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C-sections
RioG1978
member
Who loved their c-section experience?
RioG1978
member
in C-sections
After reading the "less than" vaginal birth post, I just wanted to put something out there about c-sections not always being this big, horrible thing to be avoided at all costs. I had a doula who attempted to dissuade me from a c-section with a major guilt trip, and I'm still bitter about it. So I want to put out there that sometimes, it's not that bad!
I found out LO was breech at 39 weeks or so. OB humoured me with a version attempt, but it didn't work (I'm sure she knew it wouldn't work, but was willing to try for me). My doula (who I paid to be supportive, not judgemental and "choosy" about my birth plan) actually told me that women who deliver vaginally are better mothers. I know she meant well, but she really left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
I chose the c-section route rather than waiting to see if baby would turn on her own, or exploring a breech vaginal delivery (doula wanted me to do both those things). I had a good feeling from my ob, she instilled a lot of confidence in me, and I just wanted what was safest and easiest for my baby (and I won't lie - for me too. The thought of a breech vaginal delivery made my stomach turn).
The nurses were wonderful, doctors were great. I felt like I was on an episode of MASH the whole time on the table - only thing missing was Alan Alda! (Yes, I'm giving away my age with that line). Everyone was really nice, the spinal was not at all painful, it wore off quickly, I didn't feel so much as a pinch or a poke, my DH was in the room with me and we laughed at the doctors conversation. I found out my ob was from Romania and her daughters name is the same one we had chosen. 
I did throw up a couple of times, but no big deal. I was holding and nursing within the hour. And the nice thing was my DH got to hold her for that entire hour before I did, so they got some good bonding time in.
I'm 4 weeks out and so far recovery has been great. The pain is sticking around a little longer than I anticipated (irritation is a better word than pain) but nothing a couple of tylenol can't fix. I've been walking since day 3, and other than lifting heavy things and vacuuming, I have my old self back.
After that experience I have done a complete 180 in my mindset - I'll totally go for a repeat for my second baby, unless I naturally go into labour first.
As someone said to me when I was upset about her being breech and trying to decide what to do - be thankful you don't live 200 years ago when your only choice was to suffer and possibly die along with your baby. While I definitely think sometimes our modern ways are harmful, there are some instances where we can take advantage of them without guilt, and be grateful for the advancements.
I have a beautiful girl who suffered no trauma during her birth (other than the usual culture shock), and have developed a healthy new respect for doctors and nurses. A refreshing change from the culture of skepticism we seem to live in now.
And I haven't given a second thought to not "experiencing" a vaginal birth. Big whoop. I didn't go through hours and hours of pain only to come home and go through months of sleep deprivation.
And my milk came in immediately, if anyone has concerns about that.
I came to this board while researching my decision a month ago, and it was things like "less than" a vaginal birth, and all this rhetoric about women who deliver naturally and vaginally and standing on their heads that caused me anxiety. If anyone else is researching this choice, know that a c-section can be a wonderful birth experience. I can honestly say I really enjoyed the whole thing and found it very interesting. So don't let anyone guilt you if that is your decision.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Who loved their c-section experience?
Your doula sounds like a bitchface. Wow.
I loved my c/s births. I chose a c/s over induction with #1, and happily signed up for a RCS with #2 (and #3, upcoming!) I liked knowing exactly when the baby was coming, being totally prepared with packed bags and a nice dinner out the night before with DH, and having the ability to line up care for our pets and other baby(ies). The c/s itself was great. I felt nothing, DH and I were giddy and excited, and it seemed like just a few minutes before we were looking at our baby! I recovered quickly, was up showering/blow drying/putting on make up the next morning, and my hospital stay was more like a mini-vacation.
And yeah, you won't see me mourning over not pushing something out of my vagina. Great for those who enjoy that experience, but I feel great about the way I chose to birth, as well.
(read it. you know you want to.)
anderson . september 2008
vivian . february 2010
mabel . august 2012
Honestly, I at first was against c/s and thought if you can do it vaginally, you should. My birth experiance changed all that.I was 41 weeks 3days, went in for an induction...and nothing seemed to work to get my labor going. they finally broke my water, and things started to progress.I got to 5 cm, and asked for the epidural(something I didnt really want either). I am so thankful for epidurals! I had been in the hospital 24 hours by that time, and hadnt gotten any sleep. So to rest a little bit was a life saver. Come to find out, I stayed at 5cm another 6 hours. So then they started talking about a c/s. DD wasnt in distress, but I knew she wouldnt last like that forever. They said her head was down, but she felt stuck. So I decided with the c/s. I also had a doula, and though she tried her best to be supportive, you could tell it bugged her that we went that way. Yours sounds horribly judgmental.
