C-sections less traumatic?

jennyhatt · August 2014

I had an uncomplicated (albeit very long) medication free vaginal birth. It was empowering, amazing, scary, hurt like a bitch, and due to the lengthy ness I am not exactly looking forward to it again. I definitely wasn't traumatized but I will never ever forget being manually stretched of my last half centimetre (yowzers my cervix hurts thinking about it)....
I'm right there with you @LadyXaverian‌ - births can be a whole mix of emotions.
Although this birth should be easier because I'll be face timing with my doula @stargirlb

thompnia · September 2014

NatureLovers said:
Um, this entire thread was focusing on c-section horror stories, to point out how c-sections are more traumatic than vag births @Beckydewell‌ So the other side of the coin definitely deserves to be heard. There's this idea that vag births are "always" the better, safer choice and that simply is not true.

I don't recall seeing a single horror story about a c section in this thread... Granted I didn't reread it all, so correct me if I am wrong. The video was fairly accurate with the average c section I have assisted.

There are several vaginal birth horror stories here.

LadyXaverian · September 2014

If anyone is ever interested in reading my non-traumatic long labor/c-section birth story, just let me know. I'm happy to share the blog entry with you.

This offer is for everyone, but I'd especially love to share it with FTMs who are extra nervous about giving birth.

Beckyboo71 · September 2014

I didn't watch the videos, but I agree with what most are saying, which is, who cares how you choose to give birth, or what is "planned for you"....as long as we all deliver healthy babies. I remember being a little bummed that I had to have a c-section with DD (she was breech), because I wouldn't have all the "labor and delivery" stories my friends all had. But I got over it quickly. I wasn't really nervous about having one the first time, and the only thing I am not looking forward to this time is getting the spinal block. But I will get over that too

BookitBoo · September 2014

@Excitedmama2

I love you. Excuse me while I lose myself forever in soothing manatee love

Beauxbaton · September 2014

@BookitBoo‌ Manatee doula thinks you can get through any type of birth

Taybearstare · September 2014

Im late to this thread , but let me add my two cents.I had a semi planned c-section with my first and did not find the surgery itself traumatizing . The experience that led up to it wasn't the best. I think the hardest part is hearing from people who feel that is was easy, or that you didn't really go through the birthing process and forget its still major abdominal surgery. That recovery is no joke. I don't feel like i lost out on anything just because i needed medical intervention to get my baby out. Just a different way to bring an amazing life into the world. No shame in that.

mommytoomany · September 2014

I have no choice but have a repeat csection. Where I live they don't do vbacs they think they are too dangerous. I had an emergency csection at 29 weeks with my twins because my water broke and a repeat for my youngest. It was a tougher recovery for my twins but my daughter was a piece of cake. Two days later never felt like I hadit done

ghostof5letters · September 2014

I'm a big fan of c-sections. It's the civilized way of giving birth.

This thread really isn't helpful, and totally fear mongering IMO.

LadyXaverian · September 2014

ICarriedAWatermelon said:

@stargirlb, it says right under the video that this is a c section performed because of fetal hypoxemia. They're literally rushing to get the baby out because the cord is around its neck and it's not oxygenating. Baby is in distress.

In most c sections on which I've assisted, mom is awake and talking. The surgeons are conversing on occasion with mom.

You don't show a crash c section and contrast it with a silent home birth in your next post. This is NOT the video I would have chosen to demonstrate a typical c section.

Thank you for sharing this. I didn't even watch the video, but this brings perspective. I was awake and calm and talking a little with my husband and the medical staff when appropriate during my c/s, and I was wheeled out with Nora in my arms very soon after. I obviously didn't see or feel what was going on other than a little of tugging, and nothing felt or seemed violent. But again, I didn't watch my own c/s, and I didn't watch the video posted, either.

So thanks @ICarriedAWatermelon for explaining why this one seems traumatic compared to the home birth clip.

thompnia · September 2014

ICarriedAWatermelon said:
I've assisted on several c sections. I wouldn't call them violent. I'd call them pretty damn cautious. This is a really rapid-fire c section.

@stargirlb, it says right under the video that this is a c section performed because of fetal hypoxemia. They're literally rushing to get the baby out because the cord is around its neck and it's not oxygenating. Baby is in distress.

Someone above pointed out that mom is under general anethesia. This is likely because there wasn't time to perform a spinal in advance of the csection, given fetal distress.

In most c sections on which I've assisted, mom is awake and talking. The surgeons are conversing on occasion with mom.

