Pros / Cons of Vaginal Birth or C-Section

[Amby99]

Since I found out that in the UK you can legally request a C-section, it’s become very appealing. I have a cousin that has had 2 C sections and never gave birth and she found it great.

I don’t have any issues or health reasons to not have a ‘natural birth’ but if I’m brutally honest, I’m just very concerned about what my vagina might become after giving birth.

Sorry to sound so crass but I’ve heard all these stories about your vagina feeling like ‘a hot dog in a corridor’…. And it might sound incredibly selfish but I’m worried I just won’t feel glamorous or sexy ever again. I’ll probably already need to lose weight PP and I just can’t find a clear cut answer as to whether your sex life can return back to normal if you have a vaginal birth. Is it enough that your partner notices? Is sex still enjoyable?? Do you ‘feel’ anything?

My partner actually wants and encourages me to have a natural birth so these insecurities aren’t coming from him but throughout my whole life you hear women joke about ‘once you give birth XYZ changes’ so I’m really worried about the lasting damage it will do. On the other hand, since I’ve been watching one born every minute, it seems like the most wholesome thing to give birth naturally and I’m not opposed to it at all. I’m not worried about the pain or the mess I’m just scared of the after effects.

when I told my midwife at my first antenatal appointment that I was considering C section she said there are risks and a lot of women change their mind. She did say if I want more children (which I do) then sometimes C section can pose a small risk or delay to that being possible

I guess I would like some genuine answers on how a vaginal birth altered your life in terms of sex. Sex of course isn’t our number one priority in life (especially now I’m pregnant) and I’m sure we will be ‘jigging ’ even less when baby is born but I guess it’ll still be nice to feel sexy. I’m 27 and so still feel like I want to be energetic and attractive post partum

I swear people scan through posts simply looking for a way ‘to be offended’ and jump down someone’s throat. It’s so tedious. I really think it says more about the ‘offended party’ than the OP (coming from someone who had an emergency CS). Sorry you’ve got such a hard time OP, and that you’ve been assassinated for voicing a legitimate worry.

What a hateful comment. We absolutely did give birth.

I agree it wouldn’t be called “born” by C-section if it wasn’t giving birth. I honestly don’t know why people are so sensitive about it though. Who actually cares.

Straightforward vaginal birth that wasn't the problem with our sex life though. Hyperemesis in pregnancy followed by severe pnd meant in a 3 year period we only had sex maybe 6-10 times, with approximately 15 months with none at all.
Once I had recovered from my pnd I'd say it's been better than before we value and appreciate it more and we engage with what one another wants /needs more so that both of our needs are met in the time we have

C Section mothers had an operation to allow the baby to be.. what? Born did you say? Where was the baby born from? Oh yeah, the mothers body. The mother gave birth. She did not give birth vaginally, but a baby was born from her body. Therefore, she gave birth. The surgeon performing the operation did not give birth to the baby 😂 maybe you could do with some education as well.