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C-sections
seeking advice from women who have had c-section and vaginal delivery
I am a first time mom, due June 28 and my doctor has recently suggested that it would be best for me to get a c-section. I can still do a vaginal delivery if I choose, but it could make my situation (down there) worse. I did not realize how terrifying this idea was until she mentioned it. Not only am I worried about the surgery aspect, but I'm worried about the recovery length. What's the recovery process and length of a c-section v. vaginal delivery. Did anyone with a c-section have problems with breastfeeding afterward a c-section? Also, I plan to have at least 1, maybe 2 more children and I worry about having the surgery done 3 times. Someone please let me know your experience.
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Re: seeking advice from women who have had c-section and vaginal delivery
I had a c/s with my first and then VBACed my second. I had an easy c/s delivery but my vaginal delivery was still much easier. I could get up and felt ready to go home an hour after the vaginal delivery while it took weeks for the healing from the c/s (because it is major surgery). There are also more risks with surgery than a vaginal birth (especially when you are talking about a first delivery). But I don't know the extent of your medical problems that are causing the doctor to believe that is the best way to go. It could be that surgery is actually safer for you if there is a medical issue.
Both of my children were champion breast feeders, so no difference there.
Is there a reason why your doc wants you to have a c/s instead of try vag? Personally I would have rather had vag bc it is major surgery. And although I think my recovery went well I think it would have been a lot better with vag. I didnt get to walk around until the next day. I delivered at six at night. I had my LO on a Monday and got released from the hospital on that Thursday - if her biliruben levels werent so high we would have been home on Wed.
The only thing with breastfeeding that I had a "problem" with was that it took almost five days for my milk to come in. I guess its common when you have a c/s for it to take a little longer than if you have a vag delivery.
I got approval at my 6 week pp apt to DTD - we did it the day after and I thought it was awesome! I had no pain at all. I did get a little dry so we used lube.
Now I have heard some girls who had a c/s say that it hurt really bad. I think its different for everyone. I didnt dilate at all so maybe thats why it didnt hurt.
IMPO I think this is a silly reason to want a c/s rather than a vag delivery. Like I mentioned before some girls who have c/s still have paintful sex afterwards. So I dont think just bc you ahve a c/s that will mean no pain for sex PP.
I think it's important to remember that people can have really easy recovery with either method of delivery, as well as really awful recovery with either.
I've been fortunate to have relatively easy recoveries. Both of my DDs were induced early due to complications. DD1 was a successful induction and vaginal delivery. I had an episiotomy and did not tear. DD2 didn't handle induction well, so I had a c/s. I am 2 weeks post-op and feel fairly good (other than when I sneeze!). All things considered, I would say the recovery is easier with a vaginal delivery. GL!
I had a vaginal birth with my first, and a c/s with my second because she was breech.
Neither recovery is a walk in the park, in my experience -- but the c/s was much harder. Part of that, admittedly, was because I was also trying to care for my toddler during the recovery period; and that it took three days to get my pain well-managed. (I should've asked for more/different meds, sooner.) It took me way longer to not be knocked-out at the end of the day, and the least little thing tired me out. There was no napping-when-baby-naps because I had to be up for my toddler, and I'm sure that the lack of additional rest had an impact on my recovery vs. when I only had one baby.
Eventually they both got to about the same level of discomfort (in different ways); but I'd say my c/s recovery progress was a good 2-3 weeks behind my vaginal recovery (which was pretty good, with only a small tear).
On the plus side with the c/s, I could sit down comfortably without needing to have an inflatable donut under me, pee without crying because my stitches hurt, and not have ice packs in my undies for the first few weeks. On the downside, I couldn't drive for the first two weeks, and like I said, it took me a lot longer to feel normal and like I was back to my old self in what I could & couldn't do.
No issues with BFing either time, except that my DD2 liked to kick at my incision while nursing side-lying, and that was frustrating. If anything, I had fewer BFing issues with my second because I knew what I was doing and my body had already been through the process once.
DD1, 1/5/2008 ~~~ DD2, 3/17/2010
I had a vaginal with my first and c/s with my second.
My first was a very fast, wonderful experience. I was up walking right after they got me cleaned and I took a shower not long after as well. I did have to have some pain meds but I only took them for a few days. My bleeding was minimal and I felt normal within the first 4/5 days or so? (it's been 6.5 years since then so I forget exactly how long!)
Obviously the c/s wasn't going to be as great as that lol. I had labored first and though I dialated to 8/9, my DD wouldn't descend (later found due to her weight). My actual c/s was great but recovery was definetly hard for me that first week. They had to switch my pain meds because what they gave me wasn't cutting out the pain. Getting up off the couch or out of bed made it feel like my incision was ripping apart so I would sleep in a chair to try and eliminate the trouble. They pumped so many bags of fluids in me it hurt to walk from the swelling in my legs and feet (I thought they were going to explode they were so tight).
Recovery just really surprised me because the only other surgical procedure I had before was an outpatient LAP. My advice, if you do decide on c/s, is remember it is major surgery and take it easy on yourself. Pay attention to your bodys limits and accept help from family or your SO, etc. Definetly stay on top of those pain meds and speak up if they aren't working for you.
