Do C Sections always cause a scar?

Question

I just got through watching a childbirth video where the woman was having a vaginal birth. It looked bad like she was having a hard time, which is common right? Ok, so then it got worse. The baby's head was having a hard time coming out, so the freakin nurse took a pair of scissors and cut the woman's vagina so it could stretch more and the baby could come out. When she did that, everything stretched out so much, omg! And the woman let out this horrific scream, she had me screaming too. Then the damn nurse yanked the baby out. After that, you see people's comments about the beauty of childbirth. I'm thinking hell no, I want a C section. I know all births are not like that, but just seeing it put fear inside me. If I ever get pregnant, I want a C section. The only problem I have with that is it sometimes leaves bad scarring. Does this always happen?

Ok, so i'm getting the impression it's not always that bad of a scar. Here's the link for anyone who wants to see it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pky9DHxH0uo

Answer 1

What you saw was a procedure called "episiotomy" and it's just like you saw - surgical incision in the perineum (the area between the vagina and the anus) made to widen the birth canal. It's NOT necessary, and you can avoid it if you want. I've had two babies, and have not been cut with either - and I didn't tear either.

With a c/s you will have a scar - there is no avoiding it. Cesarian birth is major abdominal surgery where the doctor slices into your abdomen to remove the baby. The baby cannot get out if you're not cut, and the cut will leave a scar. No getting out of it.

Don't let a horrible childbirth video sour you on the idea of birthing your babies naturally. With a good, skilled birth attendant you can birth your babies without being cut.

Answer 2

They're cutting a hole in you big enough for a baby to come out of....of course it's going to leave a scar. What you saw with the cutting doesn't always happen. The only time that a woman needs to have that done is when she's having problems with the baby coming out like that, most of the time your body stretches far enough on it's own. But then again, sometimes a woman's body tears on it's own and so it's actually better to have someone make a small cut to help than to have the skin rip which would be harder to heal. Plus hey, if you're on drugs (ie, epidural) then you are not going to be feeling too much, you'll be numb from the waist down for a while. With a C section you don't feel anything until afterwards, then recovery time for that is about 2 weeks verses 2 days with vaginal for the pain to stop.

Answer 3

Yes C-sections always leave scars. The procedure you seen where they cut the womans vagina is called a Episiotomy. They cut the vagina wall to make room for the baby's head rather than trying to pry the baby's head out with with foreceps or a suction cup which can cause brain or spinal injury to the child. After the birth the incision is put back together with a few stiches and all is well. Most women have this procedure done while giving birth. TRUST ME it's better they go ahead and make the incision rather tan letting you rip on your own. If you rip it can tear you all over the place and you will end up with stiches all over "down there" rather than in just one spot. And either one is much better than a C-section. WHen you have a C-section not only are they cutting through your skin, but they are cutting through your muscle, nerve and uterus (which can rupture during surgery) causing more extensive complications. With time and the experience of age and pregnancy you will come to learn it's lots easier than a C-section and completely normal in modern medicine.

Answer 4

i had a c-section 8 years ago then normal birth 4 years ago and now 25 weeks with my 3rd little girl and going for home birth. since having the c-section both pregnancys ive been in pain on my scar and all the dr says is its scar tissue. But as for being pressured into having another section id seek more advice, though i had 4 years between c-section and vbac so the scar had longer to heal and even then i was monitored throughout the whole labour. 15 month isnt very long for your body to recover, im on baby number 3 done a vbac and have had a huge fight for a home birth this time. whatever you decide i wish you the best of luck

Answer 5

Of course you'll have a scar, they have to cut you open and then sew you back together. But my scar isn't very bad. It's about 4 inches from side to side and is about an inch and a half below my pubic line so it is completely covered by hair. Most of the time they cut right at the pubic hair line. When I had my repeat c-section the doctor was able to use the same incision. My sister in law had to have an extreme emergency c-section where they had to get the baby out in about a minute and her scar is a lot more jagged and uneven.

Answer 6

I was always scared of having a baby come out "down" there but when i got in the hospital that morning i was fine and to tell you the truth it isn't as bad as it seems really yea they have to cut some women, they had to cut me but i couldn't feel it because they have to numb you first. And it was over before i knew it and i had my daughter. A C section is more trouble in that I mean after wards when you start healing. It takes a lot longer to heal from a C-section then having it natural. Well i mean its up to you, its you're body and you're choice. I mean they DO have to cut you're skin and its always a chance you will scar from it. But you could always put something on it that makes the scar not that noticeable ya know? Well i hope you make you're mind up and if you are planning on having any kids anytime soon make sure you spend a lot of time w. them because they grow up a little too fast ) : God-Bless!

Answer 7

Yes it will ALWAYS leave a scar..its an operation...i have two of those great scars from two births..think about it like this you can have an epidural, and you wont feel anything, but if you have 1 c section you are more then likely to have every child after wards like that..and it hurts 100 times more after the first..they just keep getting worse. "regular" birth hurts at that time and for a small time after, but c sections you hurt for days after!!!!! you wont be allowed to walk for at least 3 days, you have to have a tube inserted into you to be able to pee, you wont be allowed to eat because the docs wont want you to pass a stool..vaginal birth isn't looking so bad now is it?

Answer 8

I have two children (boys) 10 and 4... I had a vaginal birth with my oldest son with no problems but with my baby boy, I had some problems and had to have a c - section. I do have a scar but it is not a bad scar... just a bikini cut. I am not having any more children but If I was, I would want to have a vaginal birth. Keep in mind that during your pregnancy it is important for you to stay active and WALK!!! A vaginal pregnancy is really not all that bad.

Answer 9

i have had two c-sections. after about a year, my scar had pretty much totally faded. they cut me really low, below the hair line. i could still wear bikinis and you couldn't see it. you couldn't see it when i was just in my underwear either. i just had another c-section 2 weeks ago and the scar looks like it isn't going to be as bad as it was before, and there was hardly any scarring the first time!! i like to say that my doc is awesome! as for asking for a c-section, i tried that with my first pregnancy. the doc told me no. but in the end, we had to do an emergency one. i guess it just depends on the doctor though.

Answer 10

yes, c-sections cause a scar .. and they also cause a permanent flap on your tummy that you may never be able to get rid of.
also, the recovery from a c-section takes longer, it's considered a surgery where as with a vaginal birth once you deliver the pain is over.
good luck! God bless!