optional c section

amiller1101 · December 2014

I have a question for moms that have been in this position. I am 32 weeks pregnant with baby #4. My dr Has suggested a c section because I have had 2 large babies, and my last labor was extremely difficult(all of my other children were vaginal.)I am considering this option because I want my tubes tied and this would be 1 recovery process for me. My insurance won't allow tubal until 6 weeks post delivery if I don't have a c section. What are your thoughts on this? What kind of recovery time am I looking at for the c section?

CandaceC1020 · December 2014

I don't think that there's a set recovery time for a c-section. Each surgery is different. I know folks who have had easy recoveries and I know others who have had extremely rough surgeries and recovery periods. I think the blanket answer for recovery is 6-8 weeks but there are restrictions on what you can and cannot do (lifting, stairs, etc).

harmonicbabe26 · December 2014

I am currently recovering from my 2nd csection (both due to breech babies - what are the chances, right??!!).

Both my planned c's were wonderful, low stress, and recovery in each case has been easy. Plus being able to plan things ahead with another child already at home was hugely helpful.

Do what you feel will put your mind at ease but know that typically planned c's are quite easy to recover from and other than being able to lift heavy things for a few weeks after, there is not much difference in what you will be able to do after a c vs a vaginal...

mamabisme · December 2014

harmonicbabe26 said:
I am currently recovering from my 2nd csection (both due to breech babies - what are the chances, right??!!).

Both my planned c's were wonderful, low stress, and recovery in each case has been easy. Plus being able to plan things ahead with another child already at home was hugely helpful.

Do what you feel will put your mind at ease but know that typically planned c's are quite easy to recover from and other than being able to lift heavy things for a few weeks after, there is not much difference in what you will be able to do after a c vs a vaginal...

This has been my experience as well. I've been very fortunate to have easy recoveries.

jennypolkadots · December 2014

Can you explain why you're planning on a tubal ligation instead of other options? It is very invasive in comparison to a vasectomy. Another great option is the Essure tubal implants. These work the same way as a ligation but it is non-invasive and little to no healing time. After doing a lot of research my husband came to the obvious conclusion that a vasectomy was the safest and easiest option for us, and only fair considering I'm birthing our children.

I can't imagine electing a cesarean without a medical need. It is a serious medical procedure where your cut through your skin, muscle, and uterus to take the baby from your womb.. so obviously, healing is quite different than the natural process of birthing. Your body has done a beautiful job of birthing 3 babies, and there is no way to know how big this baby is or how difficult labor may be. It could be your smallest and easiest labor! Cesarean opens the door to so many complications and, although some women recover quickly, I don't know any in real life. Many women have incision site pain years later, infections, and have a hard time healing. I can't imagine the healing process while caring for 4 children. There are health benefits to vaginal birth to the baby, too. As the baby squeezes through your birth canal the amniotic fluid is pushed out of his/her system and the lungs are prepped for breathing. They also get a dose of healthy digestive bacteria that are very beneficial and serve a real purpose in their health. Add to that the fact that you likely won't be able to hold your baby right after birth which is an important bonding time. Cesareans shouldn't be taken lightly.

If you want to minimize the discomforts of labor, I would look into spinning babies and seeing a chiropractor. Having your pelvis in alignment and the baby in the best position will go a long way towards an easier delivery. Also, managing any blood sugar issues and keeping a healthy diet will help make sure the baby is just the size they need to be, instead of too big (which is different for everyone of course). I hope this helps!

schnitz9 · December 2014

My mother had her tubes tied when she had a c-section with my sis. She had no complications from it and it was an easier option because like you said she was already open on the table. I'm a FTM so I can't tell you about my experience. How far along are you now? Do they estimate how big the baby is?

capulet · December 2014

Well, first of all if your DH/SO can get a vasectomy then I would consider that at least as strongly as a tubal ligation, because all else being equal the recovery should be easier for him than for you (although having had two c-sections myself and seen my DH recover from laparascopic gall bladder surgery, which supposedly should be easier, I don't know if that's necessarily true). If he can get a vasectomy then the option for a tubal shouldn't weigh into your decision.

