Pros and cons? C section and vaginal

[boymummys]

Just trying to add up what the pros and cons are from people who actually went threw either of these births. I've seen a couple of treads that vaginal birth cons are not spoken about enough?

What would you opt for.

Asking as I had a vaginal birth five years ago. Wasn't straight forward but wasn't the worst either. Ended up with second degree tear, and episiotomy but healed well and fast, after a very very long labour.

Midwife has said to me today I could have an elective c section if I wanted but not something I was planning on doing as my first still needs to get to school and I need to drive there 😩

Think I Just want to know what you had? And if you thought that was the best decision for you

Well a C Section is a major operation, where as a vaginal birth isn't.

I can't see anyone being able to make that decision for you at all.

I had a third degree tear and episiotomy with my first. Just a graze with my second. I'm due my third any day and happy and hoping for a vaginal birth again. I wouldn't opt for a major operation without a necessary medical need. Especially if You have other children as recovery time is likely to be longer than for a straightforward vaginal birth.

@whosaidtha

I had a third degree tear and episiotomy with my first. Just a graze with my second. I'm due my third any day and happy and hoping for a vaginal birth again. I wouldn't opt for a major operation without a necessary medical need. Especially if You have other children as recovery time is likely to be longer than for a straightforward vaginal birth.

Thank you, I wasn't planning on it tbh I refused induction with my first also as it was medically needed they just assumed baby was big and he wasn't.

Just came back from midwife who said my episiotomy scare wouldn't stretch and that it may be best to have c section, something I've always said I won't have unless medically needed. She then went on to say there's risks with vaginal birth and that I should read up both options hence why I came here.

I healed absolutely fine after my first, was back driving straight away out walking the next day. But as I've only got five weeks left I feel her comments today was not needed, something about " prolapse" I couldn't even take it all in and just left. I feel like she was trying to make me opt for c section hence me asking for cons of vaginal birth.

I have had 3 c sections unfortunately. Only the 3rd was by choice, well I had no choice as was not allowed a VBAC after 2 c sections.

So major abdominal surgery with risks of infections, increased risk of blood clots, the need to take daily heparin injections after to reduce risk of blood clots. I had to do this for 6 weeks each time but I think for more routine cases it's 1 week. I am unsure what the advise is now about mobilising after a c section but my last one I was not allowed to walk around for 12 hours. I did go in a wheelchair to see my baby in SCBU though, so I did get up. The wound is painful. But I imagine a tear is very painful too! You cannot lift anything heavy for 6 weeks until your muscles heal. This is tough after having a baby, especially if you also have another child too! I did get an infection to my wound after my 2nd c sections so was on antibiotics. If you have an elective c section and are breastfeeding it can take time for your milk to come in as there would be no labour.

To be fair though my own experience of all 3, was the first I recovered from pretty well, the 2nd was ok but the 3rd took a lot longer to recover. For me if I could choose I would always opt for a vaginal. But I imagine some people would say the total opposite!

The advantage you have having had a vaginal delivery already is that your body knows what to do and has gone through it already. So 2nd labours and births generally, not always, but mostly, tend to be easier.

I had a c section due to medical reasons and honestly it wasn't that bad. Painful for the first 24 hours but after 48 hours I didn't even need pain meds. My milk coming in and the blocked ducts and engorgement was far far more painful for me.

What swung it for me (vbac or 2nd c-section), was that the c-section was a known risk. I knew what I would be dealing with. I knew the recovery was harder than a straightforward vaginal birth but easier than a bad vaginal birth. I knew what I would be facing and could mentally prepare for it. For me it was absolutely the right decision and I don't regret it at all

DS1 was born by ventouse and I had a third degree tear with which required a lot of stitching and a bit of physio (and an exciting follow up appointment where they inflated a balloon up my bum!) and I was advised that it would be better if any further births were via c section. When I was pregnant with DS and his due date approached I realised I was really worried about that kind of surgery with the potential risks to my baby as well as me, and recovery times, so I saw my consultant who was lovely and told me he saw no reason why I couldn't have a vaginal delivery. DS2 was born in the midwife led unit in the pool. I'm afraid I did tear quite badly again but I recovered quickly and have no regrets.

