C-Section or Vaginal Birth?

Trust your gut honestly. I had vaginal. I did not get that skin to skin contact because she needed her o2 to rise. One of the nurses did put her on me for about 3 seconds before one of the other nurses yelled at her. And I am thankful for those 3 seconds. It’s what you want ultimately. If you have a good support system, I hear c section is good. I had to get back to everything physically almost instantly so that recovery time wasn’t great either.

Vaginal birth 100% c section are crazy hard and the recovery is around 8 weeks not worth it and it delayed my chance of bonding with my baby

I don’t know if a c-section would necessarily be the safest option at face value as it is major abdominal surgery which always carries the risk of infection. Also depending on how many babies you want, some doctors put a limit on how many c-sections they’ll do on one person. I had an emergency c-section due to my son’s heart rate decelerating during pushing. I recovered pretty well but I do hope to have a VBAC next time around. I feel I was restricted on movement after the surgery and was really hobbling around for a while. If you do a c-section, remember to take it easy after and wear the abnomonal binder.

Vaginal! In my opinion providers are all too happy to promote c-sections as some routine procedure, easier birth method, safer etc when it is far from those things! C-sections are MAJOR surgery with MAJOR risks. Vaginal birthing is the gold standard and should be the promoted way to birth your baby unless there are serious medical concerns. North American doctors are all too glad to cut into you and sell you on a massive surgery because it’s faster and easier for THEM not for you. I was induced due to being past due by 9 days and my water partially ruptured and even with induction I told my team unless it was literally life or death I was birthing my child on my own period. C-sections are an amazing tool when used in an emergency as they’re meant to save lives but they should not be a routine OB procedure. I tore during birth but I headed so quickly because it was natural tearing not a large surgical incision. Personally I feel terrified by the rate at which c-sections are done!

I had vaginal birth got induced because my son was small he wasn't premature tho he was 5 pounds 10 ounces I think if he was like 7 pounds or more it woulda been more painful pushing him out I only felt that after math of the epidermal recovery was crazy for me my back felt literally broken

Who told you csection is safest? That's misinformation. I assume you are based in the US as its a jigh csection rate country? Vaginal birth is naturally recommended first and csection only if at risk of complications, are you at risk? My first was a emergency csection, it was hard and a long painful recovery. My second was vaginal and much less painful and enjoyable experience. You can have skin to skin with c section but not for long because u need to be stitched up etc, it's major surgery and comes with risks too. Also why does your family need to be in the room? It's your birth, you do what uou feel is best with the information you are provided. I'd suggest talking to your midwife about options and having an empowering and positive birth experience. Vaginal births are controlled and safe most of the time

I had a section with my 1st and vaginal with my 2nd. I would choose the vaginal any day. However you do need a lot of support for a vaginal birth especially if you have a low pain threshold. A lot of the coping can be mental and thinking stuff like how one contraction is a way of progressing things. There are options like epidural if you feel you can’t cope. I never have birth without epidural and personally would try not to.

I've had an emergency c section and a natural unmedicated birth. I'd choose natural all day every day. Yes labour hurts. But I found recovery after a csection to be way more annoying

Section

Ive had both experiences. First child a c-section, 2nd child vaginally, thank God! C section is longer healing time than vaginal. And you gotta understand that nothing is ever really in your "control". Lots of the times complications take place BECAUSE of medical intervention. I'd say try your best to go vaginal. And in the meantime mentally and physically prepare your body for what's to come. It IS possible. As much as Birth can be scary nd painful alot of it is also mental. Think positively, do your own research on how to best prepare and most of all listen to your body. Birth is natural your body will follow suit so long as you allow it.. You got this!

Section!!!!!!!!!

Remember it’s all up to yoo, of course you can have skin to skin with your baby, they ask you. I didn’t as I was so sleepy with all the drugs It was the best/ easiest experience ever xx

C section all the way. The day gets booked in for you. So no worrying about getting to the hospital/ waters breaking. Painless!! Your alittle sore afterwards ovs. Your partner can be there with you , you can take pics when you want together. He’s next to you holding your hand. I was out the next day and recovered within 2 weeks, I was fully up and running x

My first was a forceps delivery and I couldn’t walk for like 6 weeks. Second was a semi-emergent c section and I was walking around the block three days later. I think emergency csections are where it really sucks because it’s rushed

Ha low pain threshold emergency c section I chose natural but hey x

I labored for 23 hours, pushed for 4 hours and begged for a c-section the second my Dr. came in the room..(I had no Dr in the room during pushing & the nurse kept leaving the room while i was spread eagle..whole experience was horrible) I knew she wasn't in the right position at my last ultrasound, but they wouldn't listen to me or my body. My c-section was very quick recovery, after about 4 days I was back moving normal, 5 weeks later was cleared to workout again. My scar is small and can't tell I had it done physically at all. I personally wanted a c-section, but Dr. won't schedule you unless there was a medical reason or had a c-section before.. so I'm glad my next one will be scheduled and skip all that labor and pains.

