Healing with vag vs. c-sect?

I am 30 1/2 wks pg and am more confused than ever. Had my son in Nov. 2007 vaginally. Had 1st degree tears and no episotomy. Had to use the squirt bottle everytime I went to the bathroom otherwise the urine burned my tears (sorry if TMI). For several wks atleast I moved slowly because of pain and soreness in the area. Once the tears were healed I was never able to use tampons like before, I felt very irritated. I also felt like there was pressure and like my uterus could fall out and vaginal walls felt weak. I don't know whether I should have a c-section or attemp vaginal. I am so confused after reading everything on here and the internet. Is c-sect that bad? Will my stomach be flat again? What is the pain like? I just have so many questions and am worrying too much about this. Baby a is head down and baby b is head up. I am also afraid baby a will come fine and baby b will be a c-sect. There is no way I could deal with that. Is healing time that much different with vag vs. c-sect? I am just so confused and don't know which route to go. Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks!

Angie

 

QUOTE(angeez @ Dec 23 2007, 01:16 AM) [snapback]544579[/snapback]
I am 30 1/2 wks pg and am more confused than ever. Had my son in Nov. 2007 vaginally. Had 1st degree tears and no episotomy. Had to use the squirt bottle everytime I went to the bathroom otherwise the urine burned my tears (sorry if TMI). For several wks atleast I moved slowly because of pain and soreness in the area. Once the tears were healed I was never able to use tampons like before, I felt very irritated. I also felt like there was pressure and like my uterus could fall out and vaginal walls felt weak. I don't know whether I should have a c-section or attemp vaginal. I am so confused after reading everything on here and the internet. Is c-sect that bad? Will my stomach be flat again? What is the pain like? I just have so many questions and am worrying too much about this. Baby a is head down and baby b is head up. I am also afraid baby a will come fine and baby b will be a c-sect. There is no way I could deal with that. Is healing time that much different with vag vs. c-sect? I am just so confused and don't know which route to go. Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks!

Angie


Forgot to add that I am afraid of breech extraction. Won't that rip you apart as well??

 

My baby A was head down and B was breech. My doc gave me the choice of vag vs. c/s. She could do the breech extraction if she wanted. I ended up opting for the c/s because I didn't want to heal in two places(if they couldn't flip B) and I didn't want anything to happen with B. It took me 4 years to have these boys-and I didn't want to take any risks. That said....

My c/s was amazing. I have no complaints whatsoever! Yeah-you are sore those first few days. But like ppl have said here-as long as you take your meds consistently and get up ASAP-it will help you immensely! Probably by day 3 post op I was taking one percocet...The boys were born by 1pm and I got up around 10pm. C/S was on a Thursday-and I was up walking around by Friday evening. People who came to visit that Saturday were amazed I just had a major surgery.

Once we got home-I was fine too. Again-a bit sore. I took the meds for about a week after they were born then I was done. If I did too much-then sometimes I would be in some pain. I took the motrin longer than the percocets. Overall it was a great experience for me. I have no complaints and would do it again in a heartbeat. But that's just me!

 

Just visiting from the 1-4 forum. Sorry you had such a bad experience with your last birth. I delivered my girls totally naturally and vaginally. It was quick and relatively easy. Baby b was breech and was extracted and it really wasn't that painful as I had expected it to be. I got 6 stiches (2 inside and 4 outside I think) and was up and about a couple hours later. It was a little uncomfortable peeing but more like a sting nothing more.
My dr sais that I should expect this birth to be harder because the baby is bigger. My twins although full term were very small upon delivery. Maybe you can talk to your dr and see what he/she can tell you about this time? Usually drs have a sense of how a birth might go. My dr felt very confident that it would be an easy quick birth and it was. Also, I think you still have time for baby b to flip till then so maybe that will be easier. Hope you have a happy birth experience this time around.

