Elective C-section?

Question

im pregnant for the first time and im not sure how to deliver my baby. please tell me any and all experiences you have with a c section and vaginal delivery. how do you feel afterwards with both? is it true that babies born through c-section have a higher mortality rate? how long does is take to heal after a c-section? please help me out!!

Answer 1

I've had three vaginal births with no drugs and I would recommend this to anyone. I'm not against drugs in labour or anything,just didn't need them. It is so intense and emotional giving birth and your body (usually) knows what to do, and it's amazing to experience your baby's wet body coming out of your own body. Not only that, your body heals faster. I was always up and in the shower wihin a few minutes of giving birth with no trace of any pain whatsoever.If you are fit and healthy with a low-risk pregnancy, I would strongly urge you to deliver vaginally. If it'spain you're afraid of, you can always get an epidural or other painkillers. I also have several friends who had c-sections who felt let-down about it and said it caused them to feel depressed.That said, as long as the baby comes out and both Mom and Baby are healthy-it's all good!

Answer 2

with my first child, I was in labor all day, and then pushed for 4 hours. The doctor took me for an emergency c-section because the baby's heart rate dropped. I was out of the hospital in 2 days, the pain was bad the first day, but subsided. I had an elective c-section with my second son, as I wanted a tubal ligation. They decided it was easier to do a c-section and the tubal ligation in the same operation since I would already be "open" I was out of the hospital and taking care of both my kids in 2 days time. The pain from a c-section, can be pretty bad the next day, after the meds wear off, but to tell you the truth, the contractions and all I went through the first time is the pain I remember most. I never actually delivered vaginally, but did go through the labor/contraction/pushing ordeal. He just decided he didn't want to come out that way. (he was upside down...not breach just face up instead of face down and kind of sideways.) If all is normal, with a c-section you should be functioning quite normally within a week, although the incision area may take longer to fully heal.

Answer 3

I don't think c-sections should be elective. A c-section is a surgury you have when medically neccassary, not an alternative means of "giving birth".

As far as effects on the baby, the labor and delivery process readies the baby for the transition from the uterus to the "real world". If you get a c-section without even waiting to go into labor first, the baby skips that entire process and is at greater risk for breathing problems while in the hospital.

There is also a chance of delivering a premature baby, because due dates are ONLY ESTIMATES. If the cycle before you concieved was unusually long for you, or your doctor doesn't want to hear that you differ from the "standard" 28 day woman, or if your pregnancy just naturally needs to go longer than the average, an elective c-section scheduled around your estimated due date and the doctor's schedule could easily bring the baby into the world before it is ready.

There are conditions where c-sections save lives. There are conditions where they reduce maternal or fetal risks. There are conditions where they save time for an impatient doctor who wants a woman to labor on his timetable. There are conditions where they save nothing, and potentially cost plenty.

If you need a c-section, your doctor will be happy to tell you. (some doctors will be happy to push it even when you don't need it.) There is no reason to go looking for one.

Answer 4

I'm 24 years old and have had 2 c section only because the first one was an emergency the second i wanted to have a normal birth but she would come so i had a c section i had my daughter over a year ago and i still have trouble with my scar but it was different with my first i healed real well i didn't this time round but i recon try for a normal birth but its up to you.

Answer 5

I had a cesarean with my only son. It was medically necessary for us. There was no pain during delivery, which was wonderful since I had just been through 25 hours of labor pains... I was up and walking around normally after about 18 hours. I felt like getting up sooner, but my epidural made me unsteady for a long time. The staples came out in two days and I was discharged after three. It was a little difficult getting out of the hospital bed and around the bed's railings because my stomach muscles were so weak after being cut, but getting out of bed at home was fine.

I think our bodies know what should happen during child-birth so I truly believe that healing time is shorter for a vaginal birth. I also know that the majority of my doctor's patients who had cesareans took longer to recover than I did...

