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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

I'm not too posh to push, but what reasons are there for me to have a natural birth??

33 replies

generalunrest · 10/09/2009 20:14

I had a CS with my DD1 who's now 8, and it was such a lovely experience. She was 16 days over the DD and they'd tried to induce me, but she wasn't having any of it so they had to lever her out (don't blame her it was Dec and cold ). I was calm, she was calm, and I stayed 3 days in hosp which I'm presuming I would have done with a natural birth anyway with her being my first and me not having a clue.

I'm now preg with DD2 and really noticing how the MW/consultant presumes everyone wants a natural birth, and how many people on here are really disappointed if they have to haver a CS, as if it's a failure of some kind.

I admire anyone who would choose the pain over a quick pre-bookable surgical procedure, and it's not that I'm 'too posh to push' (I don't even hold my pinky out when I'm having a cuppa!) but I just don't get it, can anyone enlighten me please?

OP posts:

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thisisyesterday · 10/09/2009 20:17

it's safer for you and your baby
it does not involve major surgery
you recover quicker after a straightforward vaginal delivery
it gets breastfeeding off to a good start

Littlepurpleprincess · 10/09/2009 20:20

I'm quite sure it's a lot better to give birth naturally, as mother nature built your body to do, than it is to be cut open and have your baby removed.

That said, if there are health implications, and it is safer to have a CS, then go for it. There is no sense in taking risks.

LibrasBiscuitsOfFortune · 10/09/2009 20:23

You need to do the research behind CS and VBAC and make the right decision for you and your baby. Ignore what everyone else says.

SolidGoldBrass · 10/09/2009 20:23

Depends a lot on your body and your PG but my opinion was that, having had uterine surgery about 20 years prior to having DS I wanted him to come out of the normal entrance, thanks. And still feel the same afterwards despite the sore foof and the piles, that was much less lingeringly unpleasant than a cut across the bikini line.

pregnantpeppa · 10/09/2009 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PaulDacresCrackWhore · 10/09/2009 20:30

Also, the mucous which gets squeezed out of the baby during a vaginal birth doesn't with a CS, so you get a very mucousy baby for a few days which can mean extra posseting and not as much feeding - iirc

browntrout · 10/09/2009 21:28

for me, the fact that I was in the shower literally ten minutes after DD was born and driving to see my parents a day later are big factors. I wanted to get going after weeks of feeling slowed down by the bump (had bad SPD). My view is go with whatever is best for you and for the baby at the time but I am 32 weeks pg at the moment and, if at all possible, I want to have a vaginal birth (even though it really really hurts).

PacificDogwood · 10/09/2009 21:35

Consider going home to an active toddler with a newborn to look after following CS... that's what swung it for me .
Also, amazing rush after VBAC, not so much after CS.
All the other reasons above of course as well. Get all the info, then go for what you feel is right for you.

Allets · 10/09/2009 21:46

I am not sure you how you could describe a CS as a "quick pre-bookable surgical procedure"? Surely a more accurate description, would be major, open abdominal surgery?

Vaginal birth is not "more painful" than a CS, sure it hurts, but it's for a finite period of time and once the baby is born the pain goes away. Unlike a CS where the pain only starts after the birth.

Reasons in bullet points:

*Better for baby (the vaginal birth process is designed to assist lung maturation)
*Better for mum (quicker recovery)
*It's an incredible life affirming process, (not to say that a CS isn't) having had three vaginal births, I can truly say that they were the most amazing experiences of my life.

When I was having my DD (not in the UK), I was the only woman out of 9 who had a vaginal birth that particular day. The other ladies on the ward couldn't believe that I was up and about, pushing DD's cot to and from the nursery within 2 hours of her birth.

Original poster

generalunrest · 10/09/2009 22:15

Perhaps I was a bit flippant with the 'quick pre-bookable surgical procedure' it's because we were only in for about 35/40 mins, it just seemed so quick.

By the looks of it I was just incredibly lucky, and don't remember having too much pain or trouble with the CS cut afterwards, although I'm not sure whether this was cos I had it stitched, there were others who had had it stapled and they were having terrible trouble.

Perhaps because of how it worked out for me, it seems like a non-question for my MW/consultant to ask if I'd like a natural birth when in my mind it's going to hurt like hell!!

