ELCS due to not wanting to have vaginal pain AFTER birth?

[Dexter77]

I’m currently deciding between an ELCS and a VB with epidural. I don’t believe in enduring pain that’s unnecessary and always assumed I’d have an ELCS as I think it’s a great and safe option, but now wonder whether the latter would be preferable. What’s holding me back from attempting VB is the prospect of weeks/months of pain in vaginal area after birth, as well as the fact that postnatal aftercare of birth injuries seems to be woefully inadequate in the UK with long waiting times and insufficient support.

I’d be fine with temporary pain during birth but find the prospect of having vaginal pain for so long totally unacceptable - not even to mention other potential complications such as prolapse and incontinence.
I suppose I’m asking whether it’ll be a given to have vaginal/perineal pain AFTER the birth with VB of normal sized babies (no reason to assume mine will be big).
Keen also to hear from women who had a pain free birth but pain afterwards and how they found it.

PS: And yes, I know there’ll be pain from having an ELCS after birth, but I just know I’ll cope better with having pain in abdomen than in genital area.

[quote mummyh2016]@Dexter77 ODFOD. If there is such a thing as selective reading you definitely have it. Good luck for your CS, thank god for the NHS, midwives and other pregnant women you're going private, that's all I can say.
Kind Regards, Bully [/quote]
Your comments make no sense whatsoever. FYI my birth - which isn’t confirmed to be a section yet as I haven’t decided yet - will be in an NHS hospital, carried out by NHS staff. I’m just paying extra to be looked after by them in a private wing - far away from people like yourself and your outdated opinions on women and childbirth you are so keen to push onto others.

@Cactuslove

I had two emergency c sections. The healing from both took significant time and the pain in those first few days was awful tbh. The second csection I felt. They had to put me under GA in the end but not before I experienced excruciating pain as the scalpel cut through me and they pried my abdomen apart. I'm not telling this to scare anyone as my first section was fine but I'm saying that birth (in any way it takes place) is unpredictable and painful. In my experience anyway.

Really sorry you had such an awful time, I think an EMCS is one of the most brutal outcomes - only to be ruled out via an ELCS sadly.

@Dexter77 there's no arguing with idiots, I have told you how many times I would recommend you have a CS. I'm not pushing a VB on you, I've lost count of how many times I have made clear that I do not care how you give birth! If you can't get that through your head then that says more about you than me and I suggest you speak to a professional as you're being told one thing and you're hearing something completely different. Tara love.

I had a epidural and VB. didn't feel a thing until I needed to push. Had first degree tear, and stitches. I'm 2 weeks pp and healing fine. Stitches were itchy but there's not been any pain since the initial soreness for 2/3 days post birth. A bath soothed the pain. However the epidural has made me really really sensitive and my whole body is constantly itching.

[quote mummyh2016]@Dexter77 there's no arguing with idiots, I have told you how many times I would recommend you have a CS. I'm not pushing a VB on you, I've lost count of how many times I have made clear that I do not care how you give birth! If you can't get that through your head then that says more about you than me and I suggest you speak to a professional as you're being told one thing and you're hearing something completely different. Tara love. [/quote]
Oh now you’re trying to gaslight me, nice.
You wrote, on the thread, that I am treating an ELCS “like a spa treatment”, accused me of not having read about CS risks and demanded I “list” what I’ve read, “if anything just to prove people wrong that you are aware of risks with a CS.”

You then accused me of “minimising how big a CS actually is”. It’s all there in black and white mate!

You sound nasty and controlling and I think if anyone should seek professional help it’s you.

@bethclark553

I had a epidural and VB. didn't feel a thing until I needed to push. Had first degree tear, and stitches. I'm 2 weeks pp and healing fine. Stitches were itchy but there's not been any pain since the initial soreness for 2/3 days post birth. A bath soothed the pain. However the epidural has made me really really sensitive and my whole body is constantly itching.

Ha yes had the itchiness too after spinal anaesthesia, but it always went away after a few hours.

2-3 days of soreness sounds acceptable. May I ask in what position you delivered your baby and how big it was?

I had an ELCS yesterday. It was not that nice, it is not a pleasant operation. I’m in a lot of pain, I’m bleeding a lot. My back is sore from the spinal, my abdomen is sore from the wound. My shoulder is in agony with gas pain. I’m waiting for pain control which is not coming and I want to go home.

Oh @Elllicam, I'm sorry you're dealing with that right now. Don't be afraid to keep buzzing the midwives for pain relief! Congratulations on your baby and I hope you feel better soon 💐

@Elllicam

I had an ELCS yesterday. It was not that nice, it is not a pleasant operation. I’m in a lot of pain, I’m bleeding a lot. My back is sore from the spinal, my abdomen is sore from the wound. My shoulder is in agony with gas pain. I’m waiting for pain control which is not coming and I want to go home.

Oh so sorry to hear that, you should definitely be given all the pain relief! I had a cervical procedure under a spinal recently and had hideous internal pain afterwards, and some bossy midwife refused to give me the painkillers my own consultant prescribed straight after the OP. I pressed the button nonstop for 2 hours and complained about her to PALS and eventually got my pain killers. Has anybody said why you’re still waiting? Hope you feel better soon.