It took a good 5-6 weeks before I started feeling "normal" again. I bled alot longer with my c/s and I think that plus the stomach staying swollen from surgery contributed to it. I was driving and back to a more normal routine by 2 weeks though.
*eta - my clinic doesn't worry about scar tissue and issues with more c/s until you get to your 4th*
I had a vaginal delivery with my first and a c/s with my twins (breech presentation). Neither was really easier or harder, they both had their benefits and downfalls. With my vaginal delivery using the bathroom could be terrifying, I was scared to have sex, it was uncomfortable to sit up (I could sit in the bed and have the head raised as long as I wasn't sitting straight up) without feeling a bunch of pressure from my episiotomy. With my c/s I didn't have any of that but sneezing, coughing, laughing, blowing my nose were all very difficult, however the bathroom and sex were a breeze.
I would definitely talk to your doc more about what your risk is of things becoming more painful. I know one PP said that it's a silly reason to have a c/s but I disagree. Sex is a very important part of a marriage IMO (whether you have sex daily or just once a month) and if it made things so painful that you would never get to have sex again, I would have a c/s in a heartbeat (you're talking about a 1 hour surgery with a few week recovery so you can continue to have sex with your husband over the span of your life).
I'm not a big fan of c/s, I do think that in most situations a vaginal delivery should at least be attempted as long as there are no risks to mother and baby (avoids surgery, helps to squeeze the fluid out of the baby, though contractions aren't fun it's something that you only get to experience such a short time in your life), but I do think c/s definitely have their place in modern medicine.
I don't think a vaginal delivery is necessarily easier just because it's not considered major surgery. I had a difficult vag delivery the first time around and it was awful. I ended up with over 20 stitches and it took weeks before I was healed enough to walk without pain and many months before sex was even comfortable, let alone enjoyable. On top of that, my bladder has prolapsed because my vaginal muscles are too weak to support it as a result of the long labor.
Needless to say, I'm having a c-section this time around, and I suspect that even if I end up with complications, it still can't possibly be worse than my vaginal delivery and the resulting complications. Just because a vaginal delivery isn't considered a major surgery doesn't mean that it will be easy.
If you have a disorder like this I would say listen to your doctor. Obviously only you can decide. But I'd bet that getting the boards opinion isn't much help to you because most of us (if not all of us) haven't experienced vulvodynia.
I'm also at a bit of a loss because I haven't had a vaginal delievery.
I can tell you a bit about my experience with a c/s though. I had a c/s after 18 hours of labor. I only made it to a 5 and DS was breech. For some reason I think I always knew I'd end up with a c-section. Having that baby come out either way terrified me though. DS was born at the end of the month so I got to endure several horror stories of "tearing" "ripping" "cutting" etc from my month board. In the end I was pretty thankful for have a c/s. I've never had a huge desire to actually give birth.
DS was delievered at 10:32 pm on a Tuesday night. I was home by Thursday afternoon. I think I was there something like 29-30 hours after delievery. I had 20 staples (which were removed before I left). My scar is completely unnoticable (like a 5-6 inch long white line where there should be pubic hair covering. I was (and shouldn't have been) doing several stairs, lifting, etc the second I came home. The only horrible pain I had was getting in and out of bed.
I know not every c-section goes as well as mine did. However vaginal births are all different too. I'm really on the fence about whether I would want to attempt a VBAC or not. A c/s is major surgery. But it's major surgery that is rarely live threatening (especially when planned). It's pretty routine to say the least and if you trust your doctor you're probably in good hands.
If I were in your shoes I would think this way though while trying to decide---a c-section is pain for awhile and a scar on my stomach. Chancing a vaginal might lead to more pain forever and putting a scar on intimate relationships forever.
I saw that this means... you've got a personal message... but what is that suppose to mean? I shouldn't be sharing my story? Or that someone has sent me a personal message... if so, how do I access it?
It means I sent you a private message. See the side where all the different boards are listed? Scroll way down to the bottom to the My Boards section and there is a link that says Check Private Messages.
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Well I kind of had both for one delivery.
I labored and pushed for 1.5 hours, got an episiotomy and had a forceps attempt. Then I had a c-section under general anesthesia.
After all that, my vagina felt better a lot sooner than my c-section incision.
I hope to never have another c-section.
~after 34 cycles we finally got our 2nd little bundle of joy~
My IF blog
It is major surgery alway's remember this and thing's could happen that would not be great. But with that said it is more than likley will be fine.
For recovery IMO everyone is different it took me a good 3months pp to feel better.I have had three vaginal birth and one c-section. With my last two vaginal birth's I went home the same day as I came it was wonderful! I only stayed three day's with my son because at that time that is what they required at the time.
I have heard of women having a c-section and feeling fine within two week's I personally would try for the vaginal first. I hope everything goes well for you no matter what you choose.
MDC- 10-2-96 CEC- 4-12-98 EEC- 3-10-01