Elective section due to fistula

[SaraEmily]

I have a recto-vaginal fistula (not caused by childbirth, this will be my first) and I've been told I'll need a section to prevent any further damage to my vaginal wall. For those who don't know what a RVF is, it's basically a hole connecting the vagina to the rectum. It's often caused by traumatic childbirth, usually in developing countries. Or it can be caused by Crohn's disease. However, I have neither so we're not sure what caused it.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this sort of thing and if anyone has had a vaginal delivery since being diagnosed. I'd love to have a natural birth because I've never experienced it and it hurts really bad knowing I probably never will.
And another question, what am I supposed to tell everyone? My own husband doesn't even know I have this.. I have to tell him soon. But I'm mostly worried about telling family and friends who I'm sure will want to know why I'm having a c-section. Should I even tell them I have one scheduled or just wait til it's happening and make up some story about baby being breech or something? I don't want to lie to everyone, but the nature of my condition is very embarassing.. any advice? :/

 

[Arisa]

you shouldn't have to make up stories or be made to feel guilty for how you give birth
its how healthy the baby is when he/she comes out that is important
Just tell them if you really are concerned about it, that you HAVE to have one, you were advised by a medical professional. I know that fistulas can cause very bad and long painful childbirths especially afterwards, my mother has extremely bad piles and it took her a month after having my two younger sisters to walk properly due to the pushing from labour so yeah she should have been given the option of a c section because an entire month of ongoing sagging pain is horrible and a section is not even half as painful as that, I know as I had piles during pregnancy and the first three weeks afterwards when my bowels got back to normal post natal, the pain was intense, way worse than the incision pain so yes go for the section xoxox