Natural Birth vs. C-Section

[KarenLV]

Hi Everybody,

I would like your advice with regards to the way I should give birth. In my home country you can choose if you want a natural birth or a c-section. Initially I wanted C-section as you can choose the birth date,have painkillers and not feel any pain while the baby is being delivered. The only negative as far as I know is the recovery period afterwards and the scar on you belly. Natural birth is of course a much more affordable option and you dont have a scar. The hospital stay is usually 2 days,where as C-section is upto 4 days. Recovery period is also much shorter. The thing that I am worried about natural birth (aside from the surprise timing and pain) is if my vagina would be all stretched out and big afterwards? Does it go back to it's normal size?I am sure there are quite a few first time moms who have been thinking about this and not saying anything because it is quite embarressing. Please give us some advice?

 

[honeybunch2k7]

I've heard that the vagina goes back to it's original size. I'm not sure about the labia though...

I'm hoping for a home birth, so I say go ahead and have a natural birth, but in the end it's your choice.

 

[shamrockgirl4]

id try for a natural birth if i was u ive had 3 sections going to be having another in the next few wks but recovery from c-section so much longer hurts when u try to sit up hurts when u try turn over in bed hurts when u laugh or cough plus they dont like to do too many coz of scar tissue and things sticking together so if ya want loads of kids deffo try for natural first

 

[Tilly]

The vagina is a strong muscle, it will always go back to it's original size. Mine is just as it was before having my baby, and I have never heard of it getting all big and stretchy before!
My mums had both c-section with my older brother, and normal birth with me. She said that she would have rather had 2 vaginal births as the scar and recovery aren't nice.

I had a normal birth, it's painful for a while (depending on how your delivery goes) and of course you bleed for up to 6 weeks afterwards. Id definitely go for the vaginal if I were you.

 

[beanie]

Unless there are health reasons or its an emergency etc I personally would never choose a c-section over a vaginal birth. There are risks involved both to you and baby and I have had no complaints from my OH after giving birth. Plus its pregnancy itself puts pressure on your pelvic floors so a c section does not necessarily mean that you will not feel looser so to say. Pelvic floors exercises are a womans best friend.

 

[SkisBuflys1]

I want a natural birth as well, I was going for C- Section but Everyone has been telling me that Natural Is the way to go!!

 

[ColtonsMom]

I absolutely do not want a c-section. Besides the recovery time (I really want to go back to work as soon as possible), and the scar, I want to have him natural because I want to be able to hold and bond with him instead of having to wait for the anastetics to wear off.. However, I am scared I might have to have a c-section depending on if he gets really big or not, and I am smaller figured..
But in the end, it's your choice.. whatever you feel most comfortable with and works better in your situation.

 

[taylor2]

I had a c section with my son, and I have to say, it was amazing! I practically got to pick his birthday, there was NO pain ( before ) and I didn't have to worry about my vagina tearing, or pooing during labor or any of the other embarrassing things that happen ( or that I have heard of happening ) during labor and delivery. I was able to hold my son and breast feed as soon as I was stitched up and in recovery. The idea of pushing my son out was scary throughout my entire pregnancy and I really psyched myself up for it...then I learned he was breech and that I would be having a c section, I was relieved!! All the work was done for me, all I had to do was lay there! lol...no pushing for hours, no hard labor for hours, NOTHING! It was great! The recovery was basically what you would expect after having abdominal surgery...I stayed in the hospital for 3 days and was on pain meds for about a week afterwards, and yes, the incision hurts, but I would rather have stitches in my belly than in my vagina. Wouldn't you? I am planning another c section with this baby because of the risk of uterine rupture with a VBAC.

 

[me-me]

c section is a NO NO as far as i am concerned.

i want to live my pregnancy and childbirth the way nature intended it. i don't want the birth of my child to be fitted around my schedule or to be made "more conveninent for me". i want it to be a surprise and MOST OF ALL I don't want it to be a surgical operation !!!

the human body is a wonderful machine and it was made to do certain things. unless i don't have a choice, i'm not having a c section.

 

[tinytoes]

I am hoping for a C section, though am yet to discuss this with my doc. There is a slight medical reason but also other selfish reasons.
I have a condition which gives me very sore skin down below so I dont fancy getting ripped to shreds, but also, I live in another country to my parents - I'd like them to be able to book flights in advance to be at the birth! The C section allows that.

I will not listen to people who say that natural is best and that we should experience child birth etc etc. If a man can avoid all that pushing and pain why can't I? It wont make me a better person. It wont make me more of a woman or a mother.
Really,it's a personal choice.
And no one choice is better than another. Don't let anyone push you into something. Thats what I say.

And yes you have to stay in hopsital longer...but why not make the most of the chance to rest up a little?
I dunno..I'm still to discuss it with my doc - both have risks for me, but I'm not going to feel bad if I do go C section, that's for sure!

 

[coccyx]

Have had 3 sections and would have gone for vaginal if i could. Lots of risks with c section, infection, pulmonary embolism, painful scar, general anaesthetic can be risky, i had an epidural and they had trouble getting needle in right spot ooooohhhh, dvts, takes a few weeks to get fully mobile etc. Having said that I did hold my babies a few minutes after they were delivered and was breastfeeding 2 hours later. I envied the ladies on ward who were packing to go home , while i still had my cathteter in , dvt stockings on and needed help to pick baby out of cot.

 

[Tilly]

but I would rather have stitches in my belly than in my vagina. Wouldn't you?

