Assisted natural birth or go straight for a C section?

[Ceasnake]

Hello ladies

I'm nearly 34 weeks up duff and finally having a think about birth plans. Could be a bit of a moot point as the baby is currently breech but I'm praying assuming he/she will turn the right way.

Anyway, do you think it's better (ie. less painful/damaging in the long term) to go straight for a C section, rather than have forceps/ventouse/episiotomy if the baby gets stuck/distressed? I dread the thought of opting for an assisted natural birth and then having to have a C section anyway, when it doesn't work. This is assuming the baby turns to a head-down position - if they stay breech I will be having a CS anyway.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Why are you assuming that a natural birth has a high risk of those interventions? Are you in the USA, with some stupid OP who insists that he has to do episiotomy on 90% of his clients, or something like that?
Most women recover better and faster from vaginal birth, even with one or more of those interventions.

There is no easy way to have a baby, so good luck.

I always thought that it was a case of positioning - sometimes the baby is too far down the birth canal for CS therefore foreceps/ventouse are the only option. Not sure though, hopefully someone else will come along who knows more.

I had foreceps and episiotomy after failed ventouse in my first delivery and the recovery was really quick. I was always grateful that I did not have a CS as I understand the recovery is far more painful, and restrictive (no lifting/driving etc).

Stop panicking! Hope everything goes well for you.

I disagree with CantSupinate, some people have a really easy time of things and can't wait to do it all over again. Other's have a bit of a rougher time and still can't wait to do it all again (me!). 21 months between mine, second birth was lovely and easy and I think 1st birth would have been too if I'd said no to induction and definitely not to an epidural.

My tip is, the less they interfere, the better things are for you and your baby. Natural births are the way forward, hope your baby turns and that you have an easy time of things - some people do!

I don't think you have a much of a choice in the matter. If your baby turns you wouldn't be given the option of a c-section anyway.

With luck, you will need neither

Whilst it is worth weighing up your preferences in advance, I think this is the kind of decision you can only make at the time.

FWIW, I declined forceps with DS when the ob said the likelihood of it being successful (in my specific situation) were 25%. The midwife was also standing behind him shaking her head saying "no don't do it...."

Michel Odent's The Caesarean suggests that a C/S is preferable to an assisted delivery. And also suggests various ways either can be avoided. It's worth a read.

A friend of mine was pushing for a while.When they suggested Forceps she said no thanks,please do a section so that's what happened.

I don't get this problem with trying for a vaginal birth and then having to have a section. If you go straight for a section you will have major surgery. If you try to have a vaginal birth first you might not need major surgery.

A baby presenting breech can be born vaginally and there are things you can do to try and turn the baby before then. You are only 34 weeks and a lot of moving is going to happen in the next few weeks.

The op is talking about if the baby is talking about if the baby is stuck or distressed - not elective c/s versus normal delivery

Thanks for your replies - so quick! Yes, as mazzystartled says, I'm not talking about natural birth vs. C section - I want as natural a birth as possible! I was just wondering IF intervention was required, whether it's better to just go straight for a section rather than bugger about with forceps etc and maybe not have that work and still end up with a section, if you see what I mean.

Perhaps I should have left out the bit about the baby being breech - I'm not concerned about that as I'm sure he/she will turn and if not, well, I'm worry about that later.

Sorry, should have made it clear that I'm not looking for an elective C section, not at all. My preference is for a natural water birth in our local birthing centre but appreciate that I might not get that

I totally sympathise, I had the exact same fears before my first.

I think there is a big difference between the baby being 'just there' and needing a little help out versus rotational high forceps etc etc. At that stage it is possibly too late for the c section given the position of the baby (very low)

But a friend of mine was very keen to avoid a c section and in the end the doctor said I think we can get this baby out vaginally but its going to be hard. She had a massive episiotomy and forceps and 4th degree tears. She is still having problems a year later so in that situation I would personally want a c section.

Also I think it completely depends on the skill of the OB performing the instrumental delivery.