Electing C-section

• 11-25-2008 4:15 PM

  mommyjan Joined on 11-26-2008 Posts 1

  Electing C-section Reply Contact I'm thinking of voluntarily electing a C-section for my 1st baby. I've read a lot of pros for the baby i.e., no lung deformity, canal birth trauma, etc. Another factor is the pain of labor and delivery. I'm really scared of the pain, and think I can stand the longer recovery pain of major surgery more than the pain associated with labor and delivery. Any thoughts, pros or cons will be appreciated. Thanks for not judging this scared first time mom.

• 11-25-2008 4:34 PM

  In reply to

  Laura818 Joined on 11-16-2008 Oklahoma City Posts 53

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact im scared to give birth too, but my friend jess just had a c-section and from what i gathered she was in a lot of pain afterwards, the only question is what is worse...i say go with your gut if you really feel that a c-section will be less traumatic for you then i would say do it, because how you feel will effect how the baby feels and in the end thats what matters the most:)

• 11-25-2008 4:34 PM

  In reply to

  Mrs Garcia Joined on 09-03-2007 The ax forgets; the tree remembers~African proverb Posts 212

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact First of all, it's MAJOR surgery. Secondly, it affects all of your reproductive choices in the future, from how you can give birth to whether or not you can even have more children. Vaginal birth is the safest option for you and baby, period. Vaginal birth does not have to be painful. I've gone through 2 labors all way to the pushing stage with no meds and it's really not as bad as it seems. Stop watching TLC, it'll ruin your perspective on how birth should be.

• 11-25-2008 4:36 PM

  In reply to

  Laura818 Joined on 11-16-2008 Oklahoma City Posts 53	Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact LOL i definatly watch wayyyy too much TLC, i really need to get off that channel asap lol

• 11-25-2008 5:21 PM

  In reply to

  Molly and Paris Joined on 07-05-2004 Minnesota Posts 438

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact I had a c-section with my daughter. I'm having another in June. I didn't mind my c-section. It was kinda scary but it is a major surgery that shouldn't be taken lightly. Just because many are performed everyday doesn't make it a safer option. I was scarred to give birth too, my daughter ended up being breech. Good luck in whatever you decide. And def. talk to your doctor about your conerns. Don't let people on here sway your decisions.....only you, hubby and doctor should do that.

• 11-25-2008 7:20 PM

  In reply to

  t_snakenberg Joined on 11-15-2006 Iowa Posts 157

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact Please get as much information as you can on both options before you make your decision. My first twin was a vaginal birth and the 2nd was an emergency c-section. My DD was a VBAC. So I've had about everything. The recovery from a c-section can be horrible. Usually you are up walking around pretty normally in a few hours after a vaginal birth. It is a truly personal decision and I don't know of very many moms who aren't scared to death of labor & delivery! Definitely talk to your doctor about what they suggest. Most will tell you a vaginal delivery is best for mom & baby. Good luck to you in what ever you decide! ***HUGS***

• 11-25-2008 7:31 PM

  In reply to

  Robynne Joined on 11-20-2008 Alberta Posts 163

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact I also would say to get yourself educated and don't allow other people to make your decision for you! I was a first time mom terrified to deliver vaginally, but I did not want to have a C-section either. I am thankful to say that I have delivered both of my babies vaginally, and I hope to do it again this time. maybe I'm just vain and don't want a scar. :) We all have our reasons for what we choose. I've heard from most people who have given birth both ways that C-sections take longer to recover from. This is definitely a personal choice, and you and your doctor should make a decision that you are both completely comfortable with. Good luck.

• 11-25-2008 8:40 PM

  In reply to

  hopeful_jen Joined on 11-16-2006 Posts 286

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact  I think it is very normal to be afraid of vaginal birth.  I do have to say though, that it is far more safe for you and the baby and future babies to go through a vaginal birth.  There are many many cons to the baby for a c-section.  The squeezing through the birth canal is very important for so many things.  It helps the lungs to be squeezed... not sure what "no lung deformity" means by having a c-section?  C-section babies have higher incidence of lung issues such as "wet-lung."  I know a baby that was in NICU for 14 days because of fluid in his lungs due to c-section. There are many other things that the journey through the birth canal provides.  Also keep in mind the major surgury part...women have died due to blood clots days after c-sections. Please do research on c-sections and vaginal births.   As far as the pain of labor and delivery, there are many options.  It doesn't have to be painful. There's a lot of great books and resources.  "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" is a good one.  Hypnobirthing ("Hypnobabies") is a great resource for helping you to manage pain, and retrain your thinking on birth, and to reframe thinking to help you think of your birth as a natural, beautiful experience.   Whatever you decide is ultimately your choice.  I've been through 2 c-sections, and I wish with all my heart that I could have done it vaginally.  The recovery is very difficult, my abdomen has loss of sensation, there is a "fat-shelf" that stays over the scar on many women.  My first c-section was very difficult, and the epidural wore off half way through so I could feel every stitch as they closed me up.  Horrible.  The 2nd c-section was alright, but I was in so much pain for weeks from both of them.  I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  Good luck on your decision.

