C-section or natural labor, which is worse?

Question

I 've had one emergency c-sec, was put to sleep, & woke up to docs. pulling & tugging on my abdomen...i thought i would fall off the table, & felt as if they knocked the wind out of me. I couldn't get out of bed unasisted, had trouble even holding my child. The recovery was hell...

I'll be giving birth again very soon....& have the option of a c-sec or vag. delivery....

My sister in law, (who gave birth vaginally) on the 17th says that a c-sec doesn't compare to vag. delivery! That recovery from a c-sec is nothing compared to pushing a baby out of your ***** !

What do you think? What was your experience..? Which do you think is worse?

Forgot to mention, while I was recovering I remember the uncontrolable shaking, felt as if I was gonna die of thirst, puked my guts out, & would stop breathing often...when my hubby would ask the nurse what was wrong, why I wasn't breathing...she answered "I don't know!".

Answer 1

I've only delivered vaginally, but I can say that the recovery was nothing! With my first, I was sore for a day and with my second I wasn't sore at all...probably bcs I didn't have an episiotomy with my second.

A friend of mine had both a vaginal and a c-section. The c-section was much worse for her. Plus, she doesn't like taking pain meds, which she had to take and while nursing. :(

As for what your sil said...yes sure a vaginal delivery is more work, but it is a significantly less painful recovery. Plus, you have to stay in the hospital longer. I personally hate hospitals and left less than 24 hours after my girls were born. I couldn't imagine having to stay in the hosp. for 3 days.

Answer 2

Not to sound too crude..... but honestly to me the only difference between the 2 is vaginally your crotch hurts for awhile (especially if an episiotomy or tearing) which is still less painful & easier to recover from than a c-section not to mention trying to loose weight it is easier if delivery was vaginally. I have had 3 births & long pregnancys. The first was 10 1/2 months & i was induced with potoessin off & on for 2 weeks before it actually worked. i was in labor for 20 hours with no drugs or epidural & recovery wasn't bad. My second was 10 months, had an epidural & emergency c-section & had excrutiating back pain, had alot of air trapped in uterus from being left open too long, huge blood clots, bad crampping & period was all screwed up. Third pregnancy exactly 9 months but baby in distress never decended, had an epidural & had emergency c-section which i then had the ultimate cramps from hell, hemmorriged & later period was every 2 1/2 weeks. So the ones who say oh c-section is a piece of cake .........they obviously never had one.
I would say try to go vaginally if your body/baby will allow you to & if a situation arrises & you must have a c-section then do that but at least try vaginally. Learn the lamaze breathing tecnique & use it, if you don't want to do it naturally (meaning-no drugs & a whole lotta pain like a sledge hammer hitting) you can have a epidural which will numb you from under the boobs down & you will be awake & alert for the birth. GOOD LUCK !!!

Answer 3

My first child was born by emergency c-section, but I have an idea of what vaginal delivery would be like as I was in the process of pushing - she was too big and got stuck in the birth canal. I was given an epidural and the c-section performed while I was awake. I had dissolving stitches so never had to have staples removed or anything like that. I admit the pain after the meds wore off was bad but when it came to my 2nd child the thought of going through the pain of labour again terrified me more than the c-section! I chose to have a 2nd c-section. Once again I was completely awake the entire time. My 2nd recovery was a lot quicker and less painful. I was walking around unaided as soon as they allowed me and even checked myself out of hospital a day early (with the Dr's ok). Reading everybody elses answers though leads me to believe that they do things differently in different countries...I gave birth in South Africa and never had any of the problems or symptoms that some of the other ladies have had. A friend of mine had a c-section in the UK 2wks after I had mine in SA and she also had a terrible experience.

Answer 4

I gave birth vaginally med free. I was fine got to leave later that day I was up running around doing things. I lost the baby weight and then some. By my six wk visit. Just make sure you have a good breathing coach and the pushing will actually make you feel better than not. You and your baby will both be happy. My sister in laws sister in law also gave a drug free vaginal birth hers went just as quikly with a great recovery and a happy baby.

Answer 5

Has your sister In law ever had a C-section? My first child was a Vaginal delivery and everything went well and the recovery was fine.

My second pregnancy was an emergency C-section and like you said the recovery was hell! You know what it feels like and I'm guessing you don't want to go through that again. If you don't then push that baby out your ****** and be on your way.

Answer 6

C-section is definitely worse. You have a longer, more painful recovery period. It's also more dangerous to you, especially if they have to put you to sleep. I had episeotomies with both my babies. That was the worse part of my recovery -- pretty uncomfortable to sit, and even to walk sometimes. But I could still get around fine. My second recovery was much easier than my first. If you have the option, go with vaginal delivery. Good luck.

Answer 7

I've had one emergency c-sec, and was put to sleep too. I don't know what it would feel like to have a vaginal birth, but personally I went through so much pain after my c-sec that when I have my next child I will try my best to have a vaginal birth. I have had many women tell me that it is better to have a vaginal birth than a c-sec.

Answer 8

Honey my first child birth was vaginal and i only pushed 3 times the only problem i had was a little laceration i was out the hospital in 2 days (could have been 1 but i wanted the extra day of pampering)

Answer 9

If you have the option, i would DEFINATELY choose to have the vaginal delivery. It doesnt compare to a c-section at all. Vaginal deliveries are how babies are supposed to be brought in the world, and of course its going to hurt, but the minute you are holding your baby, you forget all the pain, but after a c-section, you can barely hold ur baby. It will be an experience so wonderful for you!

Answer 10

i gave birth through c-sec, so i dnt have any idea how's the feeling via the v way. your shaking during the recovery was due to the wearing off of the anesthesia and quite natural, ur nurse shld knw that. if you are into going through labour pains for hours till you are fully dillated and pushing till the baby comes out for we dont knw how long compared to just being operated wid anaesthesia, ill go to c-sec again..