You don't show a crash c section and contrast it with a silent home birth in your next post. This is NOT the video I would have chosen to demonstrate a typical c section.

I will say that I misread the caption then, I thought it was a repeat c section for oligo. I wouldn't call this c section violent either. The speed seemed typical. The only things that seemed odd to me were the forceps use and the odd draping.

Most of the c sections I've been in on (100+) have been that speed. Some surgeons will slow down for closure, but this is just personal preference.

Edited to add: the true crash c sections I've been in have had an incision to birth time of less than thirty seconds. This video is more than four minutes long.

texasmama786 · September 2014

I've had two c-sections and they certainly weren't traumatic. I will most likely be having a third. I tend to have large babies that stay breech and for some reason my body doesn't progress properly through labor, even with potocin. Knowing that my baby will be delivered safely is all that I care about. I have the best OB doing my surgeries so I know that I'm in good hands. Birth is hard no matter what way you have it. Once that baby cries you forget about all of the pain. For my own sanity I choose not to watch birth videos. Yes the human body is amazing, but I don't need to see it.

rainbows · September 2014

@icarriedawatermelon Do you have a video for c-section that you would recommend? I dont plan on having one, but I think it would be good to a more tame video, just in case its necessary.

MarxieVonTrapp · September 2014

Beckydewell said:

MarxieVonTrapp said:

Recovery was pretty easy. I was back to one mile walks within two weeks. Everyone is different. A friend of mine had a med-free, unassisted birth, and wound up having to get complete reconstructive surgery on her vagina and anus. So...yeah. Everyone is different, and everyone has different experiences.

Thank you, LadyXaverian.

I get what you're doing here, but just like we don't focus on the csection horror stories, could we stop bringing up the vaginal birth horror stories? Most people who have sections will be perfectly fine, just like most people who have vaginal births will be perfectly fine. I don't think it's helpful to try to freak out anybody about what's coming, regardless how baby makes his/her entrance. For the record, I had to be induced at 42 weeks due to low fluid, and still had a very uncomplicated vaginal birth with minor tearing, but even I cringe and get slightly stressed when people talk about the extremely rare horror stories.

My point was only that for every calm and easy unassisted water birth, there's something on the other end of the spectrum. For every non-traumatic, easy recovery c/s, there's one where mom was traumatized for various reasons. Every birth is different. Every one is different, and every mother has different experiences and different recoveries and different feelings.

ghostof5letters · September 2014

If you'd like to show a video of a c-section due to fetal hypoxemia, maybe you should show a home birth that encounters fetal hypoxemia and see how that one ends up.That would be apples to apples, no? Same circumstances, different settings? It's only fair.

summererobinson · September 2014

There isnt really a soft way unless you want a giant cut through your stomach. They have to pull like that in order to get the baby out through the smaller cut. However, emergencies are going to be worse than a planned. Mom is awake and talking. I got to hold my son after about 30 minuets. However, while it may be easier durning, it sure as hell isnt after! I have had both, and recovery is worse for a c section!

Roxycc55 · September 2014

summererobinson said:
There isnt really a soft way unless you want a giant cut through your stomach. They have to pull like that in order to get the baby out through the smaller cut. However, emergencies are going to be worse than a planned. Mom is awake and talking. I got to hold my son after about 30 minuets. However, while it may be easier durning, it sure as hell isnt after! I have had both, and recovery is worse for a c section!

Unless you have a fourth degree tear.

BookitBoo · September 2014

An emergency csection (which anyone can end up with) is different than a planned csection. My friend recently had her second, a RCS, and said that the recovery is so much better/easier/quicker. My recovery from my emergency c-section was nbd. The blood clotting issue I had was a problem that developed in labor.

I guess all I'm saying is that anything unexpected or unplanned happening during labor is bound to be traumatic. No matter If you're in a hospital or at home.

But ultimately any birth that results in a happy and healthy mama and baby is a good deal. No need for anyone to be afraid of a csection because it will be less beautiful or more traumatic.

csjsmom · September 2014

I had an emergency c-section for a number of reasons. The biggest being to make sure my baby came out ok, which he did. However, they moved quickly because they needed the anesthesiologist in another OR for an amputated arm that was coming in. So I ended up having a general anesthetic and forceps were used. I was told after the fact. I was quite traumatized by my lack of feelings about my baby coming out of anaesthesia. My first thought was I guess I'm not pregnant any more. My next thought was I guess I should be wondering if the baby is ok. But emotionally disconnected.

