Should I have a c section?

[Dumbie]

Looking for experiences of a c section!
1st pregnancy had a 3rd degree tear (forceps as stressed baby) and 1.8l blood loss.
Consultant very clear that a c section is best at 39 weeks.
Mw says my body labour's fine and I could have a very different v birth experience (just avoid an induction and epidural)

Frankly, I'm super scared of a c section and recovery. But I'm also scared of another tear, recovery and potential incontinence (thanks consultant for the scare)

Has anyone not recovered from a c section? I don't care about scars or pouches, just anything life limiting. I've only read stories about a long recovery, nothing as bad as incontinence.

I had an emergency c section with my first after 27 hour labour and my sons head getting stuck in my pelvis. Got to full dilation and pushed for 3 hours before they realised! Im pregnant with my second and am undecided whether to have an elective c section or not. Like you, MW said my body labours fine and second time could be quicker and better (as better as labour can be!).
I cant compare it to a vaginal birth but I actually found recovery from the c section not too bad. The thing I struggled most with was the tiredness from the labour as I only had 3 hours sleep over 3 days. Obviously you wouldnt have that with an elective section as you would like to get a full nights sleep before the op!
Its hard when you cant get out of bed for almost 24 hours after until you get the feeling back from the waist down and also when you laugh and move in certain ways it can be a little sore. But you will be given sufficient pain meds to cope. The longer stay in hospital is actually better I think so that you have more help/support. After about a week I was out walking (gently). I could have drove with the go ahead from my GP before 6 weeks but I was happy to walk where I needed and take it easy at home. The scar is nothing, in fact they glued my wound and its barely noticeable.
My friend has had 2 sections and 1 natural and said recovery from sections were easier to cope with! A lady I work with had one section and one natural birth and said the same, section was easier recovered from.
You'll be fine! I know it can seem scary as its classed as major abdominal surgery but you will be in good hands.

2nd labours are often much shorter. Plus you might not tear at all? How have you recovered from your tear?

I had an elective CS at my request for DC2. DC1 was a ventouse birth with episiotomy and was a very protracted recovery. I developed a serious infection in my wound and had to be re-admitted to hospital.

I was absolutely clear from the start that I wanted a CS for DC2. I have a lot of scar tissue on my perineum and both the midwife and the consultant agreed that as scar tissue doesn’t stretch like normal tissue there was a good chance that I would tear or need an episiotomy again. I recovered far quicker from the CS than from my instrumental delivery and it was certainly the right choice for me. I hope you find a solution that you are happy with.

PS I don’t think the consultant is trying to scare you. I think s/he is giving you an honest assessment of the risks. NHS consultants are not quick to recommend CS unless it is medically indicated - I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get mine agreed.

I have had 3 sections. My first was an emergency - huge back to back baby, couldn't get him out. They tried ventouse and forceps - both failed. Horrible experience but recovered fine from section.

I have since had 2 electives. The last one was 7 days ago. Both very positive experiences, calm, immediate skin to skin. I am only 7 days post section but I am OK. Can go out for 15 min walks, do light housework etc. Taking paracetamol for the pain, which is fine. With DD I was back doing the 3.5 mile school run on foot 2 weeks after she arrived. The first few days after a section are sore and tough but then I recovered swiftly.

I've had both experiences and would bite their hand off for an elective c section.

Thanks! That's so helpful to know that a c section isn't as bad as a 3rd degree!
I recovered relatively OK from the tear. I have a weak pelvic floor but it's not noticeable unless I eat badly or do skipping :) but the first few weeks we're utter hell.
I also don't want to stay in hospital too long. I was in for 6 days with my first, admittedly 2 days were for the induction. I had no sleep except for when I had the epidural.

Why do people opt for a VBAC then I wonder?

I’ve gone for a VBAC. I had very similar experience to you with my first. Induction, APH/PPH and a 3rd degree tear. I then had 3 further VB that were spontaneous and had no complications and no tears only grazing. The experiences were miles away from my first. I then had my 5th, that ended up in crash EMCS as I had a complete placental abruption during labour. The recovery for me was absolutely awful and worse than my first. But it was obviously a lot different to an ELCS and the other factors didn’t help, I had a very large PPH (due to the abruption not the CS) and I had a lot of fluid building in my wound so had to have drains so I understand mine was in no way similar to an ELCS. So I based my decision on the fact I already have 5 children and will have a new baby aswell and dp doesn’t get long off work to help me along and I’ve had 3 good VB opposed to the 1 bad VB.

My consultant was happy for me to go with VBAC though and encouraged it, go with what you feel comfortable with doing. All of the ELCS on here sound encouraging, so much it’s even making me question VBAC now . Oh and long term I’ve suffered no problems from the EMCS. Only short term stuff.

There are lots of reasons why people go for VBAC. Some women feel strongly that they want to experience a physiological birth. The risks of CS increase with each subsequent one so if you know that you want more children in the future then this might be a factor in your decision.

Thanks. Great to hear all the positive stories. Still no one with any long term issues which is nice to hear.

Interesting about scar tissue. I had an a episiotomy in addition to my tear, so plenty of scar tissue.

It's my last pregnancy.

I had an elective c section after a 3C tear. Recovery was about the same but at least with the section you know you won't be left with life long incontinence issues. For what it's worth I saw 2 consultants, one said definitely section the other said natural was best, in the end I asked my midwifes opinion and she said section.

Good luck, OP