 

Quite honestly I'm surprised you had such problems with a 1st degree tear. For my first I had a vaginal delivery and 3rd degree tear...there's only one degree worse than that. I was in a good amount of pain and discomfort for about 10 weeks. For my twins I had a c/s....it wasn't pleasant...but the recovery wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had pain and discomfort and my scar ached for about 10 weeks. In all I considered them to be about equal...and dealing with the scar on the belly was definitely "cleaner"... Now on my third, I had a vbac and a 2nd degree tear. Honestly, I had hardly any pain at all in recovery. I don't know if it was the lesser degree in tearing...if it's exactly how the tear turned out...if it's b/c that area was torn once before and just not as sensitive. I really don't know WHY...but I do know the recovery on this kid has been 1000 times easier than on my c/s or my 3rd degree tear. If I had the option of going for vag with my twins I would have done it. 1. they will be a lot smaller than your first baby unless your first was premature. So you are probably less likely to tear. 2.With breech extraction your cervix and vaginal walls will already be stretched from the first baby coming through...so theoretically it shouldn't "tear" you apart..many times with the second breech baby they just kind of slide right out since everything is already opened up. There's also the possibility that the baby could turn after the first one comes out. It's a tough call. on the one hand, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think I'd make my choice based on how comfortable my doctor was doing breech extraction. If they hedge on the issue I'd be more reluctant to go for vaginal delivery. there are no guarantees on recovery. C/s recovery is not easy, but everyone has a different experience...some people find the recovery harder than others. C/s does come with small, but definitely increased risks for certain things... so maybe do some research on that too.

 

Good morning I know this decision is so personal and a tough one! For me, my first two were scheduled sections.....my first daughter was badly breech and we had to do a c/s. Even though we were going to go natural, no epidural, hired a doula, going to use the birthing pool.....the whole natural nine yards and I wound up at my last appt having to schedule a c/s very quickly.

From that experience, I wanted to share with you something my midwife said to me. I felt very defeated and that like I was going to miss out on the amazing experience of a vaginal birth. It was explained to me that doing a c/s would take all the risk off the baby and put the risk on me. A vaginal birth would put all the risk on the baby and none on me. That made my decision to do the c/s an easy one.

You are coming in to the home stretches here, but at almost 31 weeks, your babies are going to flip a few more times! You wont believe it but they will. I will be 36 weeks tomorrow and in the last 2 weeks baby A has been consistently head down with baby b flip flopping between breech, transverse and head down.

Be patient with your body and your babies Ask your questions to your ob to help guide you and bring your stress level down about it. Sometimes these situations are what they are and you just have to go with it.

I know from my experience and my only frame of reference!!!......is that my c/s's were a very good experience. I healed very quicky. Yes of course the incision/muscles hurt afterwards, but you will be given some percosets to help with that in the first couple of days and then literally after a couple days I was on to Tylenol or Advil at the time.

Your decision is a personal one.....vaginal delivery vs. c/s. Just as breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding is a personal decision. I have read so many posts that go to the tune of "why would ANYONE want a c/s instead of a natural birth?????" Which I found a bit offensive. Sometimes we cant chose these situations, nature/God makes those decisions for us and you just have to make peace with that.

I wanted to help you see that even though I planned and planned and planned a natural birth with my first child, I still wound up with c/s and I was just fine. My second was a c/s and here I am pregnant with the twins and I will have a c/s.

Neither a vaginal birth nor a c/s are "EASY".....there are positives and negatives to both. Slow down, educate yourself about both scenarios, ask your questions and make peace with the fact that it is going to be what it is going to be for the most part.

Though I do feel I missed out on the ultimate experience for what my body is made for, I will have 4 beautiful children! THAT is the ultimate experience!

Best wishes, you will find your way and you will be just fine. xojillian

 

I can only speak from my own experiences. I delivered my two older boys vaginally with no pain meds, had tears(fairly large, don't remember the degree) with both. I delivered Hannah with an epidural and no tears. I had a c-section with the twins, and the c-section was by far, the most painful recovery. It's a tough call with twins, I did not have a choice, as Emma(A) was breech. Good luck!