I had to have an ELCS and I would definitely have one again. The procedure was almost magical, so calm, our music was playing throughout, no pain, husband my by side. I was walking about 5hrs after with no problems. I stopped taking the painkillers on day three and was out walking around the park by day 5. I had to keep reminding myself I’d had surgery or I would have done more. My scar healed nicely and is so low down you can’t see it really. All my NCT group had VB and all had problems for months afterwards, I was so thankful for my ELCS. 10/10 would recommend!!

Can't comment on CS as 3 vaginal births, 1 induced with episiotomy, 2 natural with tears. I'd take natural tears over episiotomy for healing quicker but all were 1-2 weeks discomfort rather than pain.

A CS takes up to an hour, sometimes more. It takes weeks to recover. I've had two, one with minimal pain relief (absolute hell) one with lots of pain relief and I still needed two weeks to recover.

I don't understand why you're so against vaginal births and I can't understand your logic about csections. Very misinformed.

I've had an EMCS after a failed ventouse delivery and a VBAC with episiotomy and forceps. I would rather have five sections than another VB.

My EMCS recovery was very easy despite going through a long labour. I only needed paracetamol for a few days and was easily walking pushing the pram after a week and driving after ten days.

I still suffer the consequences of my VBAC nearly a decade later. I had very little bladder control for the first 2-3 weeks. I was left with an anal fissure which was agony for months and have a prolapse. I was on painkillers for weeks after the birth and felt suicidal at times purely due to the amount of pain I was in. The problem is that someone else could easily have the opposite experience it really is a game of chance.

@ThePoisonousMushroom

OP my best friend gave birth to a micro preemie vaginally… she said despite the difference in size (her second and third babies were over 9lb), her full term births were no different to the premature birth.

I'm interested to hear that as I've had two VBs, first two weeks later and 8lbs and second 10 weeks early and 3lbs. I had no pain relief for either.

The first was an intense experience and painful at times, but an aching kind of pain not agony and I did hypnobirthing with birthing pool. A positive experience overall.

The second was extremely painful and a traumatic experience despite her tiny size. I think the fear of her being unwell made it much much harder to relax and everything was a rush.

I've recovered perfectly from both down below, no long term issues and no pain beyond some discomfort in the week after the births.

Seeding isn't common practice and the evidence of its value is dubious. Had enough of this thread, good luck with whatever you choose

@dexter77 thank you. Unfortunately a planned csection doesn't always happen- I went into labour naturally and failure to progress led to emergency c section. I can't say what option is best but I can say that recovery from c section is hard and bloody painful and that's even if you can get the painkillers you should have access to.

Surely you're also going to have pretty bad stomach pains if you have a c section considering they'll be slicing through several layers of muscle etc to get Baby out!

I had an emcs so cannot comment specifically on the elcs recovery. However, I had a major haemorrhage and blood transfusion during my section. I was so weak, unable to move and care for my daughter for days. I had a blood drain sewn into my womb which was an extra struggle to carry on my slow decent to the toilet with that pain, section pain and obviously the massive bleeding from after the birth.

During the section, you can feel lots of pulling and tugging. It is quite uncomfortable. It was actually painful for me when I was sewn up too.

My daughter is now 1 and I have pain if she presses into my scar even now. This isn't uncommon either. My step mum had an elcs 20 years ago and my sister 9 years ago and they both still feel pain in their scar.

Given the choice, I'd still choose a vbac and long labour over an elcs. You've read that you have researched the procedure and should do what is right for you. A section of any kind is no walk in the park though. Your bladder is removed and if you're cut too much in your womb (which was my issue) you will haemorrhage. There is also the possibility you may go into labour and have an emcs anyway because surgeons will statistically not perform sections before 39 weeks.

Op I think you might be underestimating post c section pain. I was on oral morphine for four days after mine, and when that stopped (upon discharge) I could hardly breathe or move I was in so much pain. I couldn't do anything for myself. I've had a VB too (with tears / stitching) and I'd choose temporary vaginal pain ANY DAY.

*descent

@saltontoast

A CS takes up to an hour, sometimes more. It takes weeks to recover. I've had two, one with minimal pain relief (absolute hell) one with lots of pain relief and I still needed two weeks to recover.

I don't understand why you're so against vaginal births and I can't understand your logic about csections. Very misinformed.

Why do you claim I’m misinformed? Because I can only contemplate an ELCS if I’m misinformed? There are loads of people on this thread who said their ELCS recoveries were very quick, others say it took longer.

Who says I’m against vaginal births?! This is literally a thread I’ve started to find reasons to have a VB instead of an ELCS?

Very interesting @MsMoppet. Perhaps your right and your psychological stress with your preemie birth made it more painful.

@EnidFrighten

Seeding isn't common practice and the evidence of its value is dubious. Had enough of this thread, good luck with whatever you choose

It actually is. Bye!

[quote Cactuslove]@dexter77 thank you. Unfortunately a planned csection doesn't always happen- I went into labour naturally and failure to progress led to emergency c section. I can't say what option is best but I can say that recovery from c section is hard and bloody painful and that's even if you can get the painkillers you should have access to. [/quote]
I don’t believe a section is easy to recover from, just that I’d likely find it less emotionally scarring than having to recover from genital birth trauma. I hope your recovery gets easier over coming days and weeks, I guess everyone would feel in quite a bit of pain so short after a section. All the best!