If you could just pick would it be vaginal or planned c-section? [Title edited at OP's request]

[Bells3032]

If you could just rock up and choose which would you choose to do? There seem to be massive pros and cons to both.

Thoughts?

I’d choose a vaginal birth (I assume that is what you meant by natural). However I had 2 very easy ( as easy as birth gets) births. I liked being able to have my babies in the midwife unit in my local town...it was a fab little unit with just be in for my first birth and me and one other for my second birth.

I’d choose elective cs over ending up having forceps though....that terrified me .....

We as it is....we can’t choose anyway

Definitely vaginal births. I've had two completely smooth vaginal deliveries, no tearing, no injuries, no time off my feet, both positive experiences.

All other things being equal, a straightforward uncomplicated vaginal birth is generally better for mum and baby than a C-section. The problem is, particularly for a first birth, you don't know if it's going to be straightforward and uncomplicated. And a difficult or complicated vaginal birth may well be worse for the mother than a C-section. If we all had the power of foresight, things could be different.

Natural definitely. I have to have a c section and I’m really sad the choice has been taken out of my hands

Natural. I hate the idea of being awake while being cut into. I don't care that I won't be able to feel it. I hate the idea of having to just get on with it after major abdominal surgery. I hate the idea of having a scar. I hate the idea of having more of a pouch than I already do. Oddly, I really hate the idea that it's all planned as well. I'd especially hate having my colleagues see me so vulnerable too. At least with a natural birth it'd be limited to 1 or 2 midwives who I don't know as well.

I've had a csection and I would have one again. I delivered my baby boy at 21 weeks naturally, had massive hemorrhage after, a year later I had csection with his little sister at 36w6d and hemorrhaged again. Once out of the hospital I didn't have issues lifting baby, I was able to drive comfortably after 2 weeks. It all depends on how you heal.

[quote XenaAura]Natural all the way, and asking every woman I know who have had to have a c-section, they wish they could have had natural also.
The fact that you cannot lift/drive and most cases cannot breastfeed your own baby after for a good few weeks, find it hard to sit up and move... I just would not willingly put myself through that.
Childbirth is obviously painful but after you give birth you are able to get on with things as normal. Plus, with a c-section, having a consecutive preganacy can be risky if its too soon after your first (think they said wait at least 2 years? I could be wrong here) and ups your chances of having to have a c-section with your second also.

Its the main concern for me with my second pregnancy, is if I have to end up having one for some reason >

@LadyCluck

Having experienced both - planned c-section.

Me too!

@Justgettingbye

Natural - 2 inductions no 'intervention/induction horror stories'. The thought of being.m cut open makes me feel queasy

The thought of being torn and having stitches and potential incontinence is terrifying to many people.

Natural.
I had two very positive natural home births so I don't know if my answer would be different if I had had any intervention or had to go to hospital.

Well the problem is you don’t get to ‘choose’ natural, you get to choose to ATTEMPT a natural birth often with pretty high odds of interventions like forceps or ending up with a c-section anyway

With a planned c-section most of the time you’re getting exactly what you’ve opted for which is a massive plus for a lot of women

If I was GUARANTEED a smooth straightforward natural delivery with no tearing or stitches, no intervention (plus good, dignified and respectful treatment and care during labour including access to pain relief when wanted or needed) then I would absolutely opt for that over major surgery and I think the majority of women would.

However the odds of the above are sadly low which women take into account when they are considering an ELCS.

What @toffeeandcream said.
To be honest this it’s a bit of a nonsensical question. What do you mean by natural exactly? Lots of women try ‘natural’ births but end up with forceps, epidural etc. However a straightforward vaginal birth is much easier recovery wise than a c section.
I much prefer the phrase vaginal birth than natural. Naturally, lots of women and babies would die in childbirth.

Also a quick side note - I had forceps with my first. Was fine.

If I could be assured that I wouldn't need forceps or be left with lasting birth injuries I'd have a vaginal birth, however for me the risks are too great so I'll be having ELCS.

