C- Section or Natural Birth?

Question

Pros / Cons?
Your Experince?

Answer 1

Omigosh - I would always opt for natural birth over an elective c-section! A caesarean is MAJOR surgery. I mean, you have to sign all these waivers to get one because of the risks associated. My first was a c-section and here are all the reasons I hated it:

1. I had to go to recovery for 4 hours while the anesthesia wore off. I was not allowed to be with my baby, could not breastfeed, etc.
2. The anesthesia made my baby sluggish and sleepy. He did not want to nurse and my milk came in late. We had all sorts of breastfeeding problems.
3. The recover tooks WEEKS longer than a natural birth. I couldn't cough or sneeze or laugh without doubling over with stomach pain.
4. They give you mega doses of antibiotics with a c-section because of the risk of infection. So not only is your immunity lowered but you are very likely to get thrush/yeast in your breasts as a result. It's horrible!
5. The c-section itself is creepy and surreal. You are wheeled into a sterile room with bright lights. Everyone is wearing a mask and you feel like your stomach is being "unzipped." They pull the baby out, show it to you and then you are separated and get to spend the next couple of hours with the nurses and not your baby.
6. A caecarean is VERY expensive!

Surgery can be a godsend when the baby is in trouble but don't ever actually choose it just for convenience. Hospitals and surgery are for sick people, not healthy women with healthy babies.

My second was natural and vaginal and I'm going for that with my third, too.

Answer 2

If it's safe for you and the baby, a natural birth. I had a c-section with my first baby and it knocked me down!! I couldn't even use the restroom without help for the first week. I was also in the Hospital for four days (when you give birth on you own, you are discharged after a day at the most two). It took about a month to recover and even then I wasn't 100% back to normal by that time. The only pro I can see about a c-section is that it can be pre-planned. It should only be used in the case of an emergency.

Answer 3

Natural is best if possible but if the doctor says you need and c section don't fight it. I have three children and when I was pregnant with the first one I was determined to have my daughter naturally. To make a long story short she somehow pinched her cord and was not able to get oxygen. I refused to do a c section so the doctor took my hubbie aside to explain that we had thirty minutes. My hubbie conned me into signing, had he not the doctor said that in another hour it would be me or the baby. Now looking back on it I think that it was the best thing for me and all three kids. The last two were born 2000 miles from the rest of the family and they were all able to be here because they were planned C sections and you don't have that worry of what if.

Answer 4

Never had a c-section, I wouldn't want one unless it was an emergency or the baby was facing the wrong way. My friend had one and had a lot of problems. She got an infection in her incision and had to go back into the hospital for a week. It was bad, also it takes longer to heal after birth and to return to normal.
I prefer natural birth all the way, I've done it three times so far and am due in 7 1/2 weeks with number 4. It's a beautiful experience.

Answer 5

Natural

Answer 6

I had two natural and one emergency c-section my fouth they say has to be a c section. I would much rather have a natural birth. The c section hurts and I could not move at all for several days and for at least 6 weeks it hurt to laugh, cough, walk anything no excercising nothing it sucked! With a natural birth I walked out feeling sore but after a few days it was no big deal! I could do all my regular activities like normal. Plus with a c- section you still have all the bledding and nasty after stuff coming out so why be uncomfortable both places

Answer 7

Had both. My 1st child refused to put her chin down, wanted to see the light? Anyhow, I had epidural as soon as I went into labor, she was born via c-section and it was great! Could have sex within a week, no effect upon vagina. Down-side was painful incision to abdominal area and not being able to walk upright straightaway.

2nd child I did natural (no pain meds at all)....because I'm stubborn and wanted to find out what it would feel like. Owwie....stitches down under....no comfortable sex for 6 months...but I could walk around straightaway and sit on a rubber ring. And had prolapse a little so sneezing made me wet myself and that stayed for 13 years.

3rd child (13 years later)...natural again! Had epi 7 hours after I started contracting...only because they were busy! Hurt as much as I remembered. Prolapse fixed itself...yay! Stitches but no ongoing partner so I dont know if that was an issue....because sex wasnt available anyway. Its ok now though...but my daughter is 15 months old now.

Look...to be honest.....women dont usually HAVE a choice. It will be natural if it can be. If shite happens, c-section will stop other bad stuff happening. I dont know why any good gynecologist would say its ok to have a c-section if youve never had the first baby..unless you have medical issues...not just fear. Childbirth hurts/impacts on your psyche whichever way you do it....unless you are blessed with a gi-normous vagina and genes that pop babies out without pain.

All I would say is regardless of the method...do have an epidural asap. The ones they have nowadays allow you to feel the pushing etc...numb to the mind-blowing pain but aware and feeling of the stretching pains. C-sections can leave you feeling pushed aside.....because baby take precedence...and you have to get over your stuff alone to some degree.

Answer 8

I believe that C-Sections should be saved for emergencies and high risk pregnancies. There is a reason why it is called "Natural" because that is the way it is supposed to be done.
I think the reasons why hospitals like to do so many C-sections is because the hospital makes more money off of them.
A natural birth if you are able to have one is the best way to go. The recovery time and hospital stay is shorter, you are able to bond with your baby quicker.
Again all of this is just my opinion

Answer 9

Your body is designed for natural birth. Sometimes C-sections are necessary because something goes wrong, but if you and the baby are healthy, it's dumb to have a doctor cut into you to get the baby out when nature has provided a way that doesn't require any cutting.

Answer 10

I've done them both, and prefer natural birth to the C-section. Both were painful but the C-section made me an invalid for days. If you are healthy your doctor will probably prefer you do the natural birth. I was 'at risk' that's why I did the C-section.