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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

C Section or natural birth with weak bowel pelvic floor

56 replies

SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 14:34

Hi I'm writing this post to see if others have been in a similar situation to myself, I suffer from weak bowel pelvic floor muscles and sometimes have incontinence and lose bowels and can be on the toilet for like 20 times a day, Been like this for a good few years now and been seeing hospital specialty teams.
My pelvic floor surgeon doctor is recommending I have a c section Birth to prevent maybe making my bowel issues worse or risk tearing as I could be having a tall/ big baby. My husband is a bit concerned about me having a c section though and says what if the c section makes my bowels worse?
so I'm trying to see if any ladys have a condition like mine and have had a natural birth or a c section birth?

OP posts:
Babdoc · 18/03/2023 16:13

How exactly does your DH think a C section is going to have any effect on your bowel? As opposed to straining, pushing, and potentially tearing your perineum during a vaginal delivery?

WooWooWinnie · 18/03/2023 16:14

Usually I am an advocate for natural birth but in your position I would have a C-section.

Ciaonow · 18/03/2023 16:14

Listen to your doctor not your husband

Someo · 18/03/2023 16:16

Go for the section.

I'm having a ceserean after 3 vaginal births due to an injury from childbirth.

It's not worth the risk.

Original poster
SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 17:21

Babdoc · 18/03/2023 16:13

How exactly does your DH think a C section is going to have any effect on your bowel? As opposed to straining, pushing, and potentially tearing your perineum during a vaginal delivery?

Hi thanks for responding im not to sure he hasn't really said, I think he was just thinking what if it could make them still bad.

OP posts:
Original poster
SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 17:21

Someo · 18/03/2023 16:16

Go for the section.

I'm having a ceserean after 3 vaginal births due to an injury from childbirth.

It's not worth the risk.

Thank you, and wish you the best of luck with yours, and yes lots to consider x

OP posts:
Original poster
SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 17:22

Ciaonow · 18/03/2023 16:14

Listen to your doctor not your husband

thanks made me laugh but your right

OP posts:
Original poster
SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 17:23

WooWooWinnie · 18/03/2023 16:14

Usually I am an advocate for natural birth but in your position I would have a C-section.

Thanks and yes if i can i try to be natural in stuff, I'm not on any medication for my condition as nothing works for me so just have to be monitored

OP posts:
Xrays · 18/03/2023 17:51

Section. I had a section after a difficult vaginal birth with my first and it was amazing. The recovery was 1000 times easier, and at least I could sit comfortably. I still had complications during my section - they found I had undiagnosed placenta issues and I bled a lot (2.5 litres) but even so I’d opt for a section any day, especially with your issues.

Original poster
SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 21:58

Someo · 18/03/2023 16:16

Go for the section.

I'm having a ceserean after 3 vaginal births due to an injury from childbirth.

It's not worth the risk.

Thanks i will hopefully speak to more docs soon and see what they say aswell

OP posts:
SRK16 · 18/03/2023 22:03

I have pelvic floor dysfunction which has led to a lot of toileting urgency. For that reason it was recommended by a few professionals that when I have children to have a section. I did go for a section and no regrets. Your pelvic floor is inevitably affected by the weight of carrying a child for nine months, so you may notice an increase in symptoms post birth but for me this cleared up and I’m back to how I was before having my child. For me a section felt much less risky.

Original poster
SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 22:18

SRK16 · 18/03/2023 22:03

I have pelvic floor dysfunction which has led to a lot of toileting urgency. For that reason it was recommended by a few professionals that when I have children to have a section. I did go for a section and no regrets. Your pelvic floor is inevitably affected by the weight of carrying a child for nine months, so you may notice an increase in symptoms post birth but for me this cleared up and I’m back to how I was before having my child. For me a section felt much less risky.

Hi Did you have your pelvic floor issues before pregnancy?

Thank you for the very informative posts, I have been under gastro care since I was 18 I'm now 33 and last 2 years been under a pelvic floor specialist and seeing a top surgeon, without being to graphic I only suffer with incontinence of the bowel now the vagina, I have had accidents when out in public and have no muscles in the rectum to squeeze or hold the poo, this is why the pelvic floor doctor yesterday mention a c section could be in my best interests to stop my bowels getting more worse as I don't always have accidents outside the house, and they also said if my bowels did get worse I could end up with a bag for my bowels but this could happen outside of pregnancy, I also have a whole in my anus and also suffer with anal fissures and bleeding from the rectum. (I'm also based in the UK) I would love a natural birth if possible as I hate pain and do try to be as natural as possible, but I don't want to put mine or my baby health at risk either, lots to think about

did you have any issues with constipation after as my doctor yesterday was saying it maybe not good for me to take laxatives after?

