C section vs natural birth, who's done both?

[BridgetCleaver]

If you've done both, which did you prefer and why?
I'm 28 weeks pregnant and always ruled out a c section but starting to consider it a little bit. A lot of people who've only done one seem to be evangelists of one or the other so looking for a balanced opinion

I have done both (first baby was breech). I prefer vaginal birth. The recovery was easier for me and I hate the c section scar too

I had an emergency c section with my first baby after an induction for high blood pressure. I think a planned CS would be lovely but I found the whole thing traumatising as an emergency. I did loose 4L of blood, got septic and ended up in ICU 😳

I had a vaginal delivery with my 2nd DD. Ended up with a 4th degree tear but it healed really well and found it very positive!

currently 40 weeks with my 3rd. Opted for a VD but if I don’t go into labour naturally I have said no induction and I’d rather a scheduled CS!

I’ve had an ELCS, recovery was rubbish tbh. I don’t like being out of action and even getting out of bed or off the sofa was painful. Hoping for a VBAC this time but if it means induction I’ll be opting for another c section.

Vaginal birth with an epidural was the most wonder experience for me. Couldn’t even feel the baby crowning and I was afraid of birth xx

I found vaginal birth much easier and quicker to recover from. My second baby was an EMCS and I was really quite unwell afterwards with an unspecified infection that they couldn’t pinpoint. Struggled to sit up. Couldn’t lift my baby easily for the first week, and felt like it took ages to get back to normal. My pelvic floor was much worse after the CS as well! After the vaginal birth I was pretty much fine straight away.

I expect an ELCS is a bit different though.

I had a CS after 40 hours (yes!) of back to back labour and 2 failed epidurals. They called it "failure to progress" I got to 4cm. Felt like a complete failure. The recovery was awful, couldn't drive for weeks and reaching & lifting was a pain. My stitches split open twice and I got an infection and had to take two lors of antibiotics. I also found breastfeeding very difficult. It was a horrific experience overall. Maybe a planned CS would be better.

2 years later I had 2nd baby natural birth. I had done a hypnobirthing program which I think really helped. Used gas & air when things got really bad. Gave birth kneeling on the bed and felt amazing! Baby on my boob immediately so breastfeeding was much easier. Home the next day and so glad not to have a CS wound to deal with while looking after a newborn and a toddler!

I've had a great (necessary planned) CS with smooth recovery and a rubbish vaginal birth with complications. If I was doing it again I would still choose vaginal.

1st was "natural", induced labour, back to back and 32 hrs long. 4th degree tear. Took months to recover. Next 2 both Cs and an absolute piece of cake. Was driving in 10 days later. Was very careful but a much more positive experience after the 1st truly horrendous labour

Also had both here - first vaginal but very overdue, 36 hour labour, episiotomy, forceps etc, baby over 9kg and 3rd degree tear that still causes bladder and stool issues ( still on medication and physio 13 years later). Second was planned section (recommended by consultant) and so much easier to recover- no issues at all, after 3 weeks was perfect except not allowed drive. Would choose section on both now if I had known.
Seems like everyone’s story is different here so might not help your decision!

I had my first by planned-ish section. (I had severe pre eclampsia so it wasn't exactly elective but I had a couple of days notice so not really an emergency either.) Then 2nd and 3rd were vaginal births. They were all fine to be honest. I recovered well and fairly quickly from the section and it was all calm and controlled. I probably recovered quickest from the first vaginal birth, I bounced out of hospital next morning amazed by how well I felt. Third one was a really easy labour and birth but I had a retained placenta - it was stuck to the scar from my section and I lost quite a bit of blood which was a bit scary but I was ok within a week or so.
It's impossible to generalise though. A straightforward vaginal birth is probably "best" for most people but a planned section is probably usually preferable to a difficult vaginal birth or an emergency section. But unfortunately you can't predict how any birth can go.
One thing I would say about opting for a planned section is don't forget to look at longer term effects such as risks in future pregnancies. Nobody even discussed that with me. I don't think it would have changed my mind as I had a strong reason to have the section and it was the right decision at the time, but I never expected to find myself in an operating theatre 7 years later as a result. When I looked into it later I discovered that placental issues in later pregnancies are not that uncommon but I had never been told.

Had both. Couldn't face another natural birth which resulted in grade 3 tear so opted for section 2nd time round. Don't regret the decision.

