C section or natural birth

I myself had an all natural birth no pain relief. It was the most amazing experience! I did not tear but I also prepped my body in advance to help minimize tearing and have my body move in ways that helps baby descend easier. My daughter came out FER (Fetal Ejection Reflex) and I never pushed! Again everyone’s experience is different but that is how my first experience went and I plan on having another natural birth come April! ❤️

Scheduled Elective C-section for the same reasons as you. Also, scared that I wouldn’t want to give birth again. So keeping it super real.


in and out within 30 min + 1 hour observation (typical post surgery), then to room on OB floor for minimum 3 days (stayed for 5 since my insurance covered). Was walking that same evening with girdle and ice pack. Required assistance to bathroom and shower for the first 3 days.
Was given Advil (every 4 hours) Acetometaphine (every 6 hours)
Gas pill at every meal (absolute MUST post surgery)
Stool softener (must when your core is not at its peak)
At day 3 was given Codeine to help me cope with the pain better (2 per day) by end of that week I was completely off of it and managed with Advil and aceto

The recovery was a full 3 weeks before I could trust my core to get out of bed. About 10 months before I had full muscle recovery of my abdomen.

Currently 18 months pp and my scar looks amazing, can barely tell it’s there.

I’ve had both. Emergency c-section the first time and then a vbac the second time. Honestly, both experiences were very positive. And I did tear with the vbac. Spontaneous natural labour. Here is the main thing I noticed:
- c-section is a very intense approx 4-6week healing period. Everything hurts so intensely for the first few weeks and then all of a sudden you’re recovered
- vaginal birth is much less intense healing those first few weeks but the healing overall takes much longer. I was very much up and moving shortly after giving birth but I had lingering issues for months and months afterwards.

A good pelvic floor therapist will do wonders with either type of birth. If you can manage it, find a good one to start seeing before you give birth. I cannot recommend that enough!

I used one near where I live that was recommended to me by my doula. She is super knowledgeable and helped with my recovery for both types of birth. Someone who knows what they’re doing makes all the difference!

I had to have an emergency c-section with my first & a life saving scheduled c-section for my second. I truly wish I could have had a vaginal delivery. I would go with that, assuming you’re not high risk.

c section was the right choice for me but i will say the first week was very very painful even with meds. even sleeping was hard. bending over and getting out of bed was VERY hard and lifting the baby sometimes hurt too. i wouldn't do it if you don't have help. truthfully, even if you do tear with vaginal, i have heard you barely even feel it as that skin is soft and meant to tear a bit to make room - the pain usually actually comes from the contractions expanding the gap for the baby to come through before the tearing. and even if it hurts for a bit afterwards it won't be quite as prohibitive. unlike a tear, a c section is really major abdominal surgery cutting through 7 layers so it's really important you are able to give yourself the space to heal from it. and lastly, things may not feel the same after a c section anyway, because the hormones from pregnancy and your uterus having to contract again plus shedding all the lining still means that the whole area goes through a massive change regardless