Natural birth - Do you have any lasting 'effects'?

[Curiosity101]

I'm currently pregnant and leaning heavily towards an elective section this time as my first pregnancy ended in an EMCS due to pregnancy complications.

The main thing that has swayed me is the long term damage that is more likely to be incurred as a result of a natural birth. Statistically I have a 75% chance of having a successful natural birth if I opt for it. But that includes all manner of outcomes (including forceps and ventous) and all manner of tears. It's probably 50% chance of a 'normal' natural birth with 'normal' levels of tearing etc. Short term I'm happy with that risk and the recovery/pain. But I really worry about the long term effects from natural labour and that is what is currently swaying me towards an elective section.

For example research I've read suggests overall long term urinary incontinence levels are double for natural births. ~7% for CS Vs ~15% for natural for example. But anecdotally it seems to be agreed/accepted from all mums I've spoken to that after you have a baby you can't go on a trampoline or sneeze or cough without the potential for a little bit of an accident?

So... If people wouldn't mind sharing their thoughts and if they have (or haven't) got any lasting effects from birth I'd appreciate it. For me having had one baby via EMCS my only lasting effect has been that I have the CS scar and a small CS 'shelf' 😅 but neither of those things bother me. I'm trying to work out if statistically it makes sense to roll the dice with a natural birth when (statistically) I'll probably be no worse off long term with an elective section. But the idea of being up and about in a matter of minutes/hours and not going through major surgery is definitely attractive. DH will be home for the first few weeks so we'll be fine either way... Just trying to gather as much information as possible.

2 vaginal births.

First with an episiotomy though narrowly avoiding an instrumental, they literally had the ventouse ready but got a good contraction and pushed baby out. It wasn't as bad as I'd feared, unpleasant at the time but healed well and I can't feel it now unlike my DM who was always complaining she could feel hers whenever we went up a big hill on holiday or something.

Second was just with gas and air and baby just came out with what felt like barely any effort. Second degree tearing as it was such a quick birth, needed one or two stitches all over and it didn't have any affect on my episiotomy site.

I'm doing regular pelvic floor exercises and feel reasonably OK as far as I can't tell.

That being said when pregnant for the second time I was very keen to have my baby vaginally on the logic of well I've already strained that but, no good straining the other bit. If I'd had a c section first time I think I'd have been more keen on another section. Obviously I've no idea on the medical accuracy of that logic.

Had both. Only have s scar from CS but the vaginal birth left me with a prolapse and sensitive scar tissue from where I tore and was cut, that flares up each time I get my period. Whatever way I was stiched up seems to have affected some nerves in my thighs too. I would never have a vaginal birth again.

First birth - episiotomy. Ouch.
Second birth emergency CS under general. Sore stomach but at least could sit down comfortably. CS slight shelf.
Third one minimal graze only. Amazed to discover you can give birth without stitches anywhere.
Generally okay but wouldn’t risk a trampoline, and have to brace before sneezing despite plenty of pelvic floor exercises. Think individual pelvic floors react differently. Not everyone can fully recover. But it’s worth it.

I've had 3 natural births with no after-effects whatsoever. My pelvic floor has been fine until I got Covid early on with this pregnancy and I developed a bad lingering cough. I coughed so much that I seem to have strained my pelvic floor muscles and i'm currently a lost case when I sneeze/cough.
Being very studious about doing my kegels and all and hoping after the birth to get back to normal with doing my exercises.
So birth definitely does not have to leave you incontinent.

I've given birth naturally three times. The first time I tore badly, the second time I didn't tear at all (he was a tiny baby), and the third time I tore just a little bit. I healed well each time and have no lasting issues! =)

Me (aged 45)- 2 vaginal births some stiches, no issues
DM (aged 72)- 3 vaginal births some stiches, no issues
DGM (RIP aged 93)- 4 vaginal births, no idea about stiches continent till the end.