• 11-26-2008 7:11 AM

  In reply to

  Dia5932131 Joined on 11-24-2008 Posts 91

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact If you have an epidural it's not so much pain but PRESSURE that you feel. Sorry to be crass but it feels like you are soooooooooooo constipated and pushing the biggest **** ever out of your bum. I actually pushed for 2 hours and then the baby's heart started dropping off and my OB rushed me in to an emergency c-section. Which was scary as hell. Things you will give up is holding your baby right away. Sure they pop it over the screen but then they take the baby away immediately and do apgar/cleaning/cord cutting. You are just lying there on the table gettiing stiched up unable to see anything. You don't get to hold the baby until you make it back into recovery. Then start the recovery starts. It was weeks for me. No heavy lifting, no driving for 2 weeks since you'll have pain meds. Keeping the incision clean, etc. During the pushing process my dr. tore my down there while she was massaging and stretching so I needed stitches as well. I never even noticed those! Think twice.

• 11-26-2008 10:12 PM

  In reply to

  proud mom to 3 Joined on 12-13-2003 Posts 36

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact Delivering a baby, no matter how he or she comes out, can be very scary.  If everything is going ok with your pregnancy, I would definitely opt for a vaginal delivery.  It is healthier and safer for both you and the baby.  They can give you meds to manage your pain during and after delivery. I've had 3 sections.  No, they're not the worst thing in the world, but, yes, they do hurt afterward.  It is major surgery and it is difficult to deal with recovery and taking care of a newborn at the same time.  It's downright exhausting.  I would have never chosen to have sections, if I would have been able to deliver vaginally, I would have in an instant. I guess I just want to say don't let fear get in the way of the magical moment of birth.  There's nothing in the world like seeing your child for the first time.  No matter how he or she comes into this world, try to have your mind at peace and completely in the moment, not full of fear.  Talk to your dr., see what he/she recommends to help relieve your fears. Good luck!!!

• 12-08-2008 4:11 PM

  In reply to

  ChristieBFAP Joined on 02-09-2004 www.SweetPeaRingSlings.com Posts 132

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact  To me the visual of a section is much scary then the visual of a vaginal birth.  After my section, I found these pictures because I wanted to know exactly what they did to me during the surgery.  It is much more complex then most think.  My csection took me much longer to recover from.  I was soooo tired.  I also have an icky 'pouch' now where my stomach muscles were cut.  It also took me a long time to loose the weight from that pregnancy compared to my other two.  Educate yourself on the risks to you and your baby.  http://www.childbirth.org/section/risks.html

• 12-09-2008 10:45 AM

  In reply to

  SharonBaileyRaeandJoel Joined on 02-28-2004 Houston Texas Posts 210

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact Sorry, I just read this and had to put my two cents in. I had C-section with my DD, it was not elected,I had placenta previa, and with this one will most likely have another one. I have only had the one csection so i cant speak for a Vag. birth but what I can say is. There is a pain involved in the C-section, not just in the recovery but during. It is major surgery. During the csection you feel tugging and pulling and lots of pressure. I felt it so much it took my breat away, and i found it hard to get a good breath. There is nothing easy about it. The recovery is long and is also painful. You wont be climbing stairs or walk very far very fast any time soon. Im not trying to scare you, no one ever told me these things, so my view was that i would just lay there..they would take the baby out and id hurt some later. That was not the case at all. I was totally shocked that i could feel so much pressure and pulling. I most likely will have another csection with the one im carring now, and im ok with that. I know what to expect and im prepared for it. Either way you decided the choice is yours. Please dont let any of these moms who only see things one sided scare you into making a decesion that you are not comfortable with. Talk to you doctor and seek out others who have had one and im sure you will decide what is right for you and your baby. Good luck Sharon.

