Looking for those who have had both csection and vagina births.

[Blxo94]

Hi,

Basically I have a long time to think about it as I am 18 week pregnant. But I'm really really considering asking for a elected csection. I have 1 child who I birthed vaginally. I was induced 2 days early with him due to him measuring small. All was fine, no problems at all, can't complain.

Fast forward to as right now I've had a journey since 10 years ago. I have had many pregnancy losses. 2 of those I had to deliver at hospital at 13 weeks due to a fatal birth defect. Both times I was really poorly afterwards. I've been left with PTSD, depression and major anxiety due to these losses and I just cannot picture me giving birth vaginally as I feel like it's going to be to traumatic for me. I just want to seperate the feeling of my losses to my healthy baby! I'm just looking for women who have had csection and vagina births and get some advice or what they preferred? I'm really stuck on what to do, my partner wants me to try a vaginal birth. But I'm terrified something will happen and I lose my baby or I end up having panic attacks during labour and delivery.

Sorry for the long post just trying to through out as much as I can to try get some helpful advice xx

I had natural the first time and ELCS the second (due to complications)

With my third I got to choose which to have and I opted for another ELCS. I found the ELCS a lot more pleasant than natural birth which frankly is horrifically painful and unpleasant!! Even recovery from a c sec was better. Personal choice I guess but my ELCS was calm and controlled and obviously pain free.

I had a vaginal birth with my DD but it was fairly traumatic (3rd degree tear; post-partum haemorrhage; retained placenta) & I was terrified of the same or worse happening with DS when I was pregnant again.
I was induced due concerns about his size but Labour stalled as DS decided to go back up inside! Ended up having a c-section.
Tbh it was much better than the vaginal birth not least due to less pain & exhaustion. My recovery was similar for both & no tearing/prolapse which was one of big fears.
If I was pregnant again I'd go for a section definitely.

I had a very quick and easy vaginal birth with my daughter. I had a csection with my son. Recovery was much quicker and easier after the natural birth despite the fact that I broke my leg 6 weeks postpartum. Had much worse PPD after son’s birth too.

CSection is a major op.

It doesn’t sound like you had a difficult delivery the first time though? Or did you?

I have a csection first time after a 'trial of labour' as my baby was breech. Second and third times I have vaginal births. These were much easier and less stressful both during birth and at recovery. It was amazing to be conscious during the births and immediately seeing and holding the babies.

Another who had VB for DC1 and ELCS for DC2. Again due to traumatic first delivery resulting in post birth surgery and ICU for me and DS.

The ELCS was super calm and the pain management was easier because it was predictable. All the scary statistics on CS risk are based on emergency CS, which is really unhelpful in your situation. I hope these are why your DP is pushing for a VB (excuse the pun).

I am a little concerned about you worrying about your partner’s viewpoint. To be clear, your partner does not get to have an opinion on how you give birth. It is not their body, not their choice. Are they controlling in other aspects of your life?

Given your history , unless there is a medical reason not to, I would recommend an ELCS.

I had 2 natural births and a c-section.

I found the c-section far harder as it took so long to recover. I was in a lot of pain for quite a while and it was hard to move around/walk which is difficult when you also have other children to look after. Also you can't drive for 6 weeks afterwards.

I would definitely choose to give birth naturally if I had a choice again.

I'm so sorry about your losses. I had a vaginal birth that was traumatic and took me a long time to recover (months physically, more emotionally). Next time I had a csection on my dr's advice and I recovered much more easily.

Also, to clear up some of the misinformation around ELCS.
I was awake throughout.
I held baby skin to skin within 1 minute of giving birth by ELCS.
I was feeding DD in theatre while they stitched me up, and went on to successfully BF for 15 months, only stopping through choice.
I was able to drive within 2 weeks (consultant assessment).

2 inductions and an elective section

First - was fine
Second - was literally a horror show
I still have lasting birth injuries from both 12 years later.
Third - section a year ago - what a dream. Went home the next day, quickest recovery out of all my births, was digging up the tomato bed 4 days after.
Have the birth YOU want. Nobody at the hospital is going to remember you into next week. This experience stays with you for life.

I’m sorry about your losses

I have had both and found the ELCS far far easier to recover from. I have lasting birth injuries from the VB.

It’s a very personal choice but given what you’ve said it sounds like you’re more comfortable with an ELCS. If you think you might have panic attacks during a VB, why would you put yourself through that? Also if you’re nervous about losing your baby (which you almost certainly won’t but if that’s your fear), an ELCS is a controlled clinical environment which I think you’d find less stressful.

Assuming you have no particular risk factors for surgery, ELCS are extremely safe. They’re routine operations. Of course they have their own risks, but they’re nothing to be frightened of if you think you’d be more comfortable giving birth that way.

I’m sorry for what you’ve gone through. It sounds very logical to want an ELCS this time.
I delivered naturally the first time round which was very traumatic and I think left me with PTSD, so Im also considering an ELCS this time round.
I am very surprised that your partner has an opinion on it, especially after what you’ve been through. I can’t fathom why he would think that particular choice has anything to do with him?

"my partner wants me to try a vaginal birth"

Its really not their business to even be expressing an opinion. It is your body and you alone who has to live with the consequences of the decision.

My ELCS was uneventful and reasonably easy to recover from. There was much less risk to my (enormous) baby and I have had zero damage to my body, pelvic floor very strong, and no incontinence issues afterwards. None of which I think would have been possible if Id pushed my 5kg bundle of joy out.