csection or natural - Advice needed by ladies that have had both

[lgmum2b]

Hi Ladies,
I'm 36+6 days and on Thursday bubs moved from head down where she had been for weeks into breech position.

So things have taken a definite twist.
I absolutely expect to have an epidural as I have a low pain threshold.
However I need your help in deciding whether to do the exercises to try and move her whether I should be thankful for the opportunity to have a a section which would be covered on our private medical insurance.

Here's why I can't quite make up my mind:

I have the following anxieties related to a natural delivery rated 1 low - 5 Severe

Natural
Epidural - 4
Potential Tearing - 5
Piles - 5
Requiring Vontuse - 5
Requiring Forceps - 5
Stiches - 5
Long term ramifications of any of the above -5

C Section
Epidural - 4
Post Surgery Discomfort - 3.5
Longer recovery - 3-4
Scar - 3 -4

So ladies who have experienced both a csection and a natural labour please share your honest views about which experience you preferred and why.

Probably better for those who had planned and not emergency sections.

Help me decide what to do.
Thank you!
Lou

I know from friends the sort of problems a traumatic v delivery can leave you with. I've had two planned c sections. My situation is not typical - but it could happen to anyone I guess. Don't want to scare anyone, but if you want to know see my thread in pregnancy 'Gyne wants to sterilise me after high risk csection'.

I can't say what I would do in your situation. I was strongly advised to have a cs due to other surgery that meant a natural birth would leave me with permanent health problems. But not sure what I would do now, if I could have had the choice - I now what I know/have experienced. Hope this is helpful. Good luck.

Well I have had both, your gonna love this cause I've had pretty much all your concerns:
DD1: induced, epidural only half worked, ventuse, epistomy, vaccum, stitches.
DD2: elective cs for breech which became an emergency cs when I went into labour a few hours before my cs was due.
So I'm pregnant with no 3 and to be honest I couldn't tell you what I would choose if I had the choice, I wouldn't say either of my births were traumatic, both were painful in their own ways, I think at this stage I'll be ready for anything so bring it on.........,,actually, scratch that, I'm still terrified!

lgmum2b, I have had both although my c-section was emergency rather than chosen and was my first birth. It was traumatic because it was an emergency and as I did not have time for epidural etc to be put in I was put under for the birth. I found the most annoying thing about the c-section (other than missing the actual birth of my first) was the healing time afterwards, I couldn't drive for 6 weeks or do much else for the first few weeks (eg hoovering, lugging shopping around, even walking for first week). I, however, had no help other than my dp who had, I think about the first 7-10 days off and then I was left to it. It has never been an experience I want to repeat.
I have gone on to have 2 further natural births and now 30 weeks pregnant with 4th.
My second was a bit of a struggle to get out, involving me having and episiotomy, ventouse and then forceps. Believe me, I was so glad to get her out without having to have an epidural (just don't like the thought of it) or another c-section that I honestly cannot remember any trauma with any of that. HOWEVER, the stitches were not pleasant and I was truly surprised how painful they were, involved me sitting on a rubber ring for first 7 days!!
Luckily, third was just plain, straight forward birth, no epidural, just gas and air. I'm ordering that for this next birth too .
I think things do depend on how much help you will have AFTER the birth too. A c-section would have been probably more bearable if I had had a very helpful mother or mother-in-law living very close who could have helped with getting some meals in or, even better, cooking for me!!! Helped with the washing, let me have a little sleep here and there. Do you have that help?

I don't envy your choice but if I were you I would try all the exercises to try and move her. I can't remember the stats but I think even with doing the exercises the odds are probably still on that she will stay breech and then the decision is out of your hands.

Hi I've had a emergency c section and a natural were they cut me, I'm now 22weeks pregnant again and trying for a natural.
My reasons are, being handed your baby is amazing and your up and about and back to normal so quick.

You don't know what's gonna happen in labour and I think that's what's so scary but its also amazing. I think everyone should give it ago because you will be amazed how your body copes but if you have to have a c section then its no big deal as long as your baby is healthy.

Good luck. X

I have had one natural (requiring ventouse) one emergency CS and one planned CS.