No, I wouldn't personally. I've seen my mums c-section scar and I don't like the look of it at all. I had 1 stitch and it caused me no problems at all, it was fairly uncomfortable going in.. but once you've pushed a baby out, thats nothing!
Fair enough if you HAD to have a c-section, but I don't think id ever choose to have one. Plus I feel that I have a very strong bond with my little one because I know it bloody hurt to push her out, im also very proud of myself for doing it.

@tinytoes - You're right, it is a personal choice.. but you do seem quite angry about the whole thing? It didn't even cross my mind that men don't go through this pain, so why do I have to?? I didn't want a c-section, because it's a natural process, why interfere with a good thing (thats my opinion, im not asking you to agree).

 

[Helen]

I'm not sure it really matters how you give birth as long as you are comfortable with the choice (I kept hoping for a third choice!). At the end of the day, the birth is such a tiny part of your childs life.

I can't say that I feel that I missed out on anything by having a c-section and I found the recovery was amazing really. Very quick.

 

[PitBullMommy]

I don't want a C-Section unless I HAVE to have one. I also don't want ANY drugs (I hate the way I feel on any sort of medication). I HATE needles so I darn well don't want anyone putting one into my spine, ack..OW!

 

[shamrockgirl4]

I can't say that I feel that I missed out on anything by having a c-section and I found the recovery was amazing really. Very quick.

well im glad it was quick for u it took weeks for me to get properly back to normal

 

[staceyp]

i am hoping for a natural birth, am acting very naive about it haha but i dont want any painkillers etc but i am pretty open minded' you can go into labour and something doesnt go to plan and you may end up getting a c section anyways; im always up for giving thigns a go; it makes u strogner and i feel like u appreciate the pocess more; that being said it is totally up to u; the beauty nowadays is we have a choice so do what you feel comfortable with...

on another note, there is this "thing" out, i cannot remmeber what it is calle di have a leaflet somewhere round the house ill look for it and post again when i find out what it is called: but (here r the gory details lol) you put this pump thing up there; down there: if u get what i mean and gradually week by week you pump it more and more and it stretches 'down there'; which is a great way to do it cos during labour the reason you can "tear" down there is cos its a shock to r body. ur gina isnt used to stretching that much haha; god the details it doesnt make u loose or huge down there it just gets ur body used to haveing to stretch; and after labour you can use it again and it make su "tighter" you can do the pelvic muscle excercises on it. sorry bout all the gory details haha its about $170 but i think it would be soooo worth it; especially if ur going to put time and money into a c section i think its worth a go;
what eva u decide will be the best way for you good luck

 

[tinytoes]

@tinytoes - You're right, it is a personal choice.. but you do seem quite angry about the whole thing? It didn't even cross my mind that men don't go through this pain, so why do I have to?? I didn't want a c-section, because it's a natural process, why interfere with a good thing (thats my opinion, im not asking you to agree).

I'm in no way angry but feel it is unfair if someone should have a c section that they're made to feel that they've taken the soft option or not experienced true child birth so their way was somehow inferior. I have known mothers to be a little smug about the way they managed to swat and push adn be heros for days on end.
And I'm in no way angry with men, far from it!! I'm delighted my boyf has given me this little miracle. it was just a point - they're full blown parents without pushing, so if a lady so chooses then so be it.

If we're talking about nature then maybe we shouldnt have drugs, no gas/air, no epidurals. etc, and I think we should appreciate all that modern medicine can offer.

Basically, to me it's just a way to get out your baby and into your arms. Whichever we choose is fine - after all it's about the baby, and not the experince / procedure.

anyway, that's my two pennys worth.

 

[Louisa K]

Im hoping for a vaginal birth. I wouldn't opt for a c-section, but if something happened which meant I HAD to have one, then I'd have to have it obviously.

A c-section is a massive operation and I would never opt for that. I've had one operation and my body went into shock and I really didnt like staying in hospital. It was a bit of a scary time for me and Im a bit scared of hospitals now, so I want to be in and out, if I can.

My midwife said if I give birth early I could be home that night with the baby, that would be ideal for me.

Im not scared of pain or any part of the labour, I've watched so many labour programmes that Im kind of looking forward to having my exprience.

Id rather have the labour pain and be up and walking about enjoying my baby than stuck in bed in pain for a week in hospital.

My body was made to make babies and my body will naturally do whats needed to bring my baby into this big wide world. So thats exactly what I'll let it do. Its totally natural and I wouldnt have it any other way.

Watch, now it will be breach !! lol

 

[hypnorm]

If a man can avoid all that pushing and pain why can't I?

Men weren't exactly designed to have babies or deal with pain!!

I think my hubby went through enough trauma watching me in pain and not being able to do anything to help. and give him his dues he never left my side through 19 hours of labour.

I personally would never consider a c section unless there was something medical that meant i needed it, the human body is an amazing thing.

 

[tinytoes]

the man thing was a joke - it was an exageration. Ofcourse they werent designed to. I was. But I was also designed to hunt and to eat raw meat. I've turned my back on that.(Least for the next 9 months!...hehe)

Each to their own I say. No moralistic ideas should be forced on anyone else. I'd understand if a C section was danegrous for baby or Mum, but with a good doctor I've heard of many successes. And obviously I've heard of many successes of natural births.

If someone wants no drugs, then I wish them luck.. if someone wants 3 epidurals then fingers crossed - good luck to them... And if they want a c section then best wishes to them too.
Using modern science isnt a bad thing if you so choose.
As long as baby comes out healthy an mum is healthy and happy then that's all we can wish for,

Where I am we stay in for 4 or 5 days even for a vaginal birth. Which is perhaps a shame but also a good chance to rest up.