Also no stretch marks

One forceps delivery, two natural births, one episiotomy, one tear, various stitches - no lasting effects from birth or pregnancy, not even a stretch mark.

1 forceps delivery: faecal incontinence, pain at episiotomy site, stitches undid and had to wait for scar tissue to grow over the open wound. Baby (now 11yo) has a scarred face. Major issues with bf.

1 ELCS: standard scar, no lasting issues, baby bf beautifully, recovery was a walk in the park compared to the forceps.

I had a vaginal birth and had ventouse and an episiotomy. I have scar tissue but everything feels fine down there and my pelvic floor is still good. The recovery was quick. I am going to give birth again in the next couple of weeks and I'd rather things were more straightforward this time and I avoid an instrumental birth. However ventouse again doesn't worry me - forceps however make me very nervous as I know they can damage women.

I had DD at 41, absolutely no side effects of a vaginal delivery so far. Pelvic floor intact. I had 3 miniscule internal stitches for a tiny tear (the midwives debated stitching or leaving as it was so small).
Bladder and bowels unaffected. Vagina looks and feels the same.
The only body change of note is my boobs and my rib cage (both bigger). But that’s nothing to do with birth.

I had my daughter naturally and for me it wasn't a good experience. I had forceps and an episiotomy but still tore from the neck of my womb to almost my bum hole. The repair job from that has left me feeling uncomfortably "tight" down there and I'm cold weather the scar still aches nearly 5 years later.

During the forceps ordeal my bladder prolapsed, which was repaired on the table once my daughter was out but I was left with no sensation of needing a wee or having a wee (spent pushing 3 months in adult nappies). It also took me nearly a month to be able to walk again with no pain and my stitches got infected - twice!

I hemorrhaged and I'm currently waiting for a referral as my bladder has prolapsed again. Stage 3, protruding from my body.

If I have another baby, it's a section all the way for me!

I also appreciate my birth experience was on the top end of the trauma scale and not the norm!

I had two vaginal home births. Both fine, minimal tears or interventions (for the actual births...) After my first born I sadly had 4 MCs, two of which required medical procedures to remove whatever was remaining.

After my second was born, at home, perfectly healthy, I retained the placenta, haemorrhaged, and had to be blue lit to hospital where I had several horrible procedures done on me to get it out and to ensure nothing was left in my womb. This included a spinal anaesthetic, in order to conduct a good root around my uterus.
The spinal anaesthetic resulted in spinal headaches so for the first four days of my son's life (plus over my birthday!) I was in agony, lying down in a dark room and one day in hospital getting checked out again.

I was told later on that the placenta retention may have been caused by it clinging on to the scar tissue left from either of the two procedures I had for the MCs, so my very anecdotal advice would be if you have scar tissue in your womb then please go to a hospital or MLU so you have expert care close at hand.

Wouldn't wish what I went through on anyone.

Ps Despite my two vag births I have not got incontinence (yet - younger is nearly 2?) and can trampoline, laugh etc all fine!

2 whoppers (9lbs) with 100th centile heads, 2 very fast vaginal births, 2 second degree tears, no lasting issues whatsoever. Born when I was 31 and 33 if that’s relevant.

I'm small and had average size babies through 2x natural births in my early 30s. DC1 episiotomy, small amount of ventouse & stitches completely healed within a month. DC2 small tear & stitches healed in weeks. The episiotomy was less painful than the tear & if I had a third I would have wanted the option for VB & episiotomy.

I was able to walk after births with stitches to go into a bath and after to pick DCs up. Yes I took painkillers for a few days, but I was grateful to be able to move / drive and roll around in bed without major surgery effects for weeks.

Now when I sneeze I clench all my core muscles in tight and then no leaks, but that didn't follow births but came on in mid 40s. I think some minor bladder weakness just happens in age and doesn't matter if you have VB or not.

