Considering C-Section, anyone out there with positive experience?

[PinkyPromise77]

I'm a FTM but I am a little older. I know that everyone tries to push for natural birth and that our bodies are made to do that but at 35 I am definitely not going to recover as quickly as I would if I gave birth at 25 and the bits down there may never get back to normal :) Having a friend who worked managing maternity ward in a private hospital constantly dealing with operations for women who had natural birth that destroyed their vjayjays... she said if she ever gets pregnant there is no way she is doing it naturally :) I felt slightly bullied by my midwife to opt for natural birth but I don't like the unknown, whether there will be birthing pool available that I wouldn't want to do it without, whether the private room my husband wanted to book for me to recover would be available etc and I want this fear to go away knowing exactly what is happening when. I know it may be silly... but I would love to hear from any positive c-section experiences if there are any :) xXx

Thanks @PasstheStarmix. It's medical reasons behind the labour being tough for them and ended up in both cases in EMCS. My midwife also is monitoring me for all those based on that medical history from them, hence comparing them :)

I've had 2 sections as I've always been terrified of vaginal birth. My first was amazing. Calm, straight forward. Up out of bed a few hours later and discharged the next day. So it was a bit of a shock when the second one didn't go so smoothly. The spinal failed and the epidural caused lots of blood loss. I very narrowly avoided a general anaesthetic in the end, and although I wouldn't go as far as describing it as pain it was very very uncomfortable and a scary experience as opposed to a calm one. I was in theatre for hours and the drugs they gave me made me feel very unwell.

However, I was up and moving around as soon as I was able (about 6 hours later) as I knew from my first that you feel better if you can get moving. I was discharged less than 24 hours after birth. Recovery absolutely brilliant both times.

On reflection, even though the second section was a horrible experience, it was still preferable to a vaginal birth (in my eyes, I appreciate not everyone would agree though).

As a pp said, you do only tend to hear positive c section stories and so I was shocked at my second experience. Good luck with your birth x

I had 2 sections. First an emergency after failed induction at 42+2 and second forced by consultant after the complications with the first.
I recovered well both times - however 13 years on I feel a bit cheated that I didn't get to experience a "natural" delivery.

I think it’s interesting to hear from those that have been through both VB and an elective c section. It’s easy to say oh I’d hate a c section if you’ve never experienced one and I’d hate a VB if you haven’t had one. I was guilty of this myself during my pregnancy. You can’t compare an emergency c section to a straight forward VB and vice versa.

It’s great your Midwife is monitoring you closely OP and that you still get a choice.

I’ve had 5 sections
First was emcs after days in labour but no progression.
Others elcs. A couple were a bit worrying as had other complications but all was fine
Not ruling out having one more due to th most recent going so well and the surgeon and consultant told me there was hardly any scar tissue and to leave it at least a year of I did
My recoveries with 1,2,4 were not easy but 3 and 5 no pain at all

Overall a positive c-section experience here I wanted an elective, I have fibro and hypermobility and had bad SPD, so either birth option could be really difficult to recover from. I just felt more confident with c-section, and didn't want to risk an emergency one when having already stressed my body out in natural labour. One consultant tried to put me off, but ultimately didn't argue and referred me.

In the end I had a semi-emergency c-section as my waters broke 2 days before my elective date! It was still very calm, the spinal did not hurt. The surgery itself is uncomfortable and a bit odd but not painful. I had very little pain from surgery afterwards - I was amazed at how little in fact! No infection, quick healing and can barely see scar due to its location (in 6 months postpartum). I was up and about quicker than anyone else in my NCT group also.

One downside is c-section babies can have excess fluid on lungs as it's not squeezed out and therefore have some breathing issues. Mine did, so I therefore didn't get to hold her, or even really see her before she went to special care. She came back to me about 4 hours later, she was absolutely fine and it didn't really take away from the experience, we still bonded and breastfed, just a bit later than expected.

I would like a 2nd baby in a couple of years time, and will definitely opt for a c-section again.

I think the most important thing is to be confident in your decision- if you are worried about vaginal delivery then you'll be stressed, and more likely to face problems. Good luck x

I'm 39 and had a vaginal birth. I took a while to heal as I was sewn up too tightly but I'm quite proud that I managed a vaginal birth (albeit with forceps) as I was on standby for a c section due to a neuromuscular condition.