Mums who have experienced both C-Section and Natural delivery: Which was better??

Question

Our first born was a natural delivery, but due to complications we are facing the prospect of a caesarian this time around. How did you feel about each delivery from a pain/recovery/hospital stay and general experience ?? Which form of delivery did you prefer??

Answer 1

My first and second child were born by C-section. My third (and last) was born VBAC (with no epidural). The pain and recovery with my first was difficult. It was a good 1-2 months before I felt like "myself" again. My first was born 14 years ago, so the hospital time was 5 days. My friend just had a C-section and was out of the hospital in 2 days. After my VBAC, I had him in the middle of the night and was home by dinner-time (18 hours). I think they changed it now and the babies have to remain in the hospital for 24 hours. Not entirely sure though, I think it varies from hospital to hospital.

As far as preference, I definitely preferred the natural birth. The C-section does save you the pain of "natural birth", the recovery is completely different. You have an incision across your lower abdomen that requires about 15-20 staples or sutures depending on how big the doctor makes the incision. With the natural birth though, you have the sutures in the vaginal area (some women do anyway) from the episiotomy which causes pain as well.

My recommendation is, if you end up needing to have a C-section, make sure you have someone to come and help you for the first week (or have your husband take a week vacation if he can) because it will be difficult getting in and out of bed and caring for your baby while you are healing. I highly recommend something slightly heavy to place on your abdomen, like a folded blanket, because a little pressure on your incision feels SO GOOD. This was one of my best pieces of knowledge I had to bounce back from my second C-section fairly quickly.

Good Luck -- No matter which may the baby is delivered, I know you will be ecstatically happy!! :)

Answer 2

Congrats on the new baby!

My first and my third were C section babies and I found both have their ups and downs. For scedualed C section, there was no labour part, that was 12 hours I most certainly didn't mind!! The hospital stay was a little longer, but I got lots more help because movement is more difficult after a C section. After I got home was the hardest part. I had to rearrange my bed so that I could sleep, as I couldn't lay down flat, or I had problems getting back up. You have to be more aware of infection in the incision and your staples/stitches. My pain lasted about three weeks, same as any other surgery. Now that I think about it, I would have prefered natural for all my kids. The thoughts of the pain go away though. I have to have a C section with this child too, and I didn't think about how bad it was until now. It will be different this time around as I won't be alone. That will help lots!

I hope I haven't scared you. If you can have the baby naturally, I would reccomend that, but honestly with help and support the C section shouldn't be that bad. Good luck :)

Answer 3

By "natural" delivery, do you mean a vaginal birth, or specifically a vaginal birth with NO pain meds? I've had a vaginal birth with epidural and a c-section with a spinal block, and I MUCH prefer the vaginal with the epidural. My contractions were horrible. I got to 5 cm before I asked for my epidural. Looking back, I would much rather give birth vaginally with NO drugs than to have another c-section. You have NO idea how much you rely on your abdominal muscles. For two weeks (the first week was the worst--excrutiating) after surgery, you can't do anything without pain, save for walking, and generally it's more of a "hobble" than a walk. Getting in and out of bed, sitting down, standing up, bending over, etc. all requires the use of your ab muscles, so forget trying to do any of that stuff without gasping for breath and wanting to cry. Keep in mind, you'll have a roughly 6" incision on your lower abdomen--they slice through skin and fat, abdominal muscles and your uterus. While c-sections are becoming more common and is a relatively safe procedure, it still IS major surgery. Recovery is a clear b*tch.

You generally have to stay in the hospital a day longer (sometimes two) and once you get home, you can do nothing. My ob/gyn gave me a prescription for a narcotic for pain, but I couldn't take it because it made me nauseous (as did the IV narcotics they gave me in the hospital). You can't really do anything--no strenuous walking, no driving, no housework (like anyone wants to do that anyway, LOL), but you'll want to do something--when your only option is to sit and do nothing, you'll get bored. :) Vaginal birth is painful, but recovery is generally fast and the pain is gone almost immediately after the baby is out. Granted, there's soreness for a while, but nowhere near as painful as your incision will be.

I really would pick an unmedicated vaginal delivery over a c-section any day, knowing what I know now. :(

Answer 4

Okay to start I didn't have my daughter naturally although I tried (for 2 hours). But I had a C-Section. I thought it was going to be horrible, but it was okay. She was born on Wendsday and I left the hospital on Friday. Most doctors would like you to stay 3 days but if they give you the option and your feeling well you could leave at 2. The pain wasn't to bad although it did hurt. All I had to take to relieve it was Tylenol with codine. The worst part was probably not being able to drive for 2 weeks when I got my staples out.

Answer 5

i've had one c-section followed by two completely different vbacs. C-section was rough, lots of pain, a good months worth, long recovery, i had no interest in doing it again.. second was vbac but i only gave birth to a 29 weeker, so i cant really judge based on that. it was easy, no pain, no stitches, i was walking around like nothing that day. #3 however, my 2nd vbac, horrid. 4th degree tear (front to back), more stitches than i could count and a LOT of pain as well.. really, no better than my c-section as far as pain goes.. the only reason i'd still call it "slightly" better than my c-section is b/c the recovery was shorter.. maybe a week to ten days until i was much better. I'd say it just depends on a ton of factors .. size of baby, if its your 1st birth or not, etc.

Answer 6

Totally recommend a vaginal delivery. C section is a much longer recovery and you are in the hospital longer. I had vaginal with my first two, then the baby was c section. I never want to go through the c section again!

Answer 7

I had a natural birth and it was okay, I could get up straight away and do things for myself. Howver my sister had a c-section and she absolutely hated it, she had a spinal block and had to have a catheter in until it wore off, she couldn't get up and have a shower, or bath her baby for the first time. She was in hospital for 10 days, I was in hospital for 3 days.

Take it how it comes, talk to your dr, and let them know that you are unsure of which way to go with this, you may be able to try and have a natural birth, depending on what complications arise.

Its up to you what way you go.
Good Luck!!

Answer 8

i had an emergency c-section for my daughter and it wasn't that bad. i was in the hospital for a total of 4 days which was ok since she was in the hospital for a total of 2 months (she was a 29 weeker). then i had my son totally natural (30 weeks, no drugs, water had been leaking for 10 days) and because of my experience i prefer c-section. your experience might be different because both of mine were emergencies, but i'd have to go with c-section.

Answer 9

Natural - all the way,

u dont need to stay in hospital for too long and u can go home, take the happy gas, it makes it ezyer

Answer 10

I experience both. Natural birth is better.I was sick after my c-section.