I my opinion I preferred a C section I tried to do vaginal birth and I couldn’t take it it hurt so much I wanted to die

I had a c section , recovery was quick for me and so far feeling great 8 months after. We're all different xx

Just in the hospital at the moment as had my little girl through a emergency c section today it’s day 2 and OMG the pain I never liked strong pain killers but I’m pretty much accepting it all here 😂 it’s bad I just hope it gets a bit better quickly coz at the moment I’m finding it very very painful and quiet emotionally draining not being able to get off bed properly , or even moving my legs very easily. I had breast surgery before etc and I always thought the pain would be something similar for recovery but this is much worse 😩

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🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 it’s a speedy recovery

Planned and emergency are very different though. Planned you get steroids, claxon injections and other drugs 3 days before to prepare you. Then the cut is much smoother as there's no rush. Hopefully you will get better soon. Keep moving, it helps.

They don’t allow you to opt for a c section because you simply want it - there has to be a medical reason….

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In the UK you can. Depends where she's from. I opted for both of mine. Turns out I'd have to anyway due to complications but still ❤️

I had an emergency c-section and took 8 weeks to recover. If I had to choose I wouldn’t opt for a c-section.

As a mum who has had 2 vaginal, 1 emergency and 1 planned c-section. If i had a choice i will always choose vaginally. Its more natural and you feel like your in control. YOU choose your pace, YOU choose how you want to do it (standing up, laying down, in a bath etc) you can have music going, essential oils, how many people you want in the room, whatever your things is. C-section is more “clinical”. Just my opinion but you choose what’s best for you and what is safest for you both. All the best.

Im interested to see what you chose! Update please @Rowan

Who is telling you that a c section is the safest way to deliver!? My goodness! That is FALSE FALSE information unless you have certain health conditions they are taking into consideration.

Either is your choice. I personally never wanted to c-section and luckily was able to have my three children without one. I'm 30 weeks along with my 4th and hoping to be able to do vaginally. C-section is more controlled however that recovery of it is usually worse. None of my deliveries were completely normal two of them had to be induced (I had some complications due to my personal medical problems) and the other one was an full in-caul delivery which was fast but hurt like hell way more than my other two did that I also was not in pain medications for. I would say ultimately I would base it on how much help you're going to have during recovery, your pain tolerance, how far away you live from the hospital, and weigh the possible complications of each.

I had a c section with my first & natural delivery with my 2nd. I can’t believe the amount of people who prefer c section. Do you know how many layers of skin they cut through? It is not good for feminine health for your future. I would say do whatever you can for a vaginal delivery- as for pain options there are many things you can take nowadays. The healing process wins in a vaginal delivery. Have a natural birth I saw the difference in both my pregnancies.

Neither is easier than the other I had a bad labour but was vaginally but heard c section is harder to recover from x

I had an emergency c section and it was horrible, I shook so much from the epidural and then barely got to hold my baby before they put me in recovery on my own without my partner or the baby and it was just awful. I managed to go through labour for 20 hours without the epidural and it hurts but would have much rather been through all that then be able to be with my family than just have a c section and be on my own

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How come u we’re on ur own without baby x

You don't need family in your room giving birth.

Research gentle cesarean.

Any surgery is risky and consecutive surgeries cause major complications.

It’s completely your choice and both are absolutely fine. Many people have an elected c section and also many people have complications with v birth. I endured 20 hours of labour and her little head got stuck right at the end as pushing. I had to have a c section. I would say it was an absolute magical experience. I preferred it to actually labour and will be having a c section with my next birth. My pelvis is too small! I am rather fit and was up and at them 5 days later. V birth can also end in tearing and so on which can make you not walk for weeks.

Id say only have a C section if for medical reasons you can’t do it naturally! I had a vaginal birth and was able to walk about straight away. My body just about felt like it went through anything 😅

My doc recommended a C section for my first delivery which was breeched. I opted for a second C section because that’s all I know and for me it was a less scary option. I also was a type a mom with my birth plan binder - birth is in many ways unpredictable. It is wise to prepare your mind for changes and interventions necessary to protect you and baby. Both my sisters birthed naturally. I won’t say a C section is ‘easy’ at all...just different. The recovery is challenging as well. Either way, do what’s best for you. By day 2 I was walking - slow, but walking. Within a week I wasn’t hurting as much or needing pain meds.

