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January 2016 Moms
tankgrrl
member
C-section or natural?
tankgrrl
member
I'm asking this purely for feedback on your experiences, not to recieve judgement.
The reason I'm considering a planned c-section is purely down to family history, but the thought scares me. Xxx
The reason I'm considering a planned c-section is purely down to family history, but the thought scares me. Xxx
Re: C-section or natural?
Sorry, I'm confused.
You may want to include some more details in your post.
I'm only 14 weeks and will not be discussing birthing plans with my midwife until my 16 weeks appointment.
Possibility of a planned c-section comes down to my anxiety problems, my mum carried a baby full term and was still born, a highly traumatic experience obviously, the c-section would purely be to know that baby will be delivered safely and hopefully won't at some point become in distress which is more likely with natural.
I will say what happened to your mom is highly unlikely to happen to you. A c-section is major surgery and if you can have a vaginal birth I would try. I have anxiety too and I'm more nervous about a c-section than a vaginal birth.
A vaginal birth does not mean your baby will be in distress that can happen for all different reasons.
I had a c/s the first time - DD was breech and we didn't find out til after her due date so no chance to try and turn her because there wasn't enough fluid. It was scheduled before I even went into labor.
The operation itself went fine but recovery was hard. I couldn't stand up straight for a week because my abdominal muscles were so sore and tight. I couldn't climb the stairs in our house, I couldn't stand up without holding a pillow against my tummy. I couldn't lay down on my side when I could finally get upstairs to our bed because my abs were so weird feeling. Couldn't drive the car for 6 wks. It was a pain, all the physical limitations.
That being said, I'm completely healed (eta 2 years later), had no complications, DD was fine. I'm going to attempt a vbac this time - all of the stats are in my and my baby's favor to do so rather than repeat c/s.
As far as recovery goes, it was not bad. I had a few stitches, but cleaning wasn't hard, I didn't have limitations like not driving or being able to stand up straight.
I would definitely recommend a vaginal delivery.
Medical technology has improved much since then and I think the doctors are much more likely to catch an issue that could lead to a stillbirth now.
I'm pregnant with twins and will probably have a c section. I'd only consider vaginal if I go into labor naturally at 36ish+ and both are vertex. Even then I am on the fence.
There are risks to both. Discuss it thoroughly with your midwife and SO. Good luck with your decision.
I had a natural birth and I mean... It was birth, so it was hard as shit. I wouldn't change it though, I was glad not to have a c section to recover from.
My DW had a scheduled section with our older girls so I know the drill, and am realistic about my odds. They were both breech so vaginal was never on the table. My practice won't do a breech extraction, so really it's a question of if I want to try or not. I will cross that bridge later when we know more.
My vaginal birth was 100000x better than my c/s! I recommend trying for a vaginal birth unless a scheduled c/s is medically necessary!
This is my second pregnancy, I'm 16w2d but my first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage a few years ago due to a ruptured ovarian cyst and the surgery I had to undergo.
Going into the ER they thought my fallopian tube burst because of all the internal bleeding they saw so they made a vertical incision just like a c-section.
I have searched on Google and it says that a vertical c-section can cause complications if I choose to do a vaginal birth on the next pregnancy.
Anyone have any experience with this?
@tankgrrl, c-sections can be very painful. I wouldn't recommend it unless it was absolutely necessary. The recovery took weeks but even then it took me months before I could do a proper sit up without my incision hurting.
Everything hurts right after...breathing, laughing, getting up, laying down, going to the bathroom, walking, etc.
I'd ask your doctor as early as possible about inductions and medical interventions you may have questions about. The more informed you are the more comfortable you will be going into L&D.
I have minor anxiety, and it was through the roof during the surgery, don't forget you are awake, I found it very stressful.
I am already seeing a nutritionist and following a gestational diabetes diet to try to ensure I do everything to prevent such a large baby again, (I also gained 70 lbs so it is for both our health) but it seems to be a theme in my husbands family (all his cousins were over 10) so if this baby turns out to be as big I will elect for a section.
I myself had a natural labor & delivery with our son. 22-hour labor including 4 hours of pushing...the most exhausting day of my life but worth every second. Recovery was also no walk in the park - but it's going to be tough no matter how the baby was born. At the end of the day, a natural delivery is just that: natural. You'd be surprised at how well mama's body & baby work together to make it happen.
Worst thing you can do for yourself & your baby is psych yourself out about either form of delivery. Trust yourself to make the right decision for YOU! You want to look back at your birth experience & have positive feelings (or at least, as much as possible)!
Good luck & best wishes!
A lot of women, myself included, find that calling or implying that a c-section is "unnatural" (yes, I know ideally our bodies are intended to give birth vaginally) or somehow less than a vaginal birth, can be... off putting. Just throwing that out there. C-sections aren't horrible or evil or "failing." It's a very sensitive subject for me because there is so much judgment around it, so I'm not trying to call anyone out or be a jerk, I just wanted to put my two cents in about it.
Anyway, this is veering off topic, sorry OP. Talk to your doc, do lots of reading about vaginal births AND c-sections so you're prepared for anything, and see how it goes. That's my best advice. If you don't have a medical reason for a c-section (breech baby, placenta issues, etc.), prepare for the vaginal birth and if it changes, your doc will be right there to monitor and explain everything should you need surgery.
I'll be having a C this go round and I'm terribly afraid! It's the safest way for my babies, so that's enough for me. My first was vaginal, I had an epidural and felt nothing.
Two years, two losses and three IUIs...
We are having TRIPLETS!
EDD 1/26/16
GGB born November 2015!
I just don't want OP to think that it's the 'easy' or 'safe' way to give brith. Most people would not argue with a c-section recommended by the midwife/doctor. It's the best option in some situations.
The only time I judge a C-section is when it is done purely for convenience of the mother or doctor. There certainly are very valid medical reasons for having one done. For those that have had them, I can't believe people told you it was the easy way out! Though common, it's still major surgery and I'm terrified of having one for that reason! People are crazy. If it makes you feel any better, people have said stuff like that about me choosing to have an epidural. SMH.
That said, I will try to avoid one if at all possible. I will also try to avoid inducing if I can. I was induced with both DD and DS for medical reasons so am not opposed to it, but I would prefer to go into labor on my own this time. I didn't enjoy being strapped to the bed the whole time. Although I'll do whatever is necessary for a healthy baby!
DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015