Planned C-section vs natural birth - how painful afterwards?

[DeusEx]

Hello

I am keen to have a planned Csection for a number of reasons (including balancing pros and cons from advice on here). My doctor is doing her best as far as I can see to dissuade me and one thing she has said is that the pain form having had surgery is worse than pain after child birth.

Please can you tell me, from either experience, how bad the pain was and for how long? It’s rather worried me now - especially as childbirth sounds so painful anyway and I’m just rubbish at pain.

I haven't had a vaginal birth but had a planned c section.

I'm not sure if it was because baby was small or not but pain was fine, just took paracetamol every 4hrs without fail. I did ask for something stronger when I was in hospital but that's only because I wanted to be knocked out asleep (baby was in NICU).

Again, wound not massive and stitches were dissolvable. My recovery was much easier and quicker than friends who had vaginal births.

I was up and about the next day after every birth.
I know it was about 3 hours of harder labour, the water bath helped .
Out by day 3 shopping, if not carrying things
My friend had a c section, it took her a few months to get back to normal.
A c section is a major op, and means you need to heal for longer.

I’ve had x3 vaginal births using only gas and air. First tore me so needed x1 stitch but apart from little uncomfort and stinging when having a wee was fine afterwards. My 2 following births were totally fine just stinging when head crowned and recovery fine afterwards. There are some awful stories out there but I don’t think as many people with good experiences talk about them so you don’t always hear.

I had emergency c section followed by 2 planned c sections. Found the recovery from all absolutely fine. First one was probably the hardest, third one was a doddle and I had no pain at all after a few days.

I've only ever had VBs but both times aside from some grazing it all felt ok pretty quickly!

I've had an elective c-section and recovered within a couple of weeks. Was out of bed within 6 hours and home within 24hrs. I managed only on ibuprofen and paracetamol and to this day I'm glad I didn't go into labour as I was terrified of the pain. I'd do it again in a heartbeat! It was a good experience and 0 regrets.

I've had a planned section for breach and vbac with episiotomy, ventouse delivery and deep tearing and an infection afterwards.
Both fairly standard recoveries. I did find the vbac recovery a lot easier tbh. The immediate contrast was the key for me - up and walking after vbac as soon as I was sewn up. Trying to establish feeding after a csection when you can't really sit up was agony.

In response to questions about why I am considering elective C-section - for exactly the reasons set out here really, fear of pain and tears and episiotomy or prolapse, and desire to be able to have an element of control.

I completely understand the fear about tears & episiotomies but just to say that CS are not a guarantee of zero damage to pelvic floor or risk of prolapse.

First baby vaginal birth. Labour bit was fine. Severe tear in labour all the way through to my anus and a torn uterus requiring a while surgery to repair. Recovery was awful. Still having problems with vagina 12 months later. Have been told any subsequent babies will be a section. Fine by me

I had an elective section 5 days ago for DC2. It was wonderful. I'm a tiny bit sore today but it's barely noticeable. My vaginal birth with DC1 however was long, traumatic with an awful recovery that left me completely traumatised. I think sections are amazing!! (Although I'm not lucky enough to have experienced a 'straightforward' vaginal birth).

This thread is so informative. I had a natural birth (although didn't feel very natural!!) after being induced, 5 days later I gave birth by forceps. Third degree tears, couldn't sit comfortably for weeks, no bowel control for a while either which was horrendous.

I haven't read all the posts, but one thing that I always consider is the trauma to the baby. My baby was wrenched out of me (twice, as she didn't come out after the first forcep pull) and had terrible bruising/marks all over her head and face. I find it hard to look at the photos or when she was a newborn as she looks in so much pain.

Elec c section for me next time due to the above.

I had 2 planned ELCS. The first 3 days were challenging and it was important to keep up a pain management regime with regular medication. Then I was pretty much functioning as normal.
You have to take it easy for the first 1-6 weeks, but all in all, for me, I think it was a walk in the park. The healing on the scars is really tidy. I have no complaints and compared to the horror stories and unknowns for both children and mothers of vaginal births, I’d have another elcs given an opportunity.

I had two planned caesarians (for medical reasons). The births themselves were straight forward and I enjoyed both (other than my husband giving me a detailed description of my fat cells seen in cross section). Only issue I had was the epidural going a bit too far on the first one so I needed a blood patch.

I found the first couple of nights difficult as it was painful to twist to pick my baby up out of the cot. For this reason, I was discharged as soon as the hospital were happy to do so as it was easier having my husband there to help with lifting. With the second, I was home the next day.

Appreciate that everyone has a different experience but I think it also depends somewhat on whether it's planned or emergency. My sister had an emergency c-section, her incision was larger and she had an infection with the wound a couple of weeks later.

Walking upright and turning over in bed was sore for a week or two but I personally found it manageable without many painkillers. When my husband went back to work after a fortnight, I was able to drive (with my GP's permission).

Thank you so much again everyone. This has been so informative.

@snoopy8 I totally agree and my first birth experience was very similar to yours. I remember by little boy had a ‘cone head’ and awful bruising/ marks. He screamed the whole first night and I would imagine it was due to head trauma and pain. Definitely a large part of my reasoning for wanting a c-section this time.