@Ganymedemoon I'm sorry your recovery was a long one.

I always said I won't ever have one unless needed, and I very nearly needed to with my first. After 27 hours of labour, it was episiotomy (refused at first tried to keep pushing) but his heart rate dropped and he was distressed then I accepted.

But this midwife seems to think it wont be as easy this time around due to scar tissue? I didn't even realise I had tore until I was told.

I healed well, and have told her this. I've also heard second labour is a lot easier and faster ( some cases anyway) So hadn't even thought of a section untill mentioned today?

She's also picked up on protein and glucose in my urine but has said if it's the same next time I see her (37 weeks) she will then send me for full glucose test? Not sure if there's even much point at that point in pregnancy

Thank you everyone for your replies, I just feel like she's trying to scare me out of a natural birth, ( not sure why she would ) she also kept saying baby will be huge he's measuring 95 centile had a scan at 32 weeks and he was 4 lbs 1 oz (31st centile) So not large at all. I mentioned this to her today and she still thinks he could be a big baby.

I was lucky to escape major lifelong complications with vaginal birth as i had third degree tear. I am definitely having a c section with 2nd as not risking damage when i escaped first time. Dh will be off work for 4 weeka on pat leave so that solves the driving issue for most part and taking DD who is 4 to school. Its a known risk, and i'm looking forward to the actual run up and birth being much calmer hopefully. Plus will knock 1 week off the pregnancy as csection will be at 39 weeks so extra bonus of not hqving to endure the awful last week, or risk going overdue

[quote boymummys]@Ganymedemoon I'm sorry your recovery was a long one.

I always said I won't ever have one unless needed, and I very nearly needed to with my first. After 27 hours of labour, it was episiotomy (refused at first tried to keep pushing) but his heart rate dropped and he was distressed then I accepted.

But this midwife seems to think it wont be as easy this time around due to scar tissue? I didn't even realise I had tore until I was told.

I healed well, and have told her this. I've also heard second labour is a lot easier and faster ( some cases anyway) So hadn't even thought of a section untill mentioned today?

She's also picked up on protein and glucose in my urine but has said if it's the same next time I see her (37 weeks) she will then send me for full glucose test? Not sure if there's even much point at that point in pregnancy

Thank you everyone for your replies, I just feel like she's trying to scare me out of a natural birth, ( not sure why she would ) she also kept saying baby will be huge he's measuring 95 centile had a scan at 32 weeks and he was 4 lbs 1 oz (31st centile) So not large at all. I mentioned this to her today and she still thinks he could be a big baby.
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Hmmm I have no experience of vaginal tears obviously. Maybe it would be good to find women who have had 2nd degree tears followed by another V delivery or c section? As it's very specific.

Tbh it depends where you are in the UK but most midwives don't push for a c section unless they think there's a pretty good reason to consider one.

@Lazypuppy I don't even blame you, the drag at the end of pregnancy is a long one. Lucky I gave birth on my due date with first.

So anytime after 37 weeks with this one is good for me.

@Ganymedemoon no I know, with my first midwives we're amazing. Got everything set in place, but I've moved since having my first to a different area so different set of midwives. She seems to be pushing for something I generally don't need or want

Thank you for all your help

I had the most traumatic vaginal birth. Couldn't bond with baby, horrendous PPD etc etc.

Chose to have an elective section for DS2. Read lots of horror stories. Most plain sailing birthing experience. 5 months later and I'm a bit pissed off about the c section pouch which doesn't seem to want to go away. But recovery was fine and I didn't have to labour!

I'm a real c section advocate now 😆

I had two vaginal births - both ventouse deliveries, tore both times, no episiotomies followed by an emergency c-section.

My tears were fine - I had stitches both times but honestly couldn't even tell you where I tore as I didn't feel it at all, either during or after.

C-section recovery was fine. I was up walking around after 12 hours and stayed mobile as much as possible, didn't struggle with any real pain. I was worried I'd struggle to get up at night and deal with baby as I'd heard lots of people say this but it was fine. Didn't really need any pain meds and generally felt fine as long as I didn't overdo it (pushed a trolley around Tesco 2 weeks later which was probably a stretch too far). Did get an infection in my wound but a trip to the drs sorted it out.

