anyone have a vaginal birth and later wish they'd had a c-section?

[izzzie]

hello
i have a big fear of tearing and also of damaging my pelvic floor (already got problems in that department, though kegels are helping a lot.) and am considering elective c-section but am aware it's no picnic and would rather have a natural birth if I can get over these fears. I don't want to live to regret my decision, ie, go for a natural birth and end up a real mess and wishing i'd followed my instinct which is that a c-section might be better for me personally, despite all the downsides to it.
I was just wondering about other people's experiences - if you had a 3rd/4th degree tear, or if you are suffering from incontinence after birth, did you later really wish you'd had a c-section?
any advice/experiences gratefully received...i'm doing a lot of reading and researching..

Hi izzzie, my DS1 was 10lb 10oz and no-one had predicted his big size. Even when I was in labour, the midwife looked at my bump and said 'Yep I reckon a 7 pounder, you'll have no problems', her face when I gave birth. Anyway, they weren't expecting a big baby and thus I delivered lying on my back (he was also posterior/back to back) which can make you tear more easily. SO I had the ultimate recipe for a nasty tear, 1) Big Baby, 2) Posterior Baby, 3) Delivering on my back. Needless to say I TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE badly.

Now I can honestly honestly say that I didn't even feel myself tearing, honestly not just saying that! The worst bit was being stitched up, well actually the worst bit was being wiped with some sort of antiseptic wipe, after a few local anaesthetic injections I didn't feel a thing.

Recovery - No pain at all. I was a bit nervous about going to the loo, but no problems. No problems with pelvic floor or incontinence etc. All you can see now is a thin scar, everything is (a hum) as tidy as it ever was pre birth

HTH

I haven't had a natural birth myself but really want one this time, mainly because c-section recovery is no picnic. My scar was painful for quite a long time and I was on strong painkillers for at least 3 days. Remember that you cannot drive for some time after a c-section and it can be difficult to lift things, including your baby.

I have two friends who have had both types of birth and both said that the natural birth was far preferable, mainly because the recovery time is so quick. One suffered occasional incontinence (when sneezing, jumping, etc..) but that sorted itself out once she started doing regular pelvic floor
exercises.

However, if you have done your research and know all the downsides and risks associated with a c-section and still feel strongly that you want one, then go for it. Mother's instints should be trusted!!

Just my 2p, hope it helps!

I had an emergency cs with my first (after 40 hours of labor) and a vbac with my second. I had what is considered a small amount of tearing (around 15 stiches). 4+ year later I still have trouble from it and don't have any trouble from my cs scar. If I had it to do all over again I would have had an elective cs for both. However, I do think age has something to do with it to. I was 37 and 39 when I had my two children. I too did a lot of research about cs and vbac. However, I was never able to find studies that looked at the risks in relation to age and I think that that's a hugely important factor. Clearly older mother's have more complications during birth, which has to make the relative risks of cs more equal to vaginal birth. Also, I don't think that you can ignore the huge shortage of midwives in the UK and therefore the chances of being neglected during labor. In theory it's less likely to be neglected during an elective cs because it's considered a more risky procedure. (Although I was neglected during my emergency cs).

I wanted an elective section for the same reasons as you, I actually ended up with am em c section at 32 weeks! I had really very little pain from my section but did have a massive wound dehiscence and had to have a suction drain in for 4 weeks!

Having said that I would be happy to have another section again, I feel that I had a bad time but it was ok and it got over in a few weeks iyswim whereas conbtinence problems are long-term and I don't feel that I could risk them.

oh yes...

I have had two "natural" births (to two large boys), involving epidurals, forceps, ventouse, two episiotomies and one second degree tear.
The second birth was the one involving the cut and tear in which the medical staff were neglectful and I was left pushing for far too long.
In the long term, I have suffered no lasting damage to my pelvic floor.
However I'm now pregnant with number 3 (an even bigger baby apparently) and am booked in for a c/s for two reasons. Firstly, for the baby's sake as my last baby got in trouble towards the end.
Secondly, my pelvic floor. I feel it's extremely unlikely that I will be able to get a large baby out without either a cut or tear or both and I just don't know how my pelvic floor will cope with this. I don't want any long term incontinence issues.
Having said that, I am also far from thrilled about the prospect of a c/s especially after reading a few of the posts here! It clearly does take longer to recover, there are potential long term side affects and it won't be easy to give myself time to recover alongside looking after two older children.
Overall, I'm going to stick with my elective c/s which is at least better than an emergency c/s. I have spoken to all my friends who have had c/s and they have all been positive.
It's not an easy or simple choice either way so goodness knows where "too posh to push came from".

I've posted on your other thread izzzie.

re pelvic floor...being pregnant in itself affects your pelvic floor,obviously birth has an impact , but you simply being pregnant will affect it

pelvoc floor excercises, water birth, and squatting, standing or kneeling positions for birth can all help reduce trauma to the pelvic floor and perineum

great you are looking into this all and making sure you are clear as you can be before term !

thanks for the advice and experiences! feeling a bit more positive about giving it a go naturally now! looking forward to talking it all over with my doula next week..