• 12-12-2008 10:10 AM

  In reply to

  Audra892425 Joined on 12-12-2008 Posts 2

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact I was just reading this thread because I am about to have a c-section in 2 weeks and I am terrified. I had a vaginal birth in 2006 with my daughter and while it was not a painless experience, I bounced back very fast. I am 37 weeks now and the baby is breech, so my doctor has scheduled me for a section on 12/26. I have read about what I should expect but am still pretty nervous. I agree that women should not take c-sections so lightly, a big part of me wishes I could deliver vaginally just to reduce risks to myself. But, I am concerned about risks for the baby being that he is breech and my daughter had a very large head (as does her father) so I am sure this little boy is going to follow suit with a big melon, and I don't want to run the risk of CP. Thank you ladies for giving me your experiences to read about, I have not had anyone with experience in this matter to give me their insight.

• 12-12-2008 10:28 AM

  In reply to

  Audra892425 Joined on 12-12-2008 Posts 2

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact hopeful_jen:  I think it is very normal to be afraid of vaginal birth.  I do have to say though, that it is far more safe for you and the baby and future babies to go through a vaginal birth.  There are many many cons to the baby for a c-section.  The squeezing through the birth canal is very important for so many things.  It helps the lungs to be squeezed... not sure what "no lung deformity" means by having a c-section?  C-section babies have higher incidence of lung issues such as "wet-lung."  I know a baby that was in NICU for 14 days because of fluid in his lungs due to c-section. There are many other things that the journey through the birth canal provides.  Also keep in mind the major surgury part...women have died due to blood clots days after c-sections. Please do research on c-sections and vaginal births.   As far as the pain of labor and delivery, there are many options.  It doesn't have to be painful. There's a lot of great books and resources.  "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" is a good one.  Hypnobirthing ("Hypnobabies") is a great resource for helping you to manage pain, and retrain your thinking on birth, and to reframe thinking to help you think of your birth as a natural, beautiful experience.   Whatever you decide is ultimately your choice.  I've been through 2 c-sections, and I wish with all my heart that I could have done it vaginally.  The recovery is very difficult, my abdomen has loss of sensation, there is a "fat-shelf" that stays over the scar on many women.  My first c-section was very difficult, and the epidural wore off half way through so I could feel every stitch as they closed me up.  Horrible.  The 2nd c-section was alright, but I was in so much pain for weeks from both of them.  I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  Good luck on your decision.     I just wanted to add a quick comment on your post Jen. You are very right, blood clots do occur sometimes with c-sections. I am a paramedic and work in an ER near Detroit. One night L&D called a "code blue" (cardiac arrest) and it is customary for a few medics and an ER doctor to go to cardiac arrests and help out. I went, and it was a woman in her early 20's who had had a c-section 2 days prior. She had had no obvious complications, it was her first birth and she was just about to be discharged that day. She had unknowingly developed a blood clot and it broke loose and apparently traveled to her brain where it caused a bleed. The doctors were able to resuscitate her long enough to transport her out to a bigger hospital. Our medical director called to check on her progress and unfortunately she passed away the next morning. Not that this is at ALL common during c-sections but it is definitely a risk that people do not consider sometimes. Being a mother who is only 1 year younger than this patient, it was horrible to see and hear about this happening. I cannot imagine how it must have been for her family. But, it is a story of caution to those who think c-sections are just a minor procedure.

• 12-12-2008 4:16 PM

  In reply to

  Chamelyan Joined on 10-30-2007 Midwest Posts 119

  Re: Electing C-section Reply Contact  There are pros and cons of both vaginal and C-section births.  During a vaginal birth the baby gets beneficial bacteria that will help digestion and it squeezed during pushing in order to clear the lungs.  In a C-section, the baby misses out on both these events and 1/3 of them end up in the NICU due to respiratory distress.  There can be  trauma in the birth canal-- shoulder dystocia, for example, but there can also be trauma during a C-section-- many times babies get sliced by the scalpals, or the placentas can be cut which causes an emergency situation as well.  If you're basing your decision strictly on pain, consider that labor pain, though hard, is intermittent.  Your contractions come and go the entire time.  C-section pain is surgery pain.  Like the pp who showed the diagrams, doctors are going through several layers before reaching your baby.  All of them are going to be affected and can respond with pain that can last for weeks.  Not to mention you will have an open wound which is vulnerable to infection or rupture.  You can hemmorhage with either type of birth.  If you're still on the fence, consider hiring a doula to help you with a vaginal birth.  Read up as much as you can on vaginal and C-section birth.  Good luck with everything.