I was planning for a vaginal birth with my first, and honestly I do but I dont see the point in a birth plan, as at 30 weeks I wasnt planning on being rushed into hospital and ending up bed bound, then had my son at 31 weeks, without a birth plan or anything in place. I went and started a vaginal birth then ended up getting rushed to theatre, so even if I had a plan in place it would have been pointless for me. Again, this time around - 3rd pregnancy but 2nd baby... I'm again hoping for vaginal birth, and the midwife, doctor and registrar keep talking to me about a birth plan, of what I want etc, I've turned round and said I'm not doing a birth plan because it's pointless, as long as they deliver my baby the safest way for us both, I dont mind what happens apart from my first option is a vaginal birth. Although everytime I get monitored and scanned (every 3 weeks) they are trying to push me towards a scheduled cesarean, I've told them.it isnt happening unless it's really needs to and they are respecting it

I've had both had a vaginal birth in 2016 i ended up with a 3rd degree tear due to the size of baby so had to have a c section this year with my 2nd son i found the c section ok they bought baby to me pretty quickly once he was delivered and I'm currently 13w4d pregnant with my 3rd baby which will be another c section xx

I had vaginal birth and was the best was able to get up and walk around the next day the body seems to fix better and was able to spend more time with bubs

I was planning an at home birth, but due to a fibroid blocking my cervix, if it doesn’t move or shrink, I will have to have a planned C-section. I’m devastated, as it was not what I wanted for my baby or me. However! I strongly recommend you look into “Family Centered Cesarean” or “Gentle Cesarean” if you choose to go that route. I wish you and your baby all the best 💝💝

I’m not sure why you’d opt for a C-section... it sounds horrific! My labour was 5 hours it was just my partner and midwives in the room and it was beautiful... there’s no need for unnecessary major surgery

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I had a c section and it was fine. It was necessary for me for my mental health and not having someone putting their fingers down below which is embarrassing and uncomfortable

Its up to you but, im very scared of the epidural, and surgery unless is absolutely necessary! I gave birth completely natural without the epidural and only pushed for 8 minutes. Complete labor was 7 hours.

I’ve had 2 emergency c-sections with my 2 boys, and then went on to have a vaginal birth with my daughter. C-sections are easier in the sense that you don’t have hours of labour, but it takes at least 10-12 weeks of if recovery, making it harder to do simple things at home and even picking up your baby can be very sore for a while. Whereas a normal healthy vaginal birth might be painful during labour, you heal a lot faster. Vaginal birth is also much better for baby, as it gives him/her hormones which prepare them for life outside of the womb. I know the current situation is quite scary, but having a vaginal birth would still be better for baby, and if baby did become ill, they’d most likely not be as ill due to the benefits of skin to skin contact

Natural only for me. I don't prefer surgery unless absolutely necessary.

I had a vaginal birth with both my kids it wasnt a problem but with my daughter she gave me a wee cut but my wee boy they had to induce me for me to have him but both labour wasnt bad with my daughter a dient really have any pain relief part from before I had her and with my wee boy a had every painkiller with the pain of being induced

I had to have a c section as needed one but had already had two vaginal births previously and can honestly say the recovery after a c section was soo much harder, it’s more sterile and scary in general yes baby was out very quickly doctors were fantastic and baby was delivered safely but I struggled with recovery I need to inject myself daily in the tummy to make my blood clot my scar came open and I had to go back to hospital after three days of being home I couldn’t walk properly wear certain clothes.Looking back I would of had a vaginal birth in a heartbeat as recovery is so much better and that’s after need stitches with my first daughter.The choice ultimately is yours and how you feel but you should always think of recovery time after xx

Evidence wise, planned c-section isn’t the safest way to birth unless there is an indication like a breech baby or a low lying placenta for example. Babies born by section have a higher risk of needing help with breathing at birth for example, and risks to mum of bleeding and infection are greater. That’s not to say that c-sections aren’t safe, just that there are risk factors involved, as with any surgery. The relative risk really depends on what the plan is otherwise... I noticed you’re in America. If your doctor is planning on pitocin for example (I’m in the UK but I get the impression that pitocin is very often used in the USA), then your chance of needing a c-section in labour is much higher than if you labour without it. There are a lot of things to be considered. At the end of the day it’s your body and your choice but if you’re unsure then maybe it’s worth having another conversation about the plan?

I was induced at 38+5 weeks, was in labour for over 30 hours and never got past 3cm. Then babies heart rate started dropping so was rushed for an emergency c section I'll definitely have another section and never go through that much pain again!x

Was In labor for 51 hours, had to get an emergency c section. As I developed an infection , I was extremely out of it and in pain and exhausted and I still was able to do skin to skin straight after they stapled me back up. Plans don't always go the way you want . Just be prepared mentally and it will go by very quickly . I will now schedule a csection 🤣

I had a emergency c section and had skin to skin once she was wiped

After 36 of induced labor, I went in for a c-section. I was hoping to have my baby girl vaginally but she was born 21.5 inches and almost 10 pounds. I am a pretty petite. She was not coming naturally. Afterwards its the most pain I have endorsed in my life. Laughing hurt, I was tired and pumped with pain meds. First few days were the worse then you start recovering

I had vaginal and I was walking normal within a cpl hours of having her also I healed fast I didn’t know they gave option of either or I just thought they did c sections if baby turned or if they had to do an emergency c section Whatever u do good luck and don’t be nervous I did do epidural but my delivery was easy thankfully and healed very well!