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C-sections
Anyone Electing for a C-Section?
And anyone doing so as a first-timer?
Any thoughts?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Anyone Electing for a C-Section?
I forgot to ask, why would you "never" elect to have one? Bad experience?
I had an easy recovery from both my c/s and I think deep down I knew I would end up with one the first time around. With that said I'm glad I tried for a vaginal delivery with DS1. You are going to hear many bad vaginal births and good ones. Just like you will hear bad and good c/s stories. You need to talk to your doctor and dh about the risks and make an educated decisions.
I would never ever in my life pick to have this done.
It was the worst experince of my life other than having my baby in the NICU.
Interesting question. I had a wonderful vaginal, epi free birth with my first DD. I loved how it turned out and I planned on it with #2 but we ended up having to induce due to GD and some hypertension issues. After 8hrs the baby wouldn't come down at all. We ended up having to have a c-section.
I was fine with it as I knew I tired and baby wasn't cooperating (turned out b/c she was 9lbs 6oz lol). The horrible part I wasn't ready for was the recovery. It was brutal and I never expected it to feel that way. It's been 5 months and it still hurts on parts of my stomach, obviously it's still numb due to the cut muscles, etc.
I have to have RCS with this baby and i'm hoping for an easier recovery - which i've heard if it's your 2nd+ and you don't labor first, it's easier.
I'm not sure I would "elect" to have one because it is major surgery and the recovery was so bad. You lose alot of blood obviously and my bp dropped very low during the surgery and they had to give me some meds to help bring it back up. It's alot for a body to take but definetly not uncommon. It's up to you and your doctor what direction you want to go in. Whatever gets baby out safely is the right way to go!! GL
I think you are crazy for wanting one. the recovery is horrible and painful and lasts much longer than vaginal birth.
Almost all of this exactly for me, too. If we have a 2nd, I'll hope for a VBAC but I would be ok with a RCS because it wasn't a bad experience for me. I just won't opt for an unnecessary surgery.
To each her own. No judgement from me.
My LO was transverse so a c/s was necessary. The recovery for me was absolutely horrible, painful...it just plainsucked. I told myself if I could remember how terrible the pain was that I would probably never have another child. I have since forgotten just how bad and look forward to having another little one some day.
With that being said, I will opt for a c/s the second time around because I fear going into labor and then needing a c/s anyway. I've heard the chances increase with a VBAC...could be rumor but I'm just a scaredy cat.
The pain is totally worth the reward.
If that's what you would prefer - great. I might be biased though and hated having my c/s. I planned to do a epi free natural birth. Well after about 24 hrs of inactive and active labor I finally got the epi - 6 hrs later the doc said I should do a c/s because I wasn't progressing.
In the long run it was a good call - DD had her cord wrapped around her neck 4x's (this is crazy rare - in my dr's over 30 yrs of experience, it was the first time he ever saw this) and there was no way she could have gone through a natural birth.
That said - the recovery, because I was unprepared for what was involved for a c/s - was horrible. I life in a split foyer TH with three levels. My directions were for two weeks to only go up and down one flight of stairs, (so I couldn't even leave the house), lift nothing but the baby, and basically just sit around the house. It drove me nuts! Not to mention all the restrictions I had for a total of 6 weeks.
Like I said, I was miserable during recovery, but I wasn't prepared because I had my heart set on a natural birth. Lesson learned: things don't go as planned. But I wouldn't choose it for my second (if I'm blessed to have another). I just can't stand all that down time and the restrictions.
bfp#4 3/19/2014 edd 12/1/2014 please let this be the one!
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If your OB is letting you choose and that's what you feel comfortable with, more power to you. Giving birth is a personal experience and you're allowed to make decisions that involve your own body and your child. But I do agree with the posters who recommended research - lots of it. Be educated about what you're choosing.
I, unfortunately, am in the unlucky camp of having had a c/s after laboring and pushing for hours with no progress and have many, many regrets about my experience. I really wanted a vaginal birth, and I couldn't do it. It's hard to swallow. I also had a difficult recovery. I'm almost 10m pp and I still have soreness to the touch and numbness. Granted, recoveries do seem to be easier when the c/s is done before labor; and every woman's experience is different.
I originally wanted a natural water birth so it's strange for me to think about wanting a c-section as a first timer.
I had a planned c/s with DS because he was measuring very large. Not just heavy or anything but his belly was measuring large and they thought his shoulders would get stuck. I had gestational diabetes and there was a chance of a birth defect with abnormally broad shoulders. I had weekly ultrasounds (sometimes more because I also went to the ER a few times due to high blood pressure) for the last 6 weeks of pregnancy and each time he was measuring that way.
His shoulders ended up fine but his belly really was big, haha!! He was also super high up and was blocked by all my extra fluid so they thought he wouldn't have been able to drop all the way anyway. I elected to do it a week early because I was having pregnancy induced hypertension. All this I deem as medically necessary.