I've had one vaginal birth, one emergency c section and one failed v bac induction that led to a c section. I preferred the vaginal birth hence why I tried for a v bac.

after my vaginal birth I was out walking with the pram the next day and although a little tender I was mostly fine. I hated the restriction after the c section it was mainly the first 10 days but I didn't like not being able to just do what I wanted freely

I've had a vaginal birth and an emergency C-section. Neither were particularly "natural" as they were both inductions with the drip.

10/10 would go for the vaginal birth every time. The C-section was fine, but it's so easy to over do things resulting in your recovery taking a step backwards. And don't get me started on wound infections....

I've had 1 planned CS and two VBACs. I would choose vaginal delivery every time. I had always read from posters about how lovely a planned CS was, the recovery was fine etc. The reality was totally different for me - I felt like I'd been hit by a truck! I then got a nasty wound infection which really set me back. I spent a lot of time worrying about how it might affect future pregnancies as I've always known I'd want at least 3 children. It took me a long time to feel normal again and a long time to get back to things like running etc.

By contrast I then had 2 straightforward water births (VBACs), and the recovery was really easy from both - no pain and was out walking the dogs the next day. It made such a massive difference, especially with other children to run around after. I will say I was really lucky as I didn't have any tearing and so I completely appreciate that it may have been a very different story if I'd had complications/interventions etc. I realise not everyone who has a vaginal birth is this lucky.

1 x emergency section followed by 2 x vaginal births. I don’t think I’d have a strong preference for either tbh. I had a bad infection after the section which delayed recovery but I also had ongoing issues with scar tissue from the episiotomy done in the first vaginal birth which were difficult to resolve.

I would say keep an open mind and don’t get fixated on having either. There are pros and cons to both and ultimately you can’t necessarily control what happens in labour.

I’ve done both. DC1 was vaginal and DC2 c-section.

DC1 was a low risk pregnancy and I did hypnobirthing and also had a doula. It was a life changing experience as I’d been so petrified of childbirth for pretty much my whole life so getting through it was nothing short of euphoric. I also used the birth pool which was a godsend (although I know not everyone likes it). DC1 was ultimately born via ventouse and I did need an episiotomy but it was fine in the long term.

DC2 was measuring very big despite no other factors like gestational diabetes. I had extra scans and they ultimately recommended either a c-section or an induction on the labour ward (so no birth pool) with a specialist midwife with experience of shoulder distoycia (which was a high risk with a baby of DC2’s size!). I went with the c-section and have zero regrets. By their nature, sections are a lot more medicalised and the ball really isn’t in your court for much of it. I did feel very safe though and whilst recovery was very painful I felt fully back on my feet about 8weeks post partum.

In brief, I’d take a vaginal birth over a c-section but a c-section over an induction. It also depends if you have a high risk / low risk pregnancy and what is best for the baby.

I had two vaginal births and one emergency C section for a cord prolapse.
i am deeply grateful for the C section , but definitely preferred a vaginal birth and I think due to the circumstances I found the idea of my C section scar quite traumatising for a while . The medical team was wonderful though, they really were.

I do agree with the above poster that if I was to be inducted again I would prefer a planned C section ; I am quite sure my cord prolapse occurred when my body overreacted to the induction . I do wonder if I would have had a 3rd straight forward vaginal birth if it hadn't been for the induction , and faster recovery rather than catheters for weeks etc. DS was resuscitated and I am deeply grateful he was ok .

I was in the same position you are…I think it’s just impossible to tell what’s ‘better’ because every birth is so different. You can struggle with a vaginal birth and have a terrible recovery and then have a c section recovery that’s a piece of cake (mine was), but then several people in my antenatal group really struggled with the c section recovery. The best advice I got - after weeks and weeks of trying to find the right answer because I’m a hugely analytic and head-based person - is to decide what you’re feeling more comfortable with and then roll with it.

I've given birth both ways. My natural labour was horrific, and was almost an emergency caesarean but in the end it was a ventouse delivery.

After that experience, I had an elective caesarean.

I'd take the vaginal birth any day of the week.

C-section recovery is no joke. I was completely unprepared for how hard it was.

I had two natural births and my third pregnancy was an emcs. As bad as i thought the natural births were they were way better than the emcs. Recovery time was much quicker and i just felt awful after the emcs. Im sure a planned cs would be less stressful though. Everyone recovers differently. If i had to make the choice again (i absolutely wont be though) vaginal birth definitely x

I've done both.
The process itself I preferred the CS. Recovery I preferred the vaginal birth, despite having stitches.