So we went with the c/s. I am SO happy we did. I had a great experiance with it. Was so quick, the doctors were great. and most of all I have a very healthy beautiful daughter. That is the most important thing when it comes to birth I think. That everyones healthy.
Come to find out, DD was face presentation, trying to come out forehead first. They said I wouldnt have been able to delive vaginally anyways; I know there are some who will probably say I could have. But I'm so happy with the way things went. I will defnitly do a rcs. My recovery was also good. I did have trouble BF, but I dont believe thaat was do to the c/s but something else.
Sorry its so long but I wanted to tell my birth story too and say that you never know how things are going to go. Everyones situation is different. What might be right for you(going on the less than vaginal birth post)is not right for the other person. The main thing is happy healthy babies!
Right on! I've had two c-sections and will schedule a repeat with this one as well. I was almost back to my normal self by the time I left the hospital with #2.
C-sections are not the devil. To those who think they're better mothers for delivering vaginally or "standing on heads," the baby you take home from the hospital is no different than mine.
Women will always feel the need to tear other women down, talk about how they did it better/had it harder/etc. Take it with a grain of salt and do what's best for your family. Those who have a holier than thou attitude will one day get theirs.
I would have preferred to have a choice in the matter, but given the fact that I didn't, I LOVED my c-sections. I'm having my 4th in less than 3 months.
My first 2 were breech - head up, feet down. NO WAY to turn either. I didn't attempt an ECV since I was told that I had a 35% shot with TWO (yes, 2) OB's doing the version. So, I opted for the c-section.
With my 3rd, I wasn't allowed to VBAC, although the "guidelines" have changed since I had my DS. So, c-section it was.
With this one (my 4th), the ONLY way for me to VBAC is to have a home birth. While I don't have any issues with home births, this is my 4th PG and I have never labored. I am worried about something going wrong. 8 minutes to my hospital in an emergency situation is too long for me.
So, I had really good experiences so far and hope this one is just as good.......
My experience was similar to yours Rio except we didn't have a doula. We found out DS was frank breech around 36 or 37 weeks. My OB doesn't recommend the version because he and his partner feel they aren't usually effective and the risks to the baby are high. We scheduled a c/s for 39w3d. At first I was really upset about it. I had wanted to labor at home as long as possible an then labor in the hospital before delivering. Once I thought about it, the goal was to have a healthy and safe delivery. It only really took a day or two before I was ok with our decision. I realized that I wouldn't be exhausted from laboring and I've had several friends who labored for 18+ hrs and ended up with a c/s.
DH works for his family and I was upset that everyone knew what day we were going to deliver. I didn't want family in the hospital "hanging out" and expecting to be in the room while laboring or right after our c/s. however, DS decided to come a few days early. My water broke at 1 am and we were in the operating room at 3:30 ready for the c/s. He was born before anyone knew we were in the hospital which was exactly what we wanted. We wanted time to bond as our family.
I went to recovery with DS and DH and was able to breast feed early on with the help of an LC. We were moved to the regular room about an hr later and DH texted everyone to tell them DS was born!
My recovery has been pretty good. I did vomit all morning after my c/s and ripped open my incision so I had to get staples that afternoon. I was moving to a chair to eat dinner that night and walking/showering and dwelling pretty good the next day. I asked to leave the hospital 1 day early and only took Ibuprophen. I was sore at home from getting up and down out of bed to BF and just from the demands of being at home. I honestly think I had a great c/s experience. I've had comments from some of DH's family that "thank god they used to let you deliver breech babes vaginally" which to me implies that they feel bad I didn't get to deliver vaginally but honestly I didnt want to get him almost out and then get stuck at his shoulders/legs and head.
lil_jen - I could have written your post, word for word!
Obviously in a perfect world we all get what we want... but it's like we've been brainwashed to "want" certain things, and then are made to feel bad when it doesn't go that way.
I wouldn't say I loved my experience but it was a lot better than I expected. I was induced at 41w2d. DD wasn't handling the pitocin contractions. Her heart rate was dropping after each one for an hour straight (after having been on it for about 13 hours). So my doc said we had to do a c/s. I did break down crying. I knew I was a high risk for a c/s but I really thought, & had hoped, I could have her vaginally. But whatever had to be done to get her out safe & healthy, had to be done - ya know?
When they got her out the cord was wrapped around her neck twice. The nurse got her over the the table to clean her up & the only thing I could see was the top of her head. I was just like, "OMG look at that head! I'm so happy I didn't have to push it out!" She was 9lbs5oz w/ a 14in head. Everyone, doctors & nurses & us, were shocked. Even the doc thought she'd only be 6 or 7lbs. He said, "That's the biggest vegetarian baby I've ever seen!"
