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.

Sounds like you have decided.

@Mammyofasuperbaby yes a preterm section of a very small baby can obviously be very rough. I gave birth to a micropreemie vaginally as the risks of a CS in that situation would have far outweighed risks from the VB for me - though not for the baby. I only learned this afterwards, but for my baby a CS would have been better.

My baby was so small that I had no birth trauma last time and zero pain in all of the birth, but with a term baby this is obviously different, so approaching this birth in very different circumstances.

When you can't drive and need to go places like shops, appointments, get to the hospital 3-5 times a day to see and feed your baby being able to walk far soon after is actually incredibly useful, but yeah cool ignore that info 👍

I had an emergency c section with my first baby then a VB with my 2nd. Don't underestimate how painful a C-section is. You do not realise how much you use your core muscle for everything until you have a c section. The VB I ended up having forceps, 2nd degree tear, episiotomy and grazing. Few complications post natally. The pain from the stitches was, well, painful. They are two different types of pain though. After my csection, I relied on people lifting my baby for me in the first few days. I didn't with the VB. It's a personal choice, whatever you are comfortable with, I guess.

My cousin had a VB which wasn't great, 3rd degree tear & infection. She then had a CS but found that harder so I don't think you can be sure to be honest.

I've been lucky enough to have two water births. No tears, no stitches and no pain after about 2 days.
The worst pain after birth was the cramping of my uterus back to it's normal size. I couldn't imagine the cramping combined with an incision. I didn't take any pain killers after birth.

I had no pain at all after my vaginal birth.

I have to have a csection this time and I’m honestly devastated.

@Bumpsadaisie I actually haven’t! I’m just not going to be convinced to attempt a VB by comments such as “a c-section is major surgery”.

I’m essentially trying to weigh up the best and worst case scenarios.
VB turns me off because it could result in far worse outcomes than an ELCS recovery, including a rough EMCS or instrumental VB, and major birth trauma.

But obviously it would be great to have a straightforward “normal” birth with adequate pain relief at all stages and no problems afterwards. I guess I ultimately have to decide whether I will accept giving up on the possibility of that by opting for a section, or whether I will gamble, attempt a VB and risk outcomes I don’t want at all.

TBH all women should be offered the choice. I hate posts about natural births with no pain med. No way would men be expected to do labour vaginally and told to 'just get on with it' with minimal pain relief. and its almost as if it proves your 'motherhood' if you give birth vaginally with added bonus points if you do it with no pain relief. fuck that my Vag birth was hideous.

I had a VB and my baby was born 7lb15. I only had gas and air but I had to be cut and he was born with the ventouse cup. I was stitched up but luckily I didn’t have any tears because of the cut. I remember the pain of of being stitched back up but other that the sting for those first few trips to the toilet I don’t remember any specific pain after leaving hospital.

@Garman I’m not planning to drive, go to shops or appointments for weeks after the birth, no matter what delivery route I choose. I appreciate some people might have to but this won’t be a concern.

I’ve got 3 children, all vaginal births, with gas and air. I had 4-5 days of vaginal pain after each.

I didn't get pain relief because labour was so quick that it was too late (active labour was 1.5 hours). It was painful I won't lie but weirdly it all just went once baby was here. The contractions were much worse than the actual pushing.

@Evesgarden

TBH all women should be offered the choice. I hate posts about natural births with no pain med. No way would men be expected to do labour vaginally and told to 'just get on with it' with minimal pain relief. and its almost as if it proves your 'motherhood' if you give birth vaginally with added bonus points if you do it with no pain relief. fuck that my Vag birth was hideous.

@Evesgarden haha, me too! Each to their own I guess but agree all women should have the choice - and actually do, it’s absolutely shameful that some hospitals refuse to follow NICE guidance and offer elective sections. Also total myth that they’re more expensive than VBs, what do people think costs more, a 1 hour slot in theatre or 3 days of midwives and obstetrics running in and out of a room on the labour ward, plus possible trauma surgery, negligence claims… but that’s a different discussion I guess.