I've had one vaginal delivery (I wouldn't say it was especially natural!).I had a tear that was badly stitched, surgery at 5 months and pain for 18 months after labour.
In terms of the pelvic floor. I've done a lot of research about this and it would seem that vaginal birth is as you say not good, especially not a very long pushing stage. (Neither is pregnancy, constipation, chronic coughing etc). If you are lucky you'll have no problems until 20-30 years down the track when menopause comes, but then you very likely will. But you can with effort bring your pelvic floor back to full strength and keep it strong by strength training daily for the rest of your life.

Two vaginal births with no epidural. Moderate tearing competently stitched both times. No incontinence problems at all. Sex is definitely different. I feel I recovered quickly and well from both of them in a physical sense. My understanding is that most of the "damage" to the pelvic floor happens during pregnancy when it's holding the baby up rather than during childbirth. Personally I'd avoid having a C section because of the risks of difficult recovery and permanent damage - so the opposite to you!

Got no abs to speak of, but that's pregnancy and then my own fault for not exercising! Did my kegels, though!

Two EMCS here, four years apart. No long term effects at all, save for a scar which is so low, only DH and I will ever see it as my pubic hair has grown over it anyway, and a small shelf after the second EMCS (but dc2 was a heavy baby and my frame is small and short).

It’s a very personal thing. You’ll get mixed comments and ideas of what a birth should be like!

My first was ‘natural’ a very long drawn out labour, ended up with lots of interventions & resulted in forceps & episiotomy in theatre. I really didn’t expect it to happen and was left pretty traumatised by the experience. Physical recovery afterwards was straight forward and felt fine within days. Mental recovery not so good and I ended up with bad postnatal depression. I believe the birth & feeding issues contributed highly to this.

I’m now due my second and going in tomorrow!!! For an elective section. It wasn’t even an option for me. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly, anyone I’ve spoken to who has had one says nothing but positive things about it & says how much calmer the whole experience was. Will keep you posted!

Vaginal delivery with second-degree tears (didn't feel them, could sit normally etc and they healed within a week).

No lasting effects. Due with my second this summer.

I had a natural birth (not through choice..no time for pain meds!) ..I was literally up and about in the shower 30 mins later. The day after I went for a walk and I wasn’t even that sore really (not had no tears). I was absolutely amazed at the recovery given that it felt very intense during the birth! My step sis at an emergency c section and she wasn’t right for weeks, but did get an infection. Obviously my natural birth was very lucky though so a c section would be better than forceps etc I would have thought.

One birth, forceps, episiotomy which still tore into a third degree tear, huge haemorrhage. In the short term I was in a lot of pain and felt awful thanks to the blood loss.

Long term, day to day fine, no continence issues. Feels tight during sex and use lube which helps a lot.

Also zero problems with incontinence. The only after effect was that sex felt weird and uncomfortable pretty much until I stopped breastfeeding (apparently it can make you dry). It feels fine now..I can’t remember the difference pre-baby and my husband actually said things felt smaller!

out of the group of friends i have in uk&oz &NZmost opted forC-section in the last5yrs -2 have hadVBAC&only 1 of us had zero issues with vaginal birth..the rest had episiotomy/tearing/forceps&75%have stress incontinence..a frind i recently made in a new placement just had surgery on her haemerroids as they have been a horrendous &problematic issue since she was pregnant.I had both-asC-sections(because i had such a speedy recovery,no pain or vag-ruin)As PPhave mentioned go on stats..you hear plenty of people downplaying traumatic birth and vag injuries or trying to say a csection is in someway cheating yourself🤣 but after seeing what my ex-SIL went through and then a friend i thought to myself "yep vag-birth is highly overrated"-id rather have my vag as was😉 .

I had 2 x vaginal deliveries. 2nd degree tears with both but healed fine and no lasting issues. My main concern jumping on a trampoline would be knocking myself out with my tits. Pelvic floor would be fine.

My friend had an ELCS and they accidentally cut into her bladder. Giving birth is never without risks, even though it’s actually fine for the majority.