I had an emcs with my first. My second was a VBAC with forceps delivery. I ended up with a third degree tear (nearly fourth) and an episiotomy. My poor downstairs was in bits. Despite the injuries from my forceps VBAC, I found the recovery from the episiotomy and tear MUCH easier than the recovery from the caesarean. A c section is major surgery that cuts through all of your stomach muscles and uterus, a tear or episiotomy does no where near that level of damage and will not restrict your movements or activities anywhere near as much.