On threads like this there will always be people with a pro vaginal birth or pro C-section stance. I don't really care what other women choose but spreading bullshit like you can't breastfeed after a C-section is nonsense. I've seen a baby latch and feed within minutes of birth.

I also don't care if I can't drive after a C-section, I'm not planning on going anywhere so it's not a deciding factor for me.

Also worth acknowledging that not everyone is up and about easily whatever way they give birth. I know people who've been up and about quickly after either, and people who've been floored by either.
There was a recent thread about birth injuries and I think the worst thing is that many could be avoided, or not as severe, if women had better care in labour. Now that is worth arguing for.

Sorry i have asked MNHQ to change to vaginal

And yes also echoing @toffeeandcream comments re dignity and access to pain relief. It completely blows my mind how requests for pain relief during labour are batted away in this country. No, it's too soon, no it's too late. Absolutely awful.

My choices would be ( in order )

1. Good vaginal delivery
2. Good elective section
3. Emergency section
4. Bad vaginal delivery

The women I know with serious long term damage all had bad vaginal deliveries with a huge amount of damage from instruments.

@Arecklessmanor I agree with you that better care in labour would go a long way regardless of type of birth. I had great care but I’ve heard lots of horrid stories from other mums. Makes me sad they didn’t get the kind of care I had.

I’ve only had c-sections but they were both absolutely fine. Recovery was very quick. Under the circumstances I was in (overdue breech baby) I’d have another section.

Having had 2 sections I wouldn't wish one on my worst enemy.

@R0SEMARY

My choices would be ( in order )

1. Good vaginal delivery
2. Good elective section
3. Emergency section
4. Bad vaginal delivery

The women I know with serious long term damage all had bad vaginal deliveries with a huge amount of damage from instruments.

This!

Having had a bad vaginal delivery that lasted 2 days and ended with a first degree tear, while having had pain relief taken off of me.

Then stitches that didn't heal well and bad incontinence at under 30. I wouldn't wish a bad vaginal delivery upon anyone.

But you don't get to chose a good or bad vaginal delivery, you just get what you're given.

I will be choosing a planned c-section. I much prefer the (probable) control with a c-section, i.e. you know what it is going to entail with the 6-week recovery. A vaginal birth is such a gamble. It's all fine and dandy if you don't get a 3rd or 4th-degree tear, but if you do then that is likely to be far, far worse than a c-section recovery. So, for me, it's c-section all the way.

Planned c-section. I did pick! It was 2 weeks ago and I’d do it again without a doubt. The section was so lovely and the recovery has been amazing, nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be! I feel almost back to normal already

There’s obviously risks with both and you should do your own research but since having my little one by c-section all I seem to see on Facebook are babies who look like they’ve been attacked with a knife (born vaginally). Three people in the last week have posted pictures of their newborns and one is particularly bad - with multiple cuts all over his face and his head has so many wounds from what must have been the ‘clip’ they place on their head for monitoring. The baby is in some state! Just made me even more sure I made the right decision when my little one doesn’t have a mark on him (and one of the risks of a section they say is the baby might get a small cut)!

I've had two vaginal births- one horrible one that was induced and involved heavy intervention (which I regret agreeing to) and one amazing one. I would always opt for a natural birth as long as there was a reason that definitively wasn't possible but there would need to be a very good reason (i.e. not just "hospital policy").

I had a crash emergency c section (pretty hideous experience) but was still able to breastfeed with no problems at all.

Due to the crash situation I'd choose an elective but if not I'd choose natural. The gut bacteria of the child can be negatively impacted by not passing through the birth canal, which can result in various health issues.

I chose c-section. Partly due to my age, partly just never wanted a vaginal birth. Really loved it both times and had good easy recoveries. Was actually sad that as an older mother I wouldn't get the chance to do it again. Remember you're not chosing one or the other as an attempted v birth can go both ways.