 

Hi,

I too am surprised that you had that much trouble with a 1st degree cut. I had a 4th degree and it was a miserable recovery but I did recover and have no leftover pain. I wonder if something else is going on there.

To answer your question about the recovery, I found the recovery from the vaginal to be more painful than my c-section. I was very sad that I had to do a c-section but like the PP said I needed the risk to be on me and not my girls (baby B was transverse). I was really throwing myself a pity party about the fact that I had to have a c-sect until it happened and baby B was born not breathing and had to be given CPR to take her first breath. Now I know that was the reason we had to do it that way. God kept her transverse so that my doc would recommend the c-sect. I believe it saved her and I from a worse outcome.

Vaginal birth with breach extractions are done all the time and are very safe. However, many result in a vaginal and emergency c-sect.

I found the recovery of the c-sect to be painful but manageable. The very worst part was the 4 days in the hospital. I had terrible gas from the surgery which I guess is very common because air gets trapped in there. It was trapped for 4 days. It was the most painful part by far. Once I came home I just stayed ahead of the pain with pain meds and moved around as much as I could, rested a lot and by about 2 weeks pp I was mostly pain free.

Best wishes!

 

In my experience my c-section was a way easier recovery than my vaginal delivery.
I had an episiotomy/forcep delivery with my first daughter and I am STILL healing from that (she will be 3 next month).
With the twins (They are 19 days old today) I had a c-section and I feel fantastic. I had 3 days of it being really hard to walk/move but compared to my recovery for my vaginal delivery this has been a breeze!
I know not everyone has an easy c-section recovery but I can honestly say for me I would choose a c-section over a vaginal delivery anyday! My baby A was breech so I didn't have a choice in the matter but I had already decided on the c-section no matter if baby A stayed breech or not.

I hope your delivery goes smoothly, however yours arrive.

 

i had a c/s and have zero complaints. i healed wonderfully, and my recovery went very well.

 

I had a vaginal birth with my son- I hated it while I was going through it, but soon forgot all the pain, I ripped and had some stiches- but I remember them on really being sore for about a week, even though I think it was about three weeks before they fell out.
With the twins I had a c-section- due to them being transverse. The c-section was hard too- but more because they could not get a spinal in, after 3 attempts- I ended up with an epidural- they had problems getting the babies out- then had problems getting my uterus to completly clamp down (this would have happened to me anyway- I bleed bad with my son too). My babies couldn't come out of the nursery- I had my girls around *:38, was out to recovery by 10- and I got up around 5:30 to go to the nursery to see my babies. I was very sore- but more of it from what the nurses told me was from the manipulation they had to do with getting the babies out and the bleeding stopped- I didn't notice as much pain to my incision. I took my pain meds pretty routinely for the first 36 hours, as well as they gave me an abdominal binder to wear which was a huge help! I was still a bit sore for the next few days after coming home, but nothing I had to take more than naproxen for. Today the girls are 10 days old and I have not taken any pain meds today and have been up and moving.
All in all, I would call the two deliveries equal in my eyes- as far as healing and pain. I have lost 33 of my 50 lbs I have gained already, and I can wear my clothes again, but my belly is not flat- but never has been I know my muscles are pulled way apart- so we will see what happens when I can exercise... But that is no thanks to the c-section, just 2 big babies!

 

Which ever way you decide it will be ok. I attempted a vag delivery because everything seemed to be right (both babies head down) but when they induced me I never dialated. I ended up with a c/s which is what I really wanted all along and it was more painful than I anticipated. It wasn't horrible but it was more than I expected. I was pretty tiny when I got pregnant and I lost almost all the weight but my stomach still has loose skin but I don't necessarily think that is from the c/s as much as just being huge. My scar is pretty unnoticeable, nothing major but it took some time to heal. I was really sore for about three weeks and really needed help with the babies but as long as I kept up on my pain medication the pain was very managable. I would just encourage you to be prepared for anything and what ever happens happens. I'm glad that I at least attempted a vag delivery but I wouldn't have changed anything about the way the babies were born. It was very nice for them to both be out, healthy and crying within a minute of eachother. They were healthy and didn't have any breathing problems. It's not THAT bad but just don't underestimate major surgery the way I did. Good luck with your delivery.

