Page 4 | Natural birth - Do you have any lasting 'effects'?

Crimblecrumble1990 · 22/04/2021 07:43

Ended up with forceps and episiotomy. Everything feels and looks completely normal and did quite quickly after birth. However, I can't do any kind of jumping with my legs open without a bit of wee making an escape so jumping jacks etc. It would probably be fine if I worked more on my pelvic floor but I am a bit lazy. Pretty sure the damage is done to your pelvic floor during pregnancy too not necessarily during the birth.

20viona · 22/04/2021 07:52

I had a vaginal birth with episiotomy. Healed well initially outside looked good as new but I had internal scar tissue which made it impossible to have sex it was excruciating. Had an op 18 months down the line now I'm good as new again. Oh and piles have been a nuisance since birth. I was back in my jeans 4 days pp wandering around Morrison's though. It's swings and roundabouts.

Original poster

Curiosity101 · 22/04/2021 13:39

Just want to say thanks again for everyone who has been so open and taken the time to share their stories. I've read every single one.

I've also literally LOL'd at some of the coughing, sneezing and trampolining comments.

One thing I have noticed is that I didn't realise natural birth had any other meaning meaning. I was using it as a synonym for vaginal birth. I was literally just trying to distinguish between babies that came out via the vagina vs babies coming out via c-section.

I do agree with people saying I should no discount stats/research. But it really is valuable to hear so many people speak about how it's 'really' affected them so to speak.

Also - @BertieBotts 🤣🤣🤣 yep. Every time I come on to check updates I start doing kegels. 🙈🙉 Especially if PPs are correct and a lot of the damage comes from the strain of pregnancy itself. 😄😅

OP posts:

Mishmased · 22/04/2021 15:50

I've always done yoga and Pilates and had good pelvic and core muscle strength. Two sections here;
First emcs was due to feral distress, decelerating heart rate and meconium in waters. It was so straightforward and I was moving after a couple of hours same day. I over did things and in day 10 my scar opened so back to hospital for stitching. Stomach, pelvic muscles etc great. Bad scar due to post surgery stitching which turned out that they used the wrong suture so informed keloids.

Second emcs section after nearly 40 hours labour due to baby being stuck and turned out cord was severely tied around the neck shoulders and ankles. No way baby would have been born alive vaginally registrar whispered to midwife. Keloids taken care of during surgery. O listened to my body and took it easy for the first few week, no issues with pelvic muscles but I noticed a weakness in my core, I had a consultant complement me on my stomach muscle after two kids 😂
Got checked for diastasis recti and don't have it, no visible overhang as that could be down to the state of your stomach muscles previously.
No issues whatsoever now, went back to reformer Pilates and it has helped.

Now pregnant with third and will probably (90%) have an elective section partly due to avoiding a repeat of previous birth if it happens as they have said they cannot guarantee it won't happen nor can they say it will. There's also no guarantee that it will be picked up if it happens. Also I recover well from previous emcs so it should be easier for me this time.
Having said that I would have preferred to have them vaginally but I don't think I'm meant to birth babies. I can do pregnancies really well but I need medical assistance birthing the babies. Good luck with whatever you decide.

IHateThinkingUpANewUsername · 22/04/2021 15:52

3rd degree tear. No continence issues - wouldn’t occur to me not to go on a trampoline. Looks and functions the same.

GrumpyHoonMain · 22/04/2021 15:55

@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.

I don’t think the right comparisons are being made. Most of the effects (particularly around incontinence) are temporary after a natural birth for the vast majority of women. Longer term effects are found after assisted births (particularly emergency forceps delivery, with rotational forceps being the worst).

However, long term, when data for menopausal women is used it’s women had uncomplicated natural births (and fewer than 3-4 kids) had fewer continence issues than women who had c-sections / assisted births.

GrumpyHoonMain · 22/04/2021 15:57

@Crimblecrumble1990

Ended up with forceps and episiotomy. Everything feels and looks completely normal and did quite quickly after birth. However, I can't do any kind of jumping with my legs open without a bit of wee making an escape so jumping jacks etc. It would probably be fine if I worked more on my pelvic floor but I am a bit lazy. Pretty sure the damage is done to your pelvic floor during pregnancy too not necessarily during the birth.

Same with me but coughing or sneezing instead of jumping. I have seen improvement after using a kegel8 and so am tryng to use that to rebuild pelvic strength