Can someone please explain why.....

Krisann79

Can someone please explain to me why some people prefer to have a C-section over a vaginal birth? 

I've never had either but to me getting cut into & having staples &/or stitches to close me up sounds MUCH MUCH more scary to me!

Jen&Louie

Personally, I don't understand why anyone would elect to have one without some good reason. 

I am scheduled for a section because my LO is breech and very stubborn about his comfortable position.  I've made my peace with it at this point but, if I had the option I would absolutely prefer the natural delivery I had been preparing for. I've tried everything short of the external version to get him to move but, he won't budge.

Dani11

Personally (not from experience as this is my first) I would prefer to have a vaginal birth. But I know a few women who have had C-sections and prefer them. One major "bonus" they have relayed to me is that their vagina is the same after, no stretching down there or anything. Also then there isn't as much labor pain, especially if you have the c-section before labor starts. I think it is just a matter of preference, but I don't think many women who don't need a c-section specifically ask for one.

goldenjes

I have prolapse issues, and the doc said once that if I'd had c/s I wouldn't have those problems.  Of course, this info is all in hindsight anyway.

That said, he wouldn't recommend having 4 kids via c/s anyway so it's a moot point.

 

aggielauren

This guy I worked with said his wife's doctor gave her the option of having a c-section or vaginal birth. The wife asked which was better for the baby and the doctor said it's better for the baby to be born by c-section because vaginal birth is very traumatic for the baby and doctor also said having a c-section was easier on the mother, so she ended up having a c-section.

I think it's a little silly for one reasoning to be that vaginal birth is traumatic for the baby since babies have been born that way for centuries, but whatever.

tmhutch

I don't know if this post is critizing people who have had c-sections or not, but the reason I chose to have one was for the safety of my baby.  After my water broke (I was about 8 cm dialated at that point) his heart rate started rapidly decreasing with contraction, so the doctors felt it was best to get him out.  We agreed, so we went with a c-section.  If that happened again, I would opt for the same.  I want whatever is safest for the baby.  Given that, I wouldn't just choose a c-section over vaginal birth if there wasn't a medical reason for it simply because I dont' necessarily feel it is "safer" than a vaginal birth.

goldenjes

aggielauren:

This guy I worked with said his wife's doctor gave her the option of having a c-section or vaginal birth. The wife asked which was better for the baby and the doctor said it's better for the baby to be born by c-section because vaginal birth is very traumatic for the baby and doctor also said having a c-section was easier on the mother, so she ended up having a c-section.

I think it's a little silly for one reasoning to be that vaginal birth is traumatic for the baby since babies have been born that way for centuries, but whatever.

This made me think of the post below about Boo Hoo asking if birth damages a baby's brain.

mrsnicolew

I attempted a vaginal birth with DD and failed. 18 hours later I was being wheeled into the OR. The entire time I was laboring was very scary. Meconium in my water, fever, fetal distress, failed epi etc....I did not want to go through that again and opted for a repeat c/s with this one.  

aegrimm

aggielauren:

This guy I worked with said his wife's doctor gave her the option of having a c-section or vaginal birth. The wife asked which was better for the baby and the doctor said it's better for the baby to be born by c-section because vaginal birth is very traumatic for the baby and doctor also said having a c-section was easier on the mother, so she ended up having a c-section.

I think it's a little silly for one reasoning to be that vaginal birth is traumatic for the baby since babies have been born that way for centuries, but whatever.

That doctor sounds like a quack. C-Section babies actually have a higher risk of fluid in the lungs. Babies born vaginally literally get the fluid squeezed out of them as they come out of the birth canal. Also, how can a doctor seriously say that major abdominal surgery is easier ont he mother than a vaginal birth?

And, in regards to PP saying that their friends had commented on their vagina not being stretched out, etc....it goes back to normal. I have no issues.

That said, I don't think the OP meant to flame C-Section moms, by any means. I think she was just asking why, if everything was perfectly safe and you could have a vaginal delivery, why moms would opt for a C-Section.

aegrimm

mrsnicolew:

I attempted a vaginal birth with DD and failed. 18 hours later I was being wheeled into the OR. The entire time I was laboring was very scary. Meconium in my water, fever, fetal distress, failed epi etc....I did not want to go through that again and opted for a repeat c/s with this one.  

I think VBACs are a little scary, too. If I ever ended up with a C-Section I think I would want to try a VBAC (if I had more kids) but they are scary and I understand why some moms would opt for a repeat C-Section in that case, too.

Jen&Louie

tmhutch:

I don't know if this post is critizing people who have had c-sections or not, but the reason I chose to have one was for the safety of my baby.  After my water broke (I was about 8 cm dialated at that point) his heart rate started rapidly decreasing with contraction, so the doctors felt it was best to get him out.  We agreed, so we went with a c-section.  If that happened again, I would opt for the same.  I want whatever is safest for the baby.  Given that, I wouldn't just choose a c-section over vaginal birth if there wasn't a medical reason for it simply because I dont' necessarily feel it is "safer" than a vaginal birth.

I assumed the nature of the post to mean - why would you choose a c-section if you didn't need one?

I can't imagine anyone criticizing a mother for having a section when medically necessary or if a complication arises. 

myonetruelove

I personally am scared to death of any major sugery and this is including c-sections. At my last appointment the doctor told me I was measuring big and that the baby may be 9lbs and up. She suggested a c-section and I went into panic. I'm only 32 weeks and she has not even done a U/S for measurement. I was clear to her that I did not want surgery unless it was completely necessary for the health of my babys and myself.

I don't judge those that do get them, but I cringe at the fact that they want them. Not for anything more than I'm scared of them.

TDM

You could still wind up with stitches from a vaginal birth...I've heard of many women w/ tears from giving birth. Just saying...

I think to each their own...it's whatever a person is comfortable with.  So long as baby makes it out safe & healthy, that's all that really matters.

PS.  FWIW, I am just going to go w/ the flow but I'm not opposed to either method.  C-section is very likely w/ me b/c of the twins but I'm cool with it as I'm not afraid of surgery.  

Krisann79

tmhutch:

I don't know if this post is critizing people who have had c-sections or not, but the reason I chose to have one was for the safety of my baby.  After my water broke (I was about 8 cm dialated at that point) his heart rate started rapidly decreasing with contraction, so the doctors felt it was best to get him out.  We agreed, so we went with a c-section.  If that happened again, I would opt for the same.  I want whatever is safest for the baby.  Given that, I wouldn't just choose a c-section over vaginal birth if there wasn't a medical reason for it simply because I dont' necessarily feel it is "safer" than a vaginal birth.

This post isn't to criticize.  I've just heard that some people literally would just prefer to have a c section by choice.  Literally just because that's what they want.

soko987

Personal preference. And it should be nobody's business.