Im shocked at how many mums have said recently they found having a c-section so much better then natural vaginal delivery!!

[QueenofVenus]

A friend sparked off a conversation re her birth experience with her first - a long painful labour, pushing for almost 3 hours resulting in burst blood vessels, incontinence for months and loss of sensation in her 'downstairs bits' she had to have an emergency c-section with her dd2 a couple of months ago and said she has had no problems at all since, yes her incision site is sore, but she is healing well, has none of the problems she had with her first dd and she overall cant believe she feels c-sections are far more simple and easy! Does anyone feel like this?

I think a good vaginal delivery is obviously better than major surgery. But there is no guarantee of a straightforward delivery. I guess I'm a "who dares wins" kind of girl and fortunately had 2 'easy' VB's with no complications.

I can't speak much about vaginal births as ds was born by planned cs due to being footling breech.... however it sounds to me that too many labours are badly managed by overworked, overstretched staff.

My friend had an awful experience, baby was lying perfectly LOA, she went in to labour and had some bleeding so they said come in, even though her contractions weren't that close. She had been managing fine at home. When she came in she was put on monitoring for 6 hours lying on her back. As it was her first she was too shy to query it plus the MWs were so busy they just kept popping their heads around the door, nothing more. In that time she felt her baby turn back to back. She ended up with a failed ventouse, and a really brutal forceps (took two to pull her ds out, he broke his nose on the way out) and an extended episiotomy. She's had to have reconstructive surgery, she said it felt like she'd been gang raped up the arse to put a not to fine a point on it.

Now I know birth isn't meant to be pain free but she was left traumatised and terrified of giving birth again, to the extent that she doesn't want any more children. She feels totally that lying on a bed for 6 hours caused many of her problems (who knows? Maybe he'd have turned anyway) and that the staff weren't able to help her until it was too late and she got the horrible medicalised birth she didn't want.

No wonder an el cs seems a much more pleasant option (esp as I'd had one 5 months earlier and breezed through it).

I've had both csection and natural vaginal birth and yes, I found the csection far easier. For a start, you have an epidural which makes it painfree!

Maybe you have heard mums say that because the reason they have had a csection is either
a) it's an emergency which you could extrapo
late that something has gone wrong in labour and therefore of course they think the c-section is easier or

b) they are having an elective c-section because they had such a horrific VB the first time.

Having had an emergency CS and 2 VBAC, I can say that IME the method of delivery makes no difference - it's either a good birth experience or a bad one for any number of reasons.

Fortunately mine were all good.

I don't think it is surprising. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and birth can be deeply shocking. There are lots of things about an elcs that are quite attractive if you have had a tough time before.

I had a 36 hour labour and then emcs, so the worst of both worlds really.

My immediate reaction was that next time I would have a section. The emcs wasn't so bad, I seemed to recover ok, and the labour that went before was horrid.

But since then some problems caused by the cs have become apparent and so next time I would prefer a VB.

It's such an individual call though - there are upsides and downsides of both so it is about working out which set of risks- and benefits- are most acceptable.

I had a c-section by choice in March and it was honestly wonderful for myself and my beautiful baby. I've never had or would have a v-birth so cannot compare thank god but all I can say it that my c-section is something that I would do again and my scar is so small and has healed so well. The first few days it was sore but is so much better than the alternative! Phew! If I was going to have another child I would do the same.

Just to add a different twist to the mix....my emergency section under general anaethestic was a much better experience and easier to recover from than my elective section!

I had a horrid birth with a huge episiotomy that left me bedridden and crying in pain for three weeks post-partum. Problems bonding with baby. Problems with sex for six months.

ElCS two months ago was incredibly positive. Pain on Day 1 but only when I tried to move, and still very manageable. Day 2 much easier. I didn't take any painkillers after that and can easily say that I felt fine.