The planned CS was definitely the best experience, although not entirely stress free, it's still a major procedure, but my recovery was fairly easy and not particularly painful. I was able to breastfeed within 30 minutes.

The recovery from the emergency cs was much harder, stitches were sore for quite a long time. I don't know if that was more to do with it being my first cs, rather than because it was an emergency. Also probably because I felt much worse afterwards having had a major haemorrage.

The ventouse experience was pretty nasty. On the face of it the recovery was easier as I was up and about straight away, but the episiotomy site was painful for about 10 months.

To be honest, childbirth was not a lot of laughs for me, but some people seem to make a better fist of it - you might be one of these people that just pops them out easily.

I think if it was me, and my first baby, I would have tried to turn the baby. But it does sound like you have a lot of anxiety about trying for a natural delivery, infact
sounds like you're quite anxious about the birth in general. Good luck and hope it goes well.

I had an elective for ds1 who was breech.

And a VBAC for ds2 who turned from breech to head down at 37 weeks. I had a tiny episiotomy and forceps as ds2's heartbeat was very slow.

The VBAC was by far and away the better of the two experiences for me. If I hadn't been on crutches (broke my ankle in late pregnancy) then I would have been up and about in a couple of days compared to feeling like a truck hit me for the first 8 weeks with ds1.

Good luck.

Igmum, here is my tuppence worth:

I had 4 deliveries:
DS1 - 15 days overdue, induced, epidural (which worked like a dream), predictably contractions slowed down, synto drip, delivered him, tiny tear only, some stitches. Overall good delivery, no dramas during or after.

DS2 - emCS at 31 weeks due to placenta praevia. I had been in hospital for 5 weeks at this point and worry for his wellbeing overrode any feelings I might have had about having a CS. However, again, an ok experience (spinal was weird though ) - and boyo was ok in the end, so all good.

However DS3 and DS4 were successful VBACs and if I ever were to do it again (I am NOT, BTW ), then their deliveries would be what I'd aim for again: labour started itself both times, had a bath at home, went to hospital when I felt I needed painrelief, loved G+A, both babies born without fuss.

Main difference between my first 2 'medicalised' births and the last 2: The RUSH, OMG, never felt such a high (well, I do have absolutely no experience in recreational drugs ). And of course the physical recovery is so fast after a straightforward VB.

It was hard to go home after a CS and have another baby to look after (DS1 was only 12 months when DS2 came along). I know you will not have another, but you will need recovery after abdominal surgery - have you got help lined up/freezer full of food/friends on a rota to come and help ?

Given the choice, VB everytime, although my experience of a very calm 'emergency'CS was a good one too. I have no personal experience of forceps or ventouse.

Also consider the fact that you may want to go on to have further children and if you have had a CS, chances of further operative births are much higher.

Get thee onto the 'Spinning Babies' (goodle it) website - very very best of luck whatever happens. At the end of the day, how a baby arrives in this world is only the very very start of a much longer journey.

hi pacific. how are you doing?

My c section was an emergency one but thought I would give you my two penneth worth anyway

Natural
Epidural - 4 I believe you are more likely to need forceps if you have an epidural
Potential Tearing - 5 I tore but it was my own fault as I was pushing when they told me not to (impatient Giddyup)
Piles - 5
Requiring Vontuse - 5
Requiring Forceps - 5
Stiches - 5 They dissolved them selves and were pretty OK
Long term ramifications of any of the above -5- No long term issues for me from vaginal birth

C Section
Epidural - 4 I had a spinal block, is this the same? it was agony having it put in, but I was contracting hard at the time and I guess you wouldn't be
Post Surgery Discomfort - 3.5 This was surprisingly fine
Longer recovery - 3-4 It was really frustrating not being allowed to do much, I had to stop myself carrying on as usual when a midwife explained doing too much now may cause damage that wouldn't become apparent until I had some sort of prolapse aged about 40!
Scar - 3 -4 DD is 12 weeks now and I am pretty happy with the scar, it is fading all the time and in a place that only myself and DP will ever see. It is smaller than I expected too.

Over all my c section was fine as was my vaginal birth and it made sure DD was delivered safely but it is better for babies to be born vaginally, it helps their lungs.

Op and mawbroon, I think I'm fine, but apparently I cannot spell the word 'google' ....