I had a VBAC for my second and liked it much better. I'm sure it would have been different if I'd had a regular awake c-section! I think no matter which way you end up delivering there are easy cases and difficult cases. Definitely hard to compare one birth to another.

Stargirlb · September 2014

omg dad sucked at filming that, its all shaky and zooming in an missing the key parts! GRRR dad, how dare you pay more attention to watching it with your eyes than the camera for my graphic viewing pleasure.

Stargirlb · September 2014

When DH films my birth, (livestream, anyone?) I will instruct him to keep the camera on my vag at all times. No shaky moving the camera shit. Vagina-lense, got it?

jk

Beauxbaton · September 2014

@Stargirlb‌ I chalked it up to maybe he wasn't supposed to be filing, or was kind of unsure? At the beginning the doctor says "they stills are fine, but not video." So idk.

Stargirlb · September 2014

the no video is probably for liability reasons? If something was done wrong by doc, they don't want that on film I imagine.... otherwise I can't imagine why they would allow stills but no vids.

They knew he was filming in the video here, they said something about it but I couldn't make out what.

Beauxbaton · September 2014

Stargirlb said:
the no video is probably for liability reasons? If something was done wrong by doc, they don't want that on film I imagine.... otherwise I can't imagine why they would allow stills but no vids.

They knew he was filming in the video here, they said something about it but I couldn't make out what.

They don't even allow stills of procedures and Im pretty sure of an actual vaginsl delivery either. Its dumb. Wanna hear something ridiculous? Sure ya do! We know a guy going to med school, and when he was working on his mat/child section they were talking g about how slippery a baby is when it comes out. And the instructor told the class if they ever drop a baby you are supposed to fake a seizure because otherwise there's no reason to drop a baby.

Stargirlb · September 2014

CuppyCakes721 said:

the no video is probably for liability reasons? If something was done wrong by doc, they don't want that on film I imagine.... otherwise I can't imagine why they would allow stills but no vids.

They knew he was filming in the video here, they said something about it but I couldn't make out what.
They don't even allow stills of procedures and Im pretty sure of an actual vaginsl delivery either. Its dumb. Wanna hear something ridiculous? Sure ya do! We know a guy going to med school, and when he was working on his mat/child section they were talking g about how slippery a baby is when it comes out. And the instructor told the class if they ever drop a baby you are supposed to fake a seizure because otherwise there's no reason to drop a baby.

holy shit!!!! :O

Stargirlb · September 2014

lol. I did have the candles! the midwives had a flashlight because the room as pretty dark. I wanted to birth in the dark with candles only. Poor photographer was worried she wouldn't get any good pics. I did not actually shit in the pool though, most of my labor was spent comfortably on the toilet, so I was completely empty by the time I was actually pushing

Here's my pics from the home water birth of my son. To view in order, start with the first photo and click thru:

https://www.facebook.com/brioparcke/media_set?set=a.2517269824403.124565.1632960029&type=3

Sadly no pics from my unassisted birth. Maybe taking a selfie in birth will happen next time! :P

Stargirlb · September 2014

Me too! I LOVE newborns!

robsbabygirl08 · September 2014

@stargirlb Your children are beautiful, and those pictures are amazing.

Stargirlb · September 2014

Robs Baby Girl said:

@stargirlb Your children are beautiful, and those pictures are amazing.

aww thanks girl :x

Stargirlb · September 2014

CrazyMonkeyBear said:

@stargirlb I couldn't find the right thread to put it in, but I love your new signature picture!

(I know, this coming from me? :P)

hehe thanks crazymonkeybear

gotta admit, I hesitated to take down my 'male opinions' because it applies to soooo many situations.

robsbabygirl08 · September 2014

@stargirlb your siggy's are blocked on my govt computer, I miss all your sigginess;)

aerotigergirl · September 2014

@ICarriedAWatermelon - Thanks for posting the video you chose. I didn't watch the first two, mainly because I'm at work and I wasn't sure if I'd come across anything that was NSFW. I plan to watch them once I get home.

FWIW, I had a c-section with DS. It wasn't exactly "emergent," but they weren't wasting a lot of time either. I labored to 10cm fairly quickly (about 10 hours), then my midwife broke my water and discovered meconium and a frank breech baby. So, after a quick (less than a minute) discussion of our two options, we had a c-section.