I did end up getting sick twice in the OR. Which really ticked me off b/c I had managed to not get sick at all while pregnant! The only pain I felt while in the hospital was my shoulders & when getting up (& sneezing, etc) & first walking around. The only time I took a pain pill was on my last day there to see how I would react. Then I took them twice that same day after getting home. But only b/c of the headaches & the pain from engorgement. Since then it would hurt when sneezing & everything. But that went away pretty quick.
I'll admit, the only negative thing about having a super easy recovery (who would have thought there'd be something negative, right?) is people (or person I should say - MIL) treating me like I hadn't gone through the birth of a child & need to be able to rest & recover.
Heck liking (or having watched) MASH doesn't say anything about age! I'm 25 & love that show!
I had a great c-section experience. I had to have a c-section because DS was breech. I tried so many things to try to get him to flip to no avail.
The worst thing about the whole process was having the IV placed. That hurt like a b!tch. The spinal didn't hurt at all. It was just a little pinch. During the surgery I didn't feel a thing. I didn't throw up at all.
After they got him out, they weighed him and wrapped him up and brought him over to DH and I. The nurses snapped some pics of us. After pics DH and the baby went over to recovery to wait for me while I was getting stitched up.
As soon as they wheeled me into recovery I was handed my baby and began to BF immediately. Within an hour my spinal wore off and I was brought to my pp room. I made sure to take the ibuprofen and percoset when they were offered.
By the next day I was walking around(very slowly) and showering. My surgery was on a Monday morning and my milk came in on Wednesday night. I was home on Thursday afternoon.
My recovery at home was also great. I made sure to take my meds. By Saturday afternoon I was at Walmart and going to a baby shower.
I'm pretty sure for my 2nd child I will schedule a rcs.
This EXACTLY for me as well!
The only c/s I have an issue with is my first. Nearly 3 years later and I still have lingering feelings of guilt about things I could have done or tried. Everything turned out ok and we were both healthy, but that first c/s changed the whole plan for our family. We probably won't have as many kids as we initially thought.
I'm actually more ok with my failed vbac than my first c/s.
However, the process for both surgeries was great. I have absolutely no complaints as to how things were handled and my recoveries were fantastic. My doctor and the hospital staff was wonderful.
My kids are healthy and it doesn't matter how they were delivered. I don't feel like a bad mom for having c-sections, nor would I feel super empowered by vaginal births. Like I said, my only regret is the loss of our original family plan.
Great post.
My baby is breech and so unless there is a miracle flip over the next couple weeks I'll be having a c-section. I am VERY disappointed that I'll miss the experience of a natural birth. But similar to you my mantra has simply been "thank goodness for modern medicine".
I am not looking forward to a longer, more painful recovery but if that is what is in store for me then I'll just do my best to deal with it.
That doula sounds like a quack.
I loved my 2nd c-section experience, it was great! I am so glad I opted for the RCS. Everything was so controlled and I knew exactly what to expect. My pain was minimal and recovery went very well. The hospital staff were wonderful and I felt like I had a picture perfect delivery!
I think a c-section experience (with everything going normally) is what you make of it. If you anticipate a horrible experience, it may happen. But if you concentrate on a good experience and recovery, that may happen as well.
Married October 16th, 2010
TTC #1 since October 2010
1st BFP 1-12-11
MC'd 1-22-11
2nd BFP 2-15-11
Our Wee One....**KENNEDY JO** born 10/3/11@ 36weeks via Csection
My BFP Chart
Labor Buddy to **MRS.ATCH** Welcome Quinn 11-5-11**
I had two breech c-sections, and LOVED my experience. My doctor was pro vbac, so we were going to try that, but it turned out my second was breech too:).
I'm happy that I'm happy about my experiences, if you know what I mean. Some people try to put me down by saying, "oh, you had to have a c-section? Owwww...." but I'm so happy about my experiences that those comments don't bother me one bit:D
Proud mother of two breech babies:)
My first c-section was difficult. Not the surgery itself but the circumstances surrounding it. DD was 32 weeks and while I was the the hospital for a non stress test, her heart rate plummeted twice and I was rushed to the OR for an emergency c-section. She passes away 4 months later after open heart surgery. She was three heart defects as well as defects in her trachea and esophagas and duodendum.
For my second pregnancy I chose another c-section. I talked to my OB about it and he said he would support any decision I made; however, for me another c-section was the right choice. I had an incredible amount anxiety and an impending feeling of doom when it came to delivery, so I decided it would be best for me if I had another c-section since I already knew what to expect and I liked the idea that I could schedule it.
The second c-section went prefectly. No problems at all and the recovery as fine except for some bad constipation. Sometimes I wonder if I should have done a vaginal birth with my second, but then I remember how worried I was and I knew I made the right decision for my mental health at that time. If anything went even slightly wrong during a vaginal birth, I probably would have had a panic attack. I knew something could have gone wrong during the c-section too, but for some reason I felt more comfortable with the c-section option.