 

I opted for a c-section and am extrememly glad that I did. I have to agree with the others, if you do this, make sure you don't skip you pain meds. My OB gave me a prescription that was like a stronger version of Aleve so that I wouldn't feel drowsy. As long as I took that consistently the pain was okay. I was in extreme discomfort for the first few days but only when I laid in bed too long. Once you get up and get moving it really isn't that bad.

For me, the worst part was the pinching and burning of the staples. However, having the staples removed wasn't bad at all.

 

I was in the exact same boat you are in.....baby a was head down and baby b was breech. My OB was all for me trying to go vaginally and then flip baby b or get him out by breech extraction, so I had decided to try and go vaginally. When I actually went into labor it was my OB's partner who was on call and delivered my babies....and she gave me the very honest truth about what could go wrong with a vaginal birth if baby b wouldn't cooperate. She was pushing for a c-section because it was honestly the safest way to get the babies out. The thought of something happening to Baby B was to scary for me and I decided to go with the c-section.
With my oldest son I had him vaginally and it was the easiest recovery in the world. The c-section recovery has been a little harder and more painful then my vaginal recovery. Like people said you have to get up and moving and take you pain meds on time.....but it is not a horrible recovery. I take one or two Ibuprofen a day because I am sore still....and I do get pains if I push myself to hard. I am extremely glad I chose the c-section though and would do it again in a minute because I would much rather the pain and tough recovery be on me instead of either of the babies. It's a tough choice though....I debated alot, but when the OB told me that if she were in my situation she would do the c-section....I figured she would know more then anyone what would be the best. Good luck with your decision!!

 

QUOTE(megkc03 @ Dec 23 2007, 08:19 AM) [snapback]544614[/snapback]
My baby A was head down and B was breech. My doc gave me the choice of vag vs. c/s. She could do the breech extraction if she wanted. I ended up opting for the c/s because I didn't want to heal in two places(if they couldn't flip B) and I didn't want anything to happen with B. It took me 4 years to have these boys-and I didn't want to take any risks. That said....


Actually a c-section is risky than a vaginal delivery. I had the same situation and opted for a vaginal delivery. Baby B was extracted with no problems. I did have a tear (forgot what degree), but it did heal. If you are a slow healer, I would definitely recommend trying for vaginal. Some people have no problems with c-section surgery, but it is definitely harder to heal from than a vaginal delivery, even with a big tear.

Hope this helps,
Stacy

 

With my twins, I had baby a vaginally and baby b via emergency c-section. Having recovered from both deliveries at the same time and having complications with both of them, I can definetly say it was soooo much easier to recover from the vaginal deliver than the c-section. My incision took 4 weeks to finally close and I had a lot of pain from the c-section. I had pain from the vaginal delivery too as well as complications the OB needed to take care of at an extra office visit, but it was nothing compared to the c-section. My girls were both head down at the time and everything looked great for a vaginal delivery-baby b had been moving around at every ultrasound but a was head down the last 2 months. After baby a was delivered, baby b's cord prolapsed and we had to do the c-section. No choice, but also no regrets. In the end, having two healthy babies is all that matters.

 

Personally I have only had vaginal births and I had 2 tiny 31 weekers (that pretty much just slipped into the world) and one not too large baby girl, never teared never had problems. The day after Ella's birth I went to my son Oliver's nursery school party.

But what I can tell you from working in a hospital, on the maternity ward, is that if you are afraid of it, it will be more difficult. If you are going to be upset about a vaginal birth, then it will be a slower and longer process and you will notice pain more.
I think generally vaginal births are less painful, but what each of us considers "too much pain" is obviously different. If for you tearing down "under" is terrible and you would be able to take pain in the abdomen area better... that is your personal choice. I saw a patient once who couldn't stand vaginal exams! She cried she wanted a c-section before even having a single contraction because she just knew here vagina was incredibly sensitive.