After going through it, I don't know why anyone would have an elective cesarean, though I know I would have if my doctor gave me a choice at the time. I've never experienced vaginal birth, and I am unlikely to ever experience it, but I don't mind. My future babes with all be cesarean now that I know what it's like. I don't know that I WANT to know what it feels like to force a wet 8 pound watermelon from nature's lemon-sized birth canal.

I don't mean to some confused, but it's a very difficult choice for some people and I don't want to sound too pro-cesarean since I haven't been in both situations... Just know that either way, your doctor can detect and difficulties at the time and the mortality rates in the US are VERY low in hospitals, no matter the birthing method. Good luck!

Answer 6

I had an emergency c-section. I wouldn't recammend a c-section to anyone unless they had to have it. The recovery time with a vaginal delivery is so much shorter and with epidurals now days they aren't nearly as painful. My C-section recovery was very difficult. My baby is 5 months and I still have tenderness! Good luck with whatever you do chose :)
Cindy

Answer 7

given birth naturally 3 times ... with the help of gas and air .... the recovery period is much quicker after a vaginal delivery , u can be off your feet for up to 6 weeks after a section ...

Answer 8

some women prefer a c-section b/c they dont wanna stretch there vagina..some women need a c-section cuz there baby is too big or there is some sort of complications..i havent had my baby yet to tell you my personally experince.. but the way its lookin i might need a c section b/c supposivly my baby is really big... LoL ohh lord...but to heal it all depends on your body and skin..everyone heals differently..some people just take longer to heal then others..i hope this helps you! good luck and congrats

Answer 9

Risks to mom
Infection. The uterus or nearby pelvic organs such as the bladder or kidneys can become infected.
Increased blood loss. Blood loss on the average is about twice as much with cesarean birth as with vaginal birth. However, blood transfusions are rarely needed during a cesarean.
Decreased bowel function. The bowel sometimes slows down for several days after surgery, resulting in distention, bloating and discomfort.
Respiratory complications. General anesthesia can sometimes lead to pneumonia.
Longer hospital stay and recovery time. Three to five days in the hospital is the common length of stay, whereas it is less than one to three days for a vaginal birth.
Reactions to anesthesia. The mother's health could be endangered by unexpected responses (such as blood pressure that drops quickly) to anesthesia or other medications during the surgery.
Risk of additional surgeries. For example, hysterectomy, bladder repair, etc.

In cesarean birth, the possible risks to the baby include the following:


Premature birth. If the due date was not accurately calculated, the baby could be delivered too early.
Breathing problems. Babies born by cesarean are more likely to develop breathing problems such as transient tachypnea (abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth).
Low Apgar scores. Babies born by cesarean sometimes have low Apgar scores. The low score can be an effect of the anesthesia and cesarean birth, or the baby may have been in distress to begin with. Or perhaps the baby was not stimulated as he or she would have been by vaginal birth.
Fetal injury. Although rare, the surgeon can accidentally nick the baby while making the incision

on top of those risks you also have the epidural risks
(usually what they use)
Maternal Risks
Hypotension (Drop in blood pressure)
Urinary Retention and Postpartum Bladder Dysfunction
Uncontrollable Shivering
Itching of the face, neck and throat
Nausea and Vomiting
Postpartum Backache
Maternal Fever
Spinal Headache
Uneven, incomplete or nonexistent pain relief
Feelings of Emotional detachment
Postpartum feelings of regret or loss of autonomy
Inability to move about freely on your own
Loss of perineal sensation and sexual function
Very Serious and rare risks
Convulsions

Respitory paralysis

Cardiac arrest

Allergic shock

Nerve injury

Epidural abscess

Maternal death



Labor Side Effects
Prolonged First Stage of Labor
Increase of malpresentation of baby's head
Increased need for Pitocin augmentation
Prolonged Second Stage of Labor
Decrease in the ability to push effectively
Increased liklihood of forceps or vacuum extraction delivery
Increased likelihood of needing an episiotomy
Increase in cesarean section


Baby Side Effects
Fetal distress; abnormal fetal heart rate
Drowsiness at birth; poor sucking reflex
Poor muscle strength and tone in the first hours.