a minor infection, but I was up & about quickly, out of hospital the next day & driving within a couple of weeks. I only have one child so nothing to compare it too. Going on this basis I would opt for a c section for further children, I know recovery may not be the same, but at least I know roughly what to expect.

I might be wrong, but I would have thought that a VBaC with twins would be riskier than a vaginal birth, for both you and them.

I had ELCS purely through choice, having carefully weighed up the risks and how they would likely apply to me personally. It was utterly fab, and of all my NCT class I was the only one who had a c section, and yet I recovered quickest. Two of the women who had vaginal births got infected tears/episiotomy, and couldn’t sit down for weeks. One still has ongoing problems. I can’t imagine why you would want a vaginal birth, in your circumstances. The consultant may well have a personal bias/eye to the hospital’s stats. Make your own decision, and do not be swayed.

I was booked for a c section with my second. She had other ideas and I went into labour on the morning of said booked c section. It was fast from not the slightest twinge before I woke up in proper pain and by the time I got to the hospital and they checked me they were like oh there’s the head! They did ask if I wanted a c section but I just knew it was too late and I think the only way they could have done it would have been a general anaesthetic as I don’t think I could have sat (let alone sat still for the spinal). So a surprise VBAC it was! We were both fine, I have no regrets but it was pretty wild. Having had a very nice and straightforward EMCS with my first my feeling is a planned CS would be more predictable in terms of experience and recovery.

When I was pregnant I really struggled to choose between the ELCS or a VBAC - I totally get where you are coming from there. So many things to consider and then after all that careful agonising the baby did her own thing.

Planned section with DC1. A dream. Wonderful, and easy recovery.

Vbac with DC2. Labour was long but fine, wouldn't mind that part again, but recovery was a bitch. Infected episiotomy and I honestly thought I'd never walk again. Even if a section wound gets infected, at least you don't have to sit on it. I'm almost 100% sure I'd go for a section next time. The risks are more known, whereas with a vbac I feel almost anything could happen.

Op,
I know the consultant is the expert.
But I do think that they try to push people down the route of vaginal birth.
They never seem to tell people the risks of vaginal birth yet are quick to tell you the risks of a c section.
It always makes me think they have their own agenda relating to costs/stats.

This is purely anecdotal. I know people who have had awful vaginal births (me included).
I also know of people who have had some pretty horrible emergency c sections.

However I do not know anyone at all who has had an elective c section and regretted it.
Purely anecdotal and someone will probably be alone to shoot me down and tell me they had an elective and hated it.
But you could look for yourself on the birth threads, if you read the stories of women injured or traumatised by childbirth, I doubt you will find many (if any) where the story starts “I went in for my elective c section”.

Good luck whatever you decide.

and someone will probably be alone to shoot me down and tell me they had an elective and hated it

They’ll be me!! Sorry

Fair dos green tulips, it really is each to their own there is no right or wrong answer.

My first was a vaginal delivery, my Labour was quick around 12 hours from the first twinge to holding the baby.
I had a third degree tear and I’m not sure my vagina has ever been the same.
My second delivery was a planned C Section, twins at 36 weeks. They were both breach and my consultant didn’t want me to labour, he scanned me right before I went in to see if twin one had turned as he wanted a vaginal delivery.
Pros of C Section: you’re not exhausted from a long labour - don’t underestimate the demand of newborn twins!
Cons of C Section: dealing with the pain afterwards with 2 babies and a toddler - the 3rd degree tear was way easier for me to deal with!

Vaginal - awful.
Planned Section- best experience of my life. Loved it.

Not what you asked but I had three consecutive emergency c sections and the third was by far and away the easiest in terms of recovery and lack of pain (then first, then second). With all three I was out of hospital within 36 hours and had no complications. In my experience of myself and friends, I don’t think you did get lucky with your c section recovery; I think that is the norm.

Emergency one was frantic but I recovered well and recovered quickly.

Planned cesarean was a disaster to be honest.

I've had two planned c sections. They were both great experiences. I have such happy memories of both my children's births and recovered from both very quickly with no problems at all. I feel very lucky to have two lovely children without having experienced a single contraction :)

This is really reassuring. I hadn't considered a natural birth at all, because I couldn't see how it could possibly improve on my first experience.

I've got zero problem with a natural birth as a preference. And I'm really ok with it being an actual occurrence if I go flying through a one hour labour at 34 weeks. I wasn't prepared for a consultant to be so passionately cross that I was electing for a C-section though.