As a pretty stupid example: I just had my 4 wisdom teeth pulled 4 days ago and I feel perfect, while everybody said they had 1 or 2 pulled and were in pain for weeks. So either I take the pain more easily or feel less of it!

There are definitely more risks with a c-section generally speaking, but also there is very little risk either way.
And I would talk about it with your Dr. Tell them about your anxiety, they should listen to you and even though they might not share an opinion with you, they have to let you decide. They will know you better than any of us!
Millie

 

Hi! I'm visiting from the one year forum. (I miss being pregnant, so I poke my nose in here occasionally!)
I would advise going for a planned c-section, if your doctor gives you a choice. I think it is a 50/50 chance you will need one anyway, and my first two children were emergency c-sections, and the twins were a planned c-section. What a difference! With all of the advancements in pain medication in the past 12 years, this time was a piece of cake! As long as you stay up on your medication, you'll be fine! I would tell the nurses I was feeling pain as soon as I knew they would allow the next dose. That way I stayed ahead of the pain. Also... my doctor used stitches inside, and I think he glued the outside and closed me with steri-strips. No staples! I had no problems with the incision at all! If you do get a c-section, when you start walking fight the urge to walk hunched over. Walk standing straight, and as soon as possible. It makes a huge difference!
Good luck!
Helen

 

First of all, I want to thank everyone for all of your responses. I am still undecided at this time. Had an appt. today and talked with the dr. about having to have a vag and c-sect in one and he said out of all the time he has been a dr. (20+ yrs) he has only had to do it twice. That was reassuring. He also said in my situation and vag delivery would be his recommendation but yet again I can have a c-sect if I want. So i think I will wait it out for a little while and see how babies are positioned in a few weeks. I am also afraid of how I would take care of our 14 mo. old if I have a c-sect. Did any of you have small children and have a c-sect. How did you do it? Good news is that I am 31 wks tomorrow and still remain 1 cm and 30 % (no change for several wks). Also my son was small to 6 lb 5 oz, so the smaller the less tearing? I don't know f this is true.

Angie

 

I have a bad time recovering from c-sections. I had both via c-section, and so of course these twins will be a c-scetion as well. I HATE recovering from them...it is really bad...I am on pain meds for at least one week after...and IB after that for a couple of weeks. It IS MAJOR surgery. I have thrown up during the c-section too, and that is no fun. My stomach always went back to normal...but I am usually pretty lean..and I work out A LOT, but not until about 2 months after,.......and then very very slowly. I had a small son when I had my 2nd c-section, and hae did OK, but someone was always there the first 6 weeks to help me.

 

QUOTE(Millie&twins @ Dec 25 2007, 09:38 PM) [snapback]546129[/snapback]
Personally I have only had vaginal births and I had 2 tiny 31 weekers (that pretty much just slipped into the world) and one not too large baby girl, never teared never had problems. The day after Ella's birth I went to my son Oliver's nursery school party.

But what I can tell you from working in a hospital, on the maternity ward, is that if you are afraid of it, it will be more difficult. If you are going to be upset about a vaginal birth, then it will be a slower and longer process and you will notice pain more.
I think generally vaginal births are less painful, but what each of us considers "too much pain" is obviously different. If for you tearing down "under" is terrible and you would be able to take pain in the abdomen area better... that is your personal choice. I saw a patient once who couldn't stand vaginal exams! She cried she wanted a c-section before even having a single contraction because she just knew here vagina was incredibly sensitive.

As a pretty stupid example: I just had my 4 wisdom teeth pulled 4 days ago and I feel perfect, while everybody said they had 1 or 2 pulled and were in pain for weeks. So either I take the pain more easily or feel less of it!