Just read that back and now wondering if I have a really high pain threshold 🤣

I had a 3rd degree tear with my first; it healed well and I had no particular issues but I was very worried about it happening again. Medically I was told a c section wasn't necessary for my second, but I chose to have an elective as I wanted a different birth experience (first was quite traumatic for reasons unrelated to my tear!). My c section went really well, and although recovery was a bit slow (couldn't sit up out of bed for weeks - had to do a ridiculous sort of side roll ) it all went well and I was back driving after 6 weeks. Obviously it is a major abdominal surgery so not to be taken lightly, but for me it was definitely the right decision. My scar is tiny and has mostly disappeared, and although I did have the horrible pouch above my scar for about a year it has gradually receded and I think physically I've returned to how I was pre-birth (it probably took a full year, although initial healing/recovery to the point of being able to do normal activities was much faster than this!)

I had an c-section, it was elective due to medical reasons, but I went into labour so the baby had to come out earlier, so wasn’t quite an emergency. It was amazing, so calm, the best experience of my life. Was out in under 24hrs, walking around the park on the third day, no problems lifting my baby. My baby latched on immediately in the operating room and we had skin to skin up until I was discharged. Even if I didn’t have to have one again, I would definitely choose to!

@silkypillows wouldn't worry I didn't have a c section and still have a pouch😂😂😂

@CornishGem1975 it definitely sounds like you do haha, although I didn't feel my tear and tbh didn't know I did until mentioned to me afterwards. I didn't have any pain relief during labour by the time I was begging for epidural I was already 10cm. They did however give me two paracetamol 15 hours before I delivered him though 😂

Everyone's birth story's are so different and I love hearing what was best for you and baby🥰

For me I think I'll be going for vaginal again as it's just easier for me driving little one to school and back, and faster recovery. Hopefully there are no problems along the way.

It's the trying to wee after that was the most painful, also the fake labour pains a couple of days later, also heard these get worse each time you have a baby 😩

It wasn't much fun going for a wee after a c-section @boymummys as you've had a catheter in and they won't let you go until you've proved you can wee normally. It's weird the first time, and then there is the trapped wind which seems to manifest itself in your shoulders....and even pooping I was so constipated and it was as difficult as when I had vaginal births - I was scared as I going to pop open!

I've had two c-sections (one emergency, one elective) and have recovered well from both. Was driving after 3 weeks with DS2.

Your midwife is correct in that the risks of vaginal birth when compared to a c-section are generally not discussed with women and, in my view, they should be.

I definitely recovered more quickly from my sections than people I know who had difficult vaginal births. I appreciate though that everyone's experience will be different.

The RCOG guidance is generally helpful, it might be worth having a look? Best of luck whatever you decide.

I had a C-section with my second after a traumatic first birth.
I will say that the csection was definitely the right choice for me and I was able to walk easily, I would not have been able to drive straight away though. I've been ready to drive for maybe a week now and he is almost 6 weeks, I do know that some people are ready earlier but it is major surgery.
I have recovered miles quicker from my csection than from my vaginal birth, mentally and physically.

I've had 5 vaginal births.
1st was 3rd degree tear and episiotomy (she was ventoused out back to back and induced at 42wks)
2,3,4 all second degree tears and ok labours ranging from 2-6hrs.
5 allegedly no stitches needed and 2hrs again. I say allegedly because it doesn't feel the same BUT I've also had 5 9lb+ babies so perhaps that's a given.

My trust only approved maternal choice CS last year so I wonder if that was why I wasn't offered one after my first. I saw a consultant but they said i had a less than 5% chance of tearing as badly again and I didn't know to question.

1, 3, 4 & 5 all induced. 1 & 3 at 42wks. 4 due to his size and 5 at 41wks because of my age.

Just to add I drove at 2 weeks as I felt fine, I felt fine earlier to be honest but thought best to be safe.

I had a second degree tear with my first and then episiotomy with my second! I did have a partial prolapse with my second though but I'm not sure if a c section would have avoided that or not as I'm very small so the pressure of the baby may have caused that either way.

If you've had a vaginal birth before then hopefully it should all be straightforward for you. My second was extremely quick, I didn't believe how fast the second would be but I understand now!

Good luck whatever you decide 🙂