I have had a thrid c-section and again, everything went fine. I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to give birth vaginally, but honestly, I don't really think about it that much.
Thanks for starting this post!! Good way to get some positive vibes flowing on the board again!
BFP #2 March 2011, Baby Girl born November 2011!!!
I've had 3 c/s now and I had a great expereince with all 3. This last one was by far the easiest recovery. I up and moving within hours, off pain meds pretty quickly and have not had hardly any pain. I think maybe deep down I knew I'd end up with a c/s with my first so I have never had any guilt or anger or sadness towards having a c/s.
Loved it! Although I was never one who cared much about the birth process. I just wanted LO to be here safely. I went in thinking whatever happens will happen.
I was induced and after 9 hours of labor I had not progressed really at all. LO's heart rate got really low and OB said it is time for a Csection. After they told me her heart rate was dropping all I could think was get her out of me, get her safe. I was ok with hearing Csection. It went really well. I was wide awake but didn't feel a thing. I had a great anesthesiologist who told me play by play what was happening. He even snapped some pictures for me. DH had the video camera and then she was here! She was rushed to the wamring table to be suctioned and have just a little oxygen. There was a lot of meconium in there with her. The whole time that was happening the anesthesiologist was telling me what they were doing and that she looked great and healthy. DH brought her to me and I could move my arms so I was able to somewhat hold her and see her and get a family picture. After that DH took her to the nursery and I was stapled up. Everyone was talking to me and I never felt out of the loop. My OB came back down to tell me her weight 9lbs 12oz and that she was perfectly healthy. I was then wheeled into recovery where I dozed in an out for about 15-20 min. I asked the nurse if she could go get my DH and daughter that I wanted to feed her. She obliged and about 5 min later they were both with me. I was able to BF just fine and I felt great. I was in recovery for almost an hour and they wheeled us into our room. We had tons of visitors and I felt fine. I was up moving around the next morning and showered. I went home after two days. I took the pain meds while in the hospital but once I was home I didn't need them. One week later was Xmas and we have a million family parties that we attend between xmas eve and xmas day. We did everything I felt normal.
I asked about VBAC this time b/cI felt like I should. When he said he didn't consider me a good candidate I was relieved that I would be having a RCS.
I loved both of my c-sections. My recovery was a breeze for both of them They were both very different as one was with the epidural and one was a spinal. The spinal was much easier, but the epidural the only real problem I had was I got the shakes really bad after my daughter was taken out.
I was up and walking in no time and I did not take any pain meds other then motrin to sleep for the first 2 days. Then I did not need any meds.
I'm very happy with my c/s experiences. I actually WANTED a c-section when I was pregnant with my first. The thought of pushing something the size of a watermelon out of a hole the size of a kiwi just didn't appeal to me. Plus, c-sections are the norm for my family, my mom and sister both had them due to their body structure (pelvic openings are too small). But, my doctor told me I had to give it the "old college try". Which I did, but when I failed to progress after 15 hours of labor due to a fibroid I ended up with a c-section. My recovery was really easy, save the constipation afterwards. DS never left my sight after he was born, as my hospital doesn't separate mom and baby so DS was handed over to DH and they walked back with me as I was taken to my room to recover. Two funny things I remember from the procedure were seeing my reflection in the large light over the operating table before they turned on the light and thinking I looked like a frog getting ready to be dissected. And the OR staff counting the instruments as they closed me up. LOL!
For DD, I had a RCS which was scheduled 4 months in advance at 39 weeks 1 day with the same OB that delivered DS. It was so nice knowing exactly when she would be born (unless she came early) and it was super easy. I joked with my OB when we were in the OR (I actually did for my first c/s as well). I did have nausea and heaved a few times, but the anesthesiologist took care of me quickly. I'd say the only part that I didn't like is the sensation of not being able to feel myself breathing, even though I knew in my head I was, it was nerve-wracking. My recovery from the second was slightly harder than the first, but that is because I had an 18 month toddler running around who didn't understand that I couldn't lift him (which I ended up doing way before I was supposed to). Oh, and my milk was in within a day or two.
It drove me nuts when people would say to me "oh....you have to have a c-section again? That's too bad". And I'd say "yep, not a candidate for a VBAC and don't want one anyways!" Just because I didn't jack up my hoohaw to deliver my babies, doesn't mean I am any less of a mother to them. I think too many women lose sight of the end goal when "planning" their birth, which in my mind is healthy baby, healthy mom. For me, when I was asked what my birth plan was I said "I have a baby inside of me, I want him out in the safest way possible for both of us". In the end, that's all that really matters.