My c-section experiences were pretty positive and my recoveries easy. I could function within a week of my surgeries and felt mostly normal a week or two later, although I still restricted strenuous activity. I did stairs as soon as I got home (didn't really have a choice) and drove about two weeks out. I was only on painkillers for about a week, and the second time I only took tylenol and Motrin because I'd had a bad reaction to Percoset the first time around. So having experienced both a difficult labor prior to my c/s with #1 and c-section recovery, I can say that for me the low buzz of discomfort from c-section recovery is VASTLY preferable to the pain of a bad labor. C-sections aren't to be taken lightly, but neither is your own pain. Only you can judge how you feel about the possibility of repeating what you've already experienced. I can't guarantee you that a c-section will be better for you. My feeling is that your situation is similar to someone choosing between an RCS and a VBAC - rational evaluation of relative risk figures into it, but in the end your individual feelings about your previous birth experience will be the main deciding factor, and nobody else can tell you how you should feel about that.

Also, because the bonding thing seems to come up a lot in these discussions, I will say that as a mom of two kids who were EBFed in infancy and are still sweet and cuddly today, I don't think I missed out on any huge earthshattering life experience by not holding my babies immediately after birth. Yeah, it would have been nice, but in the long run it didn't affect my ability to bond with them.

NicoleWI · December 2014

I'd also just like to point out that there's no guarantee on the "holding the baby right away" thing. My first baby (vaginal) was born grayish and was immediately taken off to get oxygen and a little special care (she was fine). My second wasn't breathing quite right either and also needed to be taken but the nurses for a little bit. I felt like I saw my third (c-section) nearly as quickly, and I held her as soon as I got to recovery (which was pretty quick).

byrne15 · December 2014

Recovery from a C-section is much more difficult than a vaginal delivery.

NicoleWI · December 2014

@ byrne, not necessarily. No way to predict that. My c-section recovery was a piece of cake and easier than vaginal. But, I know others who had a lot of trouble. You just don't know what's going to work better for your body.

monkeybutt61612 · December 2014

Go for it. I had 2 c/s and the recovery was not that bad at all.

Unknown · December 2014

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monkeybutt61612 · December 2014

I think it's idiotic to judge how other women choose to give birth.

amiller1101 · December 2014

Thank you for all the responses. First off I am 100 percent positive about getting a tubal ligation, we were done after baby #3 and this baby was conceived due to birth control failure literally weeks before I was scheduled for a tubal ligation. I am choosing this vs vasectomy because of insurance issues and it would be more costly for him to get one. That being said this is completely optional and I have looked into pros and cons of having a c-section vs vaginal delivery. I have chosen to go with vaginal. I want to do a tubal ligation vs essure due to having severe complications with the mirena, i have been extremely uncomfortable with putting anything "foreign" for lack of a better word in my body.

Unknown · December 2014

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janda426 · December 2014

I wonder how many people who are so gung-ho on pro choice are the same ones who will shit talk a woman for choosing a c section. As long as the patient knows the risks and benefits associated with each route, it is completely up to them.

Unknown · December 2014

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Whitfry · December 2014

If you end up with a c-section, it definitely makes sense to get the tubal at the same time. Easier to recover from one invasive surgery than two.

A lot of doctors seem really gung-ho to schedule c-sections unnecessarily, a friend of mine had a dr who insisted she have a c-section because he had a golf tournament. I shit you not.

It sounds like from your last post you've decided on going for a vaginal birth. Either way, make sure YOU are the one making the choice. Don't allow yourself to get pressured into something you aren't comfortable with.

StacyJYay · January 2015

It is my understanding, though please check with your doctor, that the recovery from an elective c-section is easier and faster than the recovery following an emergency c-section after you've labored/tried to push for a while.

I've had elective c-section myself (no labor whatsoever), and the recovery was a breeze. I was off all pain medication (including OTC drugs like Tylenol and Advil) within 48 hours after surgery. I walked several miles (albeit slowly!) just days after.

Now, this is probably due to multiple factors: surgical skill of the doctor, sheer luck (!), possible high pain threshold, and last but not least: a c-section was my dream birth plan.
I don't think anyone should underestimate the power of the self-fulfilling prophesy, meaning, I was petrified of a vaginal birth and desperately wanted/believed in a c-section for myself. Cognitive dissonance is powerful stuff.

Good luck with whatever you decide, and of course, talk about all possible risks/benefits with your physician. I believe that it is a woman's right to choose her path to birth, but of course that choice should be as informed as possible. My experience with elective c-section was terrific, but I made sure to understand it from all angles.

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