There are definitely more risks with a c-section generally speaking, but also there is very little risk either way.
And I would talk about it with your Dr. Tell them about your anxiety, they should listen to you and even though they might not share an opinion with you, they have to let you decide. They will know you better than any of us!
Millie


How big were your twins and your 1st? My son was small at 6 lb 5 oz. I am just afraid that if baby b remains head up that when they pull her out, it will rip me apart? I guess I would say I have a low pain tolerance and have been back and forth between my decision of vag vs c-sect. Just scared also of caring for a 14 mo old and recovering from a c-sect.

Angie

 

QUOTE(Lynner405 @ Dec 23 2007, 11:18 PM) [snapback]545139[/snapback]
I was in the exact same boat you are in.....baby a was head down and baby b was breech. My OB was all for me trying to go vaginally and then flip baby b or get him out by breech extraction, so I had decided to try and go vaginally. When I actually went into labor it was my OB's partner who was on call and delivered my babies....and she gave me the very honest truth about what could go wrong with a vaginal birth if baby b wouldn't cooperate. She was pushing for a c-section because it was honestly the safest way to get the babies out. The thought of something happening to Baby B was to scary for me and I decided to go with the c-section.
With my oldest son I had him vaginally and it was the easiest recovery in the world. The c-section recovery has been a little harder and more painful then my vaginal recovery. Like people said you have to get up and moving and take you pain meds on time.....but it is not a horrible recovery. I take one or two Ibuprofen a day because I am sore still....and I do get pains if I push myself to hard. I am extremely glad I chose the c-section though and would do it again in a minute because I would much rather the pain and tough recovery be on me instead of either of the babies. It's a tough choice though....I debated alot, but when the OB told me that if she were in my situation she would do the c-section....I figured she would know more then anyone what would be the best. Good luck with your decision!!


What were the concerns of delivering baby b vaginally?

angie

 

Both routes of delivery are very different depending on which woman you ask, so here's my experience.

My twins were born c-section b/c baby A was smaller than Baby B (who was breech) and my OB said she wanted them to measure at least 4.5 lbs. before she would try a vaginal. They were 3#14oz. and 4#8oz, so only the breech one even met the weight criteria...but since she was the 2nd baby and breech, it meant c-sec.

My c-sec. was a BREEZE!!!! I was off the pain meds (only taking Ibuprophen afterwards) by day 4, driving back and forth to the NICU by myself by day 5...but day 7 or so, I felt great! Granted, I'm sure it might have been a little different if my twins had come home with me and I had to carry them up and down stairs, but they were in the NICU for 17 days and with all the walking I was doing, etc, I had a very EASY recovery.

Now, I've never had a vaginal birth...but those vary greatly. This time around, I think I'm going to have a repeat c-sect. I had a great experience before and I hope that will be the same this time.

As for a flat stomach...lol...never had one before, but I did lose all my pregnancy weight after I had the twins and got back into my size 8/10 pants...granted, depending on your stomach muscles and stuff, your stomach may never look the same (sorry), but that's not dependant upon your route of delivery (at least I do'nt think)...it has more to do with how your body is. If you are worried about the scar from a c-sect...mine is SO low, even if I did have a bikini body, you would never see it. Mine is about 1 inch below my pubic hair line.

 

I had a c-section with the twins and went vaginal with 9 lb 9 oz Dax. The recovery for the vaginal delivery was a breeze. I was feeling good about 15 minutes after birth and was 100% within a couple of days. The c-section recovery was much more difficult. I have a high tolerance for pain medication so I experienced a lot of pain. The section was on Sunday morning and I was still walking hunched over on Friday. Having a VBAC with Dax was very important to me because of my c-section experience.

BTW, saying that having a c-section is putting all the risk on yourself is a bit of a simplification and the midwife probably said it to make you feel a little better about the big change in your birth plan. Birth is a very personal experience for a woman and an OB/Midwife should do everything they can to make sure you have no regrets if something does not go the way you planned.