I fully am in favour of ELCSs ALWAYS being an option, but individually a VB a might be preferable, it’s just a very difficult decision for some. Sorry you had a bad birth! X

[quote Dexter77]@MIndyStClaire glad to hear you had such a good experience, but just for the record I have watched 2 ELCSs family members had, looking over the curtain the entire time, I think I know quite well what they entail and a skilled surgeon will indeed just make a very small cut under 10cm, then stretch the rest.

As said previously I don’t believe an ELCS doesn’t entail any pain, ofc it does, but pain that, according to the testimony of many, appears often much easier to endure than vaginal birth trauma.[/quote]
That’s just what you see on the surface. There are the many layers underneath that need cutting and stretching. They drop your bladder down slightly to be able to cut in to your uterus. There will be at least 4 layers of suturing to put you back together. It’s not as simple as you seem to think.

@ThePoisonousMushroom 4-5 days of vaginal pain sounds bad but acceptable if everything else is well.

I just dread potentially not being able to walk/relieve myself without being in agony for ages. If only there were at least some guarantees in VB!

I didn’t have any pain after vaginal birth at all.

I had 3 teeny stitches, the midwives did a shift handover for that part and they had some debate whether to stitch or leave as they were that small. But they stitched and afterwards I didn’t feel a thing and didn’t even need a paracetamol. I was bouncing around the ward immediately. Those that had sections were totally dependent on others and it looked grim to be honest. I was scared of birth and almost went for ELCS but so glad I didn’t!

First wee and poo were painless too, I was so surprised! My throat was agony for days though from so much gas and air. I had a shortish labour (6.5hrs) and didn’t get time for an epidural. But I used all the gas.

I’ve only ever had vaginal births (4) and I’ve never experienced a huge amount of vaginal pain I have to say! My first I had a 3rd degree tear and stitches and even then was only a bit sore for a few days.

[quote Dexter77]@ThePoisonousMushroom 4-5 days of vaginal pain sounds bad but acceptable if everything else is well.

I just dread potentially not being able to walk/relieve myself without being in agony for ages. If only there were at least some guarantees in VB![/quote]
I say ‘pain’, more like some stinging when I went to the toilet.

@Loubiemoo thanks but I know there are various layers to be cut through in a section, why are you so patronising? I’ve never said a section was “simple”, but it is absolutely routine and major complications extremely rare, rarer than in VB!

I've done both - Vaginal with just has and air and an ELCS.

I preferred my section afterwards BUT the actual op wasn't too much fun as it's quite scary and lots of pressure and tugging out of your control. I was in quite a lot of discomfort for about 2 weeks after ELCS but it was an expected, post operative pain. After my vaginal I was uncomfortable down there for a few weeks and felt not quite right down there for a few months tbh. I wasn't able to go for a run etc for about a year+ after due to pelvic weakness from pushing. I ran 5k at week 11 after my ELCS.

It's not a given though. Lots of people don't have pain after vaginal for very long at all!

I'm all for choice - I chose my ELCS. But just be aware the actual op and recovery are not exactly "easier"

I had a vagina birth with a 5lb baby. I had an operation 18 months later to repair my vagina due to scar tissue making sex impossible. The op was the best decision I have made. Thinking about ttc #2 and am definitely scared about it all the surgeons work being undone 😂

Oh and I’m not saying don’t have one, I had an emsc myself. I’ve scrubbed for 100s if not thousands of them so I know how much the procedure entails
I am not a midwife or obstetrician though so you need to discuss it all with them. I just want you to have a realistic expectation of the whole process.

What's the point in this thread op? Sounds like you've already decided.

My vaginal birth was preferable to cs. I believe CS messed with my milk coming and I had a hard time establishing breastfeeding. Vaginal birth is also better for the baby's immune system.

Wow, patronising? I think you’ll find that wasn’t the case. Just because you don’t want to hear it doesn’t mean it’s patronising.