Experiences - did you prefer vaginal birth or c-section?

[OptimisticRealist2024]

Had quick chat with my midwife earlier about my tokophobia. My fear is made worse because I'm a ftm and struggle with following instructions when it comes to controlling my body movements - e.g. put leg here, breathe out now etc. I think I'd be too stressed during labour as it is.

Just wondered whether anyone had had both vaginal and c-section and preferred one over the other?

I'm considering a c-section because it's likely to be calmer, slightly more controlled and I won't have to stress about following instructions - but don't know enough about the aftercare/recovery to know if it's actually an option for me. How soon could you pick up and carry baby afterwards? Could you walk? Did you have to give yourself injections to help with blood clots? What was it like managing stitches? Did you prefer vaginal birth?

I only have husband around for 2 weeks afterwards so wary of making a decision that would deliberately make my life harder.

My cousin recently had a horrific vaginal birth which left her with awful tears, she's still not right after 6 months, and has PTSD. Hardly a vote of confidence! 🫠

Thanks in advance!

I have had many straight forward births...and 1 section..
Would rather have the many natural births.... Can't honestly grasp why anyone would sign up for such a recovery period when you could be fully functioning and enjoying your newborn.

My recovery form my elective section was much much straight forward than my vaginal birth

I had vaginal birth with DC1. Relatively straight forward but a nasty fourth degree tear and big post partum bleed. Recovery was shit. It was also height of Covid (April 2020) so aftercare also shit. I have a prolapse as a consequence of birth.

Second baby I choose ELCS and it was amazing. So straight forward and calm and control. I was so much more with it as minimal blood loss. I could pick and carry baby straight away. I was in the park with toddler (2.5) and newborn 3 days post section.

Why would a section automatically mean a bad recovery?

As in why wouldn't you be fully functioning? I certainly wasn't fully functioning after my vaginal birth. In intensive care with massive blood loss needing a transfusion and more stitches in places I really wish I didn't have them!

I have not had a c section, just 2 vaginal births but just came to say there were minimal instructions to follow, other than DH reminding me to breathe with first one. With second baby I did need to turn from all fours after his head was delivered but the midwife guided/helped me rather than just telling me.

1 vaginal and 2 c sections - c section every time! (Elective, of course emergency is worst of both worlds and entirely different to elective). Recovery faaaaaar better than VB. Drove after a couple of weeks.

That was me after c section to be fair but even that was better than my VB!

I have birth fear and didn't want injuries, instruments, long term damage.. my sections were brilliant. They are the best decisions I ever made. All I hear are stories of prolapse, loss of sexual sensation, things feeling weird down there, incontinence, ptsd etc.. all I have is my lil overhang.
Recoveries were painful at first but manageable as it was my own private calm pain.. not chaotic unpredictable birth pain with lots of involvement. I felt myself after a few weeks
So worth it

DIL opted for c sections because of acute anxiety. She managed well afterwards.

Thanks, everyone! Some food for thought here.