My recovery was pretty easy, I didn't labor before hand though. I'm undecided if I want to try VBAC or RCS next time. I need to do more research.
Just curious as to what you are trying to avoid or gain out of having a planned c-section? Since I never went through it labor and vaginal birth does intimidate me a bit but if I choose RCS it will be because I decide with my OB I'm not a good candidate for VBAC. I tend to live life with trying to avoid risk and not do "scary" things. For example- scared of heights then don't get on a roller coaster. But I think sometimes you have to face fears and giving birth is one of them.
I guess, technically, I am electing to have one. I had a really bad 4th degree tear with my first vaginal delivery, resulting in daily pain even 2.5 years later and significant nerve damage to the area that required months of physical therapy. I have had three separate medical opinions stating that I need one, but it is considered an elective C-section to my insurance company (which I find ridiculous). Even if I hadn't received the medical opinions, I would have requested one. But I don't think my situation is the norm.
I didn't have a bad c-section experience but I would also never elect to have one if there was no medical reasoning. I had really no choice as it was the safest way to deliver for me. If I had not had twins, complications, and premature birth, I would have wanted to go as natural as possible. Obviously my entire plan changed from early on. I can understand how having a c-section seems "easier". If it's planned, yes it is more calm and controlled, but I don't think that alone is a valid reason to be cut open. Sorry. I would make sure ahead of time that you insurance will pay if it is elective.
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I suppose my c/s was somewhat elective. I was almost 2 weeks late with DD so I was induced. After 14 hrs of front and back labor, I was tired and asked my ob to do a c/s and just get it over with. I have had previous back surgery which make an epi close to impossible, so I couldn't get much relief. After talking it over, I was at maybe 4cm and not yet fully effaced, so my ob agreed to perform the c/s.
This time around I am electing to have a RCS since I plan on also having my tubes tied. My recovery wasn't so bad. I have also had surgery before so I knew kind of what to expect.
My only regret, I guess you could call it, is the fact that I have to be under general anesthesia for the c/s. I have a few vertebra fused together which makes an epi incredably hard to perform. It sucks because no one is there to see LO be born and it is up to 2 hours until I see LO for the first time.
I am small/ narrow and he is measuring pretty big. Also, I am built just like my grandmother-- who had a 4th degree tear with her first and pretty bad (2nd or 3rd degree) tears with every child thereafter. I am not afraid of the pain of childbirth; just the after effects of vaginal delivery-- which can vary from essentially nothing to sometimes irreparable damage. With a c-section, at least I know what to expect and the degree of variability is much less. I have thoroughly researched and also listened to many anecdotes. I think it's the right decision for me
You do know about incisions reopening days, weeks, and even months after? Scar tissue, keloids, infections...there are just as many variables to c-section delivery as there are to vaginal.
Want to chime in - I have a similar history - family members who are small + big babies = bad tears. Your pelvis size has nothing to do with your overall size. I was barely a sz 2 until some recent weight gain due to a medication, but yet I had to purchase a large bike seat b/c my pelvic inlet was so large. You never know.
Pushing on your back can also cause tears, as can forcep & vacuum assisted births. In your Grandmothers day, women generally labored on their backs sometimes strapped to the hospital bed. If you want to avoid tearing, sit up, squat, something like that.
I wasn't too disappointed when I needed a c/s. But my ab muscles have never recovered (I was really into pilates for 6 years prior to becoming pregnant, so I had a good set of abs), & I have an awful keloid scar. My recovery wasn't awful except for the scar. 2 years later after having numerous rounds of steroid therapy (tape + injections), vitamin E oil, mederma, Bio -Oil, you name it, my scar still causes pain & itches all.day.long. I can only tolerate wearing jeans or regular pants for a few hours - it still hurts but I grin & bear it so I'm not wearing sweatpants or yoga pants all the time.
There's infection with vaginal deliveries, stitched areas coming open, etc. There is tons of variability either way but I'd rather the variability be in my abdomen than my vagina. Something about vaginal pain just freaks me out.
Have you looked into laser scar treatments/ therapies? I've read about having the scar essentially "cut off" and re- stitching the skin to create a new scar.
Originally, I wanted to do a water birth in a birthing center in order to avoid tearing (or at least trying to do so/ tearing less). I hate the way modern labors are conducted because our bodies just aren't meant to do it that way! However, by the time I looked into it, talked to my doctor (and found out she was not on board with me pushing in any position other than on my back/ sitting up in the bed), I was pretty far into pregnancy and did not want to change doctors.
She performed my mother's c-section for my sister (currently 3 years old-- weird, I know). And my mother had a great recovery, small scar, my dad got to be in the room, cut the cord, she was cleaned right next to my mom and dad, then he held her from O/R to recovery, etc. So since she was so happy with the experience and I saw first hand that it went very smoothly, I'd like to stick with the doctor and my second choice was a planned c-section.
I am so sorry to hear about your scar! I would talk to a dermo or plastic surgeon! It may even be covered under insurance!