I was resisting the urge to push already, so they gave me a drug (terbutaline) to stop my contractions, which did not work. Once they had wheeled me into the OR, the anesthesiologist administered a spinal block and it worked within seconds. I was awake and talking (talking excessively and cracking jokes, actually, because that's what I do when I'm nervous) the entire time with DH and the surgeons/medical support staff in the room. My arms were free, but they did ask that I keep my left arm stretched out to the side, I think because that's where the IV line was? I didn't feel anything more than pressure, and DH has never mentioned that I was excessively jostled around or anything of that nature. He did not look beyond the drape to see what was going on down there. When DS was out, they held him up for a split second so I could see. He looked gray and his eyes were closed. Then they immediately took him away to clear his lungs (I think). I suppose they were worried about aspiration, since there was meconium. DH went to be beside DS during this time. He hadn't yet made a sound. That was probably the scariest part of my experience, just waiting for DS to cry out or otherwise vocalize so I could know he was ok. Most of this narrative is based on my assumptions of the rationale behind why the doctors/nurses were doing what they were doing, because I'm not an MD so I really have only my guesses.

After he started to turn pink, DH brought him over to let me see him. He was all swaddled up already and he had a hat on. So there was no chance for skin-to-skin contact or anything like that. I probably had 1-2 minutes of getting to see his face. Then DH took DS to the nursery, where they bathed him and got him cleaned up. They joined me in the recovery room about 30 minutes later.

My recovery was ok. I was sore and getting up out of bed was hard at first. It was challenging to go back home and know that I couldn't carry a basket of laundry up/down stairs, couldn't drive, etc. It was just hard to have to rely on people to do things for me. Now that I was home with DS, I just wanted to nest and do things for myself. Doing normal stuff like laundry or dishes or cooking made life seem more normal, and I desperately wanted a sense of normalcy again. I was able to drive after 2 weeks. I had a little bit of nerve damage in my tummy, below my scar, and also in the smallest toe on my right foot (or was it left?). Both of those areas have now fixed themselves. My scar continues to be slightly sensitive at times (3 years later), but it isn't painful anymore. My scar is about 7-8 inches wide and was closed with glue rather than stitches.

It wasn't the amazing birth experience I'd hoped for. And I did have some feelings of sadness over the way DS came into the world. I felt like I failed him, and I felt like it was somehow my fault that his entrance to the world was not the quiet, graceful experience I'd hoped for him. (He says he doesn't remember, though.) I realize that, in our situation, had we been back in cavewoman days before c-sections were available, there is a good chance that one or both of us would not have made it. So I'm thankful that I had the luxury of having a c-section to keep us both alive, even though it wasn't our original plan.

When I was pregnant with DS, I tried hard to find positive birth stories to read because, like many of you already have pointed out, it seems like no matter where you turn when you're pregnant, people want to tell you their horror story, or their sister's horror story, or their brother's aunt's stepdaughter's horror story. Watching birth videos (of all types) and reading positive birth experience stories helped me feel less afraid of birth. I think it's important to share positive birth stories that include C-sections, too.

emilyp2013 · September 2014

I love options. Options are great. But, I feel a lot of women really don't understand that C-sec is MAJOR abdominal surgery. Gall bladder removal, appendix removal, placing heart stents/cath's, implanting defib's and pacemakers, repairing rotator cuffs, etc. are all way less invasive than a C-Sec. I would never recommend it as an elective operation. You'll be recovering for way longer than a vaginal delivery even if you do spare yourself one really rough day.

BookitBoo · September 2014

Luckily,I've spoken with my doctor about my choices and the possibilities and procedures of a RCS.

But thanks for the reminder I guess.

emilyp2013 · September 2014

ladyamanuet said:

emilyp2013 said:

I love options. Options are great. But, I feel a lot of women really don't understand that C-sec is MAJOR abdominal surgery. Gall bladder removal, appendix removal, placing heart stents/cath's, implanting defib's and pacemakers, repairing rotator cuffs, etc. are all way less invasive than a C-Sec. I would never recommend it as an elective operation. You'll be recovering for way longer than a vaginal delivery even if you do spare yourself one really rough day.

I think the many different experiences detailed on this thread have shown that it is unique to each birth. Does a standard vaginal birth have less recovery time than a standard C-section? Generally, yes. But there have been plenty of examples given here of lengthy recoveries from vaginal and quick recoveries from C section.

Never said there weren't exceptions. I just wouldn't expect the exception. And it's still major abdominal surgery, so I would never recommend it done electively. Wouldn't judge anyone for opting for it, I just wouldn't advise it.

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