OP posts:

cory · 11/09/2009 21:31

My caesarian was far easier, far less stressful and with far fewer nasty after effects than my vaginal labour, and I would still go for vaginal without a moment's hesitation if I was having another and there was a choice.

Because the risks are greater to me, the risks are greater to the baby; all right so none of them happened last time, but I would still have to base my decision on that. Also, unless I had medical reasons or a really bad emotional hangup about labour, I wouldn't want to take up the time of a surgical team who might be needed for a real emergency elsewhere.

Mybox · 11/09/2009 21:44

Quicker recovery time. I had a cs and had to look after a little one & a newborn. Was really hard work never to be able to sit down and actually rest to recover from a major operation. Have also had vbac afterwards and was fabulous to be up & about no problems.

unluckyfriedkitten · 11/09/2009 21:47

Gut colonisation is a good reason for a natural birth - there's a reason your vagina is next to everything else down there . ....although I have heard that it can be replicated when having a CS (to some extent) by use of wipes.

Umlellala · 11/09/2009 21:53

I didn't get it til I gave birth without any drugs - not by choice- the second time. I would prob have an epidural (like I did the first time) next time anyway, as IMO it's about getting the baby out happy and healthy, couldn't understand why people would choose a natural birth...

BUT

I came out on SUCH a high, it was amazing. It is what our bodies were designed to do, and my body really did just 'know'. It wasn't scary (once I was in the hospital) but wow.

pregnantpeppa · 11/09/2009 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BuckRogers · 11/09/2009 22:16

If you really want a CS then go for it but it is neither less painful or safer.

With my first I was up and about within minutes and home 12hours later. So first natural birth doesn't always mean days in hospital.

I cannot imagine going home to care for a toddler after major abdominal surgery. It must be so much harder 2nd time around.

DD1 was breech until the last week and I was literally terrified I'd need a CS. Of course labour hurts but in the main it goes as soon as the baby arrives. And the high.... Oh boy, I cannot begin to descibe it. Amazing!

You could always opt for the vbac and go for a CS if it doesn't work out. Make your own choice but please don't think it strange than they offer you a trial vbac. Sure, you can have a 'good' CS but it's still more risky and it's still major surgery that many (not all) women don't need. A good VB is always going to be a better and safer experience than a good CS.

Just consider all the options before making a decision.

pinkpeony · 11/09/2009 22:58

You don't have to go through pain to have a natural birth - you can have an epidural. DS was out in 20 minutes of pushing (he was my first). And the recovery afterwards is much easier than recovering from major surgery. But you have to do what works best for you.

Cheeseismyweakness · 11/09/2009 23:30

its what nature intended.
if babies were meant to come out the top you'd have a zip.

busybutterfly · 11/09/2009 23:42

Had 4 CS all due to complications - NOT too posh to push! - now have tummy I can't get rid of.
Go natural if you can!!

isittooearlyforgin · 11/09/2009 23:48

i second browntrout - you think its going to be really painful... and to be fair it is, but you know (if everything's going right) that its natural and you'll be up and about soon after. Also epidural was fantastic - felt nothing once it was in

thedolly · 12/09/2009 00:02

You can be home on the same day.

dal21 · 12/09/2009 06:44

I second what Librabiscuits of fortune says. Read up on VBAC vs CS and make your own decision. Raise it with your consultant also - and have a chat with him/ her about pros / cons.

It is a very personal decision. I have decided to go elec cs after having cs with DS. And it is not a case of being too posh to push!

You do have the added bonus of having an 8 year old, and the 8 year old will not be anywhere near as hardwork as a toddler. So the rest post cs should be a tad easier for you.

HTH

spinspinsugar · 12/09/2009 07:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CarmenSanDiego · 12/09/2009 08:05

Another problem with CS is that the more C-Sections you have, the more scarred your uterus, so you significantly raise the risk of pregnancy complications such as placenta accreta and (rarely) uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies.

FlamingoBingo · 12/09/2009 08:10

Natural birth = pain for the day you're in labour and have baby

CS = pain for a few weeks afterwards

Assuming it's the pain that's worrying you. Also, much higher infection risk with CS, which can be real agony for a very, very long time.

You won't be able to pick up your toddler easily for ages, or drive...

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