Had my first by CSection by choice as have never wanted a VB and never intend to have one. My CS was fantastic and I would definitely do it again. Quick recovery, scars not too bad, lovely calm delivery of my son which I thoroughly enjoyed.

loved my c/s...sorry

I've had one emergency CS and one natural birth.

The CS was way easier. Far less pain, faster recovery, less trauma during the actual birth etc.

Sorry went awol, computer been playing up. Just to clarify, i have had 3 children all by c-section, felt rather deprived of the whole vaginal birth experience etc, but having had this conversation with my friend at her surprise at how much easier her second birth experience was, even though she was (like many other mums) terrified at the thought of having to have a section, she was faced with one and she cant believe how much better and easier the whole experience was. I still believe if you can manage a natural, uncomplicated vaginal birth, then that has to better then any surgery/intervention. But from the many many mums that i have befriended over the years most of them will tell of horrendous vaginal birth experiences, and how they took ages recovering physically, emotionally etc. The ones who have had c-sections, there have only been a few that have said they had complications. Maybe it is just down to personal situations and experiences, but i do know of many women who say theyd rather have a c-section anyday, then go through the whole hell of hours of labour and pushing and tearing etc, one lady even said they feel vaginal births should be classed as torture and avoided at all costs! hmmmmm

i've had both, both good experiences i think. my preference was for a good vaginal birth over a good cs as the cs is actually quite horrible, like being mugged internally, very violent, much more than i could have imagined. i cried the whole time.

Message withdrawn

Leningrad - first section was elective due to baby's size. Lots of complications during the surgery which led to massive haemmorage (resulting in me going blind in one eye for a few hours!). Was absolutely whacked out for weeks, and baby didn't latch after the trauma so couldn't exclusively bf.

second time, went for VBAC at home. Had to fight to get it, but managed to have it under my terms. Unfortunately didn't progress past 6cm and baby started showing signs of distress, so ambulance called and underwent emergency section. Had to have GA as they couldn't site the spinal within the time limit. Woke up to have lovely baby, who latched on in recovery and has fed well since. was up & about that afternoon and home within 2 days. Most annoying & sore thing was my throat from where they put the tube in - it hurt and left me with a croaky voice for a few days.

So really was just an unlucky time with my elective, but I think it's nice for people to know that emergency sections aren't all bad!

Believe it.

I am the only person I know who has had a positive birth experience! All my friends who went natural had awful, traumatic experiences. My section was fabulous.

What is there not to understand about your friend's comment?

I had for VB and one elective LSCS, I was lucky and had the first four with no problems, no epidural though!! not through choice either lol and personally feel that every labour can be different. If you have a normal delivery with no complications, no assisted delivery ie forceps ect I personally feel that this was the better method of giving birth for me. No one can say that you will not need help and that you may end up with 3rd degree tear, bladder problems ect and lets face it its not called labour for nothing.But you get to go home 6 hours later and are mobil. But when you also weigh up the risks of a c section especially if there is no clinical reason for having one. Its a major operation, scar tissue adeshions which can cause trouble later on, there no driving for 6 weeks, scar tissue, adhesions, pain with scar and healing, but mainly for me was the lack of mobility espically if you have other children to look after. Yes you can escape the main problems of a pelvic floor shot to bits although the weight of pregnancy can still damage it and bladder, and no tears down below. I guess the main worry for all ladies is that there are no guarentees what will happen and I think that is the most frightening part.
I found my Lscs not very good but there are plenty of pros and cons for both and to be honest by the time I got to 36 weeks I was quite glad my daughter was coming out at 39w, if you had a bad experience before of VB or LSCS I would just be guided by your consultatnt/midwife if the chances are that you will end up in a c section again for medical reasons which they should explain then follow their advise and book an elective LSCS, VB ,or VBAC and remeber you can always change your mind.

I've had 6 babies....the first 5 were vag births and my last baby (he's 6 weeks old) was my first c section.

All I am saying is I'd NEVER choose a section. No way is it the easy option from my experience.