C Section, least painful option?

Question

i have a really small build and my doctor isnt sure that my small body will handle a normal birth, which is the least painful birth option for a young and small body. . .?

Answer 1

If your doctro doesn't think you will be able to birth the baby vaginally, then he will want to do a c-section. From experience, I can tell you that it is not the least painful option.

Much less painful right when the baby is coming out, much more painful an hour later. It took me two full weeks to 'recover' enough to really begin moving about on my own again, and more than a month before I could pick the baby up off the floor. You're not allowed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for the first 6 weeks, nor drive yourself anywhere.

I had my cesarean because my little man was breech and face up and my doctor said he wouldn't deliver vaginally like that, because there were too many possible complications, including cord prolapse, the baby's head getting stuck, or the baby breaking his collarbone.

If he wasn't all turned around, there was no concern about his being delivered. My niece (and nearly every other baby I know) was delivered vaginally and her mom was up and back to her normal routine in less than a week. She even had sex before her 6 week appointment! The recovery would, I'm sure, be longer if the mom would have to have stiches.

I think that it's best to go with what your doctor is saying, just don't be fooled into thinking that by skipping the 'labor' part that it's all going to be roses.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 2

I am only 5'0 and have small hips, the doctor said I could still have a vaginal birth. However I ended up having an emergency C section after my son was in distress(not in the birth canal) and I was toxcemic (sp?) and I opted to have a planned C section for my second child, and when I went for my pre op check up they told me I was toxcemic again and would have ended up having it anyway.
I would get a second opinion from a trusted source ( a family or close friends recommendation) and see what they say.
But I will tell you after going thru 10-12 hours of labor I was happy for them to take me in put me out and wake me up when it was over..lol
And my planned c section enabled me to arrange everything ahead of time. While the recovery can't be labeled pleasant , if you arrange to have help with lifting, cleaning, and caring for the baby etc., the recovery is a lot easier.
P.S. I had two beautiful healthy children who came out with perfect little heads..lol..
The important thing to think about is taking care of yourself now, no matter how they get the baby out taking care of yourself is your #1 priority...

Answer 3

They're all painful.
I am also very small and was told I may not be able to deliver vaginally, but I certainly wanted to try. I delivered my son just fine....but sure, it hurt like hell. I would NEVER opt for a c-section just for the sake of it (as it is major surgery and recovery with a newborn can't be fun). So I would at least attempt the vaginal birth, and if you and the doctors find it's just not working, THEN you'll have no choice but to have a c-section.

Answer 4

A womens body is built for child birth, I am 5"2 and pre-pregnancy weight was 105=110 pounds and I could have had a vaginal birth if my son hadn't of swallowed meconium causing his heart rate to drop and so on, I would let your doctor know that you want to try it out vaginally because yes a vaginal birth is painful but there is a quick recovery from it depending on if you have an episiotimy, but if you have a c-section there is a 2-6 week recovery rate, it took me about three weeks to get back to somewhat normal. I wish you the best of luck and hope for nothing but the best for you.

Answer 5

Try having a natural birth as much as possible. I've been through two c sections, and they certainly were no walks in the park. With my first child, my daughter, I tried to have her naturally, but my build really was small in that area and she couldn't come out. They ended up doing an emergency c section to get her out. 8 hours after having a section, they FORCE you to get up out of that bed and walk around, a few times up and down the hospital hallways. It is so painful and you have so much trouble going (if you can) to the bathroom.

It doesn't matter how small you are. My sister in law is a tiny little thing, and she had three children. The first was by section because labor would not start at all. Something was wrong. The other two were completely natural. She experienced both and said she would rather have natural becuase the pain goes faster. With a section it lasts at least two weeks. That's if you are lucky and have the nice little painkillers like my doctor gave to me. If not, it's more. You also run the risk of dying on the table. They literally take all of your insides out that are in the way of the uterus including some of your intestines. They then take the uterus out and cut it so extra water doesn't spill into your open cavity. They get the baby out, get the afterbirth out, and then put everything back in. The reason for walking after sections in such a short time is to get your system going again. Your intestines literally need to learn how to pass waste through them and your bladder needs to learn how to pass urine again.

It's all very painful. I feel robbed of not being able to deilver naturally. It makes you feel like you are a failure in the one thing only you as part of your gender can do. I feel anger at my OBGYN for not letting me try a VBAC with my son. I just feel like I didn't do it the right way. You don't want to feel this way. It brings to mind Hamlet (I think), in which there is prophecy describing the king who unknowingly sleeps with his mother. He was "not born of woman", meaning he had been delivered by c section. That kind of runs through your mind every time you see that permanent scar in the mirror.

I also want to add on that nowadays, the hospitals care more about the baby then the mother, and basically force the mother to nurse if she can. That increases your pain greatly after c sections because you have a wiggly newborn laying right on the surgery area. They also make you get in and out of the bed on your own to force you to be able to cope with healing from surgery and caring for your baby all at once.

Again, go natural. sections are NOT good.

Answer 6

research hypnobirthing. go in with an open mind, and just make sure you know everything before making a desicion. there are a lot of good information that will help you go into your labor and be capable of delivering your baby vaginally.

I read somewhere (I'm sorry I can't remember where) that having a c-section can increase the risk of breathing difficulties in babies delivered this way. a vaginal birth helps push the fluid from the baby's lungs, making it easier for them to breath initially.

good luck in your decision, and I know your baby will be happy and healthy either way. =)

Answer 7

I had 2 c- section deliveries so I can't tell you if labor is more painful but c-section is surgery and does require time to recuperate. I couldn't drive,do any, even moderate exercise,lifting,etc. for about 4 weeks. I think the healing process is longer with a c-section.

Answer 8

Sometimes it is not the size of mother. I have delivered mothers who were 5'0 125 lbs with 8lb babies and seen mothers 5-9 175 lbs go to cesearean for 7lb baby.

If pain is your concern, let me break it to you as easily as possible. Be prepared for pain.

Labor is a painful experience. Epidurals as well as IV narcotics help mothers with pain. Breathing techniques, distraction, music, and other interventions can also be used. My suggestion is to take a prenatal class.

Back to your question, ceseareans are surgical procedures and as such carry risks. If you are healthy and your baby is healthy, I would probably attempt vaginal birth before putting yourself under the knife. This is my .02 cents.

Answer 9

There's really no "least painful" way to get that child out of your body. Drugs will help if administered in time, but there's always the risk of it affecting your baby. Its all up to you

Answer 10

You may have no choice but the C-section