1st baby, petrified! C section or natural?

[bethandgus]

Hi all!

I've done a lot of reading here and online about C sections and vaginal births.

My mum had a terrible birth with my older brother, which resulted in a prolapse and other incontinence issues.
My friends/other family members who gave birth vaginally generally had issues during and almost all afterwards.
This is making me lean towards a c section, but the midwives told me to have a really good think about it and then decide.

Would you change how you gave birth? Would you elect for a C section or just go with the flow?

Thanks in advance!

Glad you have made a decision! Birth rights website will have your hospital on it and you can view documents on it on the number of elective csections they perform for maternal request. They’re rated green, amber or red. I found the battle was more with the midwives being gatekeepers to the consultant appointment. Once I got to speak to a consultant it was fine

It depends on your situation (and wishes obviously).

As a first time mum, your chances of a caesarean, instrumental and spontaneous VB are all equal - a third each.

However your odds of needing a CS rise if you are older or have a high BMI.

If I was, for instance, a 40 year old first time mum with a BMI of 30, or carrying twins, it would be a no brainer - CS all the way.

I was 26, singleton baby and healthy BMI with DD so opted for VB.

I’d personally never opt for major abdominal surgery if I didn’t have to.
Ive had two uncomplicated vaginal births with no tears, first baby was over 10lb and pushed out nice and quickly, home within 2 hours and out visiting people the next day , second was a homebirth and was an amazing experience.
It’s like a bad meal, you tell everyone to avoid it but rarely leave a good review of the meal was fine.

I’m sorry to hear of previous commenters having to fight for a c-section. That isn’t my experience at all and I don’t think people should imply their experience is gospel. You wouldn’t necessarily have to fight for one and you can move hospitals anyway if yours won’t grant your wishes with regard to birth.

I had major worries about a natural birth due to family and friends having some awful problems during natural births which ended up with their babies being starved of oxygen and being disabled as a result, or of near misses.

It really freaked me out. I also get really bad migraines with stress and get temporary blindness and paralysis!

So I honoured my Consultant’s request and read about my birth options and decided to have an elective c-section. It was the most
magical experience of my life. The medics were incredible - it was such a warm, safe and happy experience and my gorgeous baby boy was on my chest 15 mins after the start of surgery. I was able to play my own music during the operation.

The recovery wasn’t bad. I was very fit at the time and was able to shower independently the same evening.

Not driving for a few weeks was no big deal - I wouldn’t have been off driving all over the place with a newborn anyway. Instead I enjoyed time in a bubble away from the world or went out with baby with my husband or my mum.

A friend of mine also had an incredible c-section experience. Another friend had two amazing home births with little pain relief.

It really is horses for courses but it you’re petrified you don’t have to put yourself through a natural birth. A section is obviously quicker and more of known entity.

I believe hypnobirth courses are really good if you want to consider a natural birth. I think that aims to empower women so you feel less scared about the birth.

I've given birth twice, once by emergency C-section and once vaginally.

I was lucky enough not to have any major complications with either.

C-section:

• It wasn't the way I wanted to give birth, I felt like it was something that was done to me rather than something I did myself
• I didn't get skin to skin with my baby straight away because the operating theatre was too cold
• I was knackered after a day in labour (not applicable if you have an ELCS)
• I found the recovery hard, an abdominal wound is no joke and it's a while before you can move around without pain
• it made my next labour more restrictive because having a scar increases the risk of uterine rupture
• I have a scar which is quite small and neat but I would still rather not have it

+ no labour pains if you have an ELCS + you can plan the day you give birth, no need to wonder when to go in + you'll most likely give birth at 39 weeks and get to skip the last 1-3 weeks of pregnancy, which are largely boring and uncomfortable + no risk of perineal tearing + reduced pelvic floor damage

Vaginal:

• felt like a massive achievement
• immediate skin to skin with my baby
• was up and walking around as soon as I was stitched up
• had a great epidural which took away the contraction pain but left me able to push
• on the whole, a much easier recovery

• had a minor tear requiring stitches, which healed well
• got a horrible attack of postpartum piles which were more painful than the contractions in early labour
• 12 hours of early labour before I got an epidural with some quite painful contractions
• need to do a bit of work on my pelvic floor