OP posts:
purpledalmation · 18/03/2023 22:26

The level of pelvic injuries following childbirth is unacceptably high. Do what you dr says.

purpledalmation · 18/03/2023 22:28

If you think a 'natural' birth for a first child is likely to be less pain, go speak to some new mothers. The ones who've not had time to gloss over the whole awful experience

Twizbe · 18/03/2023 22:30

There's no right or wrong answer here and the important thing to remember is that you have a choice.

Look up something called BRIAN. It's a decision making tool that's really useful for birth choices. It won't tell you what to do but could help to organise your thoughts somewhat.

It's also worth asking your doctors questions. When they say something increases your risk, what does that mean. Increasing from 1 to 2% chance of something happening is different to going from 1 to 80%.

None of us on here can tell you what to do, we're not you. So get all the info from the doctors and go from there.

Original poster
SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 22:32

purpledalmation · 18/03/2023 22:26

The level of pelvic injuries following childbirth is unacceptably high. Do what you dr says.

Thank you so far only my pelvic floor doc has said this, need to talk to the rest

OP posts:
Original poster
SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 22:33

Twizbe · 18/03/2023 22:30

There's no right or wrong answer here and the important thing to remember is that you have a choice.

Look up something called BRIAN. It's a decision making tool that's really useful for birth choices. It won't tell you what to do but could help to organise your thoughts somewhat.

It's also worth asking your doctors questions. When they say something increases your risk, what does that mean. Increasing from 1 to 2% chance of something happening is different to going from 1 to 80%.

None of us on here can tell you what to do, we're not you. So get all the info from the doctors and go from there.

Thank you for responding and yes i need to discuss with more docs and see what they say, I think I'm just a bit scared with both options really with my bowel issues, he did say its what he recommended but was always my choice what I decided to do.

OP posts:
Jellycats4life · 18/03/2023 22:33

Absolutely go for the c section.

Original poster
SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 22:35

purpledalmation · 18/03/2023 22:28

If you think a 'natural' birth for a first child is likely to be less pain, go speak to some new mothers. The ones who've not had time to gloss over the whole awful experience

oh no i didnt mean it like that I think every birth will have pains/ risks I'm just not good at dealing with pain myself, I know when I was born I tore my mum as come out with my hand next to my head

OP posts:
Original poster
SnKcampbell · 18/03/2023 22:37

Jellycats4life · 18/03/2023 22:33

Absolutely go for the c section.

Thank you for responding, did you have a c section yourself and any bowel issues before pregnancy?

OP posts:
ComeTheFckOnBridget · 18/03/2023 23:00

C section, they're not advising this for sh*ts and giggles (no pun intended), but to save you from incontinence or worse.

Don't mess about, go with medical advice.

From someone advised the same.

FlutterShite · 18/03/2023 23:10

My pelvic floor and bowel control were top-class until after I had a natural birth and now they're wrecked. Only you can decide what to do, though.

Luredbyapomegranate · 18/03/2023 23:21

It sounds like you absolutely should have a section.

Get a second medical opinion if you want, but not your husband’s.

DuckDuckNo · 18/03/2023 23:26

Go with the c-section. Total bowel incontinence would be horrid for your quality of life.

For what it's worth: I had a difficult c-section because of placenta accreta and I lost A LOT of blood. Ended up in the ICU, not because of the c-section itself but because of the attached placenta. Anyway just 10 days after that I was pushing my baby in the stroller and taking daily walks in my local parks with no issue. 2 weeks after my c-section I was back on my road bike (probably shouldn't have been, but anyway!)

Original poster
SnKcampbell · 19/03/2023 07:43

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 18/03/2023 23:00

C section, they're not advising this for sh*ts and giggles (no pun intended), but to save you from incontinence or worse.

Don't mess about, go with medical advice.

From someone advised the same.

Thank you, and yes I need to speak to a few more docs so far only had this mentioned by my pelvic floor doctor, did you have bowel issues before pregnancy?

OP posts: