does an elective c-section really reduce the extreme pain of giving birth?

Answer 1

No, you will have to recover from major surgery. Most doctors would not even agree to do an elective c-section. There are plenty of pain relievers available if you are totally afraid of the pain. How about an epidural? You will have something similar for a c-section anyway.

Answer 2

Its not an elective, only emergency or if your too small for a big baby to fit thru the birth canal. I had an emergency c-section and thank God! I wanted one, i watched those baby shows on TLC and everything else before and during pregnancy and cringed every time. I don't want anything coming outta there that big, i know how you feel!
It is major surgery. I was 22 last year when i had my son and it was painful, hard to sit up for a couple weeks to get to the baby. Painful when you hold them and they kick your belly incision. You use your abs more than you realize and you'll find out when its all cut up down there cuz they have to cut thru the muscles an everything. They give you pain pills in the hospital afterwards that help 80% of the pain so its tolerable and some when you leave to go home. Its not unbearable tho by no means. I'd rather do it again than give natural birth and i've never experieced natural birth

Answer 3

At the time of giving birth perhaps, but afterwards, you have the pain from the incision and if you're choosing to breast feed, you can't take pain meds because they'll pass through the breast milk to the child.

I went for natural childbirth and I'm not sure I would call what I experienced pain. A lot of discomfort, yes, but when the baby gets low enough in the birth canal, it puts enough pressure on the tissues that you stop being able to feel a whole lot. At that point in time, the pain rather stops.

It's up to you but here's something else that not too many people know because the research is so new. There is one more reason now to opt for vaginal delivery over C-section. In 2005-06 researchers discovered that children born by C-section have a harder time developing an adult immune system. The immune system itself starts to develop and mature during the last trimester. Something about the challenge of passing through the birth canal, possibly the early exposure to bacteria, jump starts the baby's immune system and activates it. C-section doesn't do that.

My husband is a researcher at an Ivy League university focusing on developmental immunotoxicity. Part of that study is learning how the fetal immune system develops and why some people are born with an immature immune system that never develops. C-section is one reason.

Answer 4

It's a different kind of pain. You obviously won't feel the pain and extreme cramps of the baby passing through the vaginal canal, but remember that a C-section involves cutting through several inches of skin and muscle tissue. Recovery from this kind of trauma is very painful and you won't be able to move around as freely a few days after giving birth as you would if you deliver "naturally."

If you're electing to have a C-section done because you're afraid of the potential pain of a vaginal birth, I can understand your fear.

Please know that women don't feel the pain of a vaginal birth the same way. Some (like most of the women you see on the TV shows) find it horrific, while others just breathe calmly and push. Some give birth in minutes, while others take hours.

However, having said that, physical recovery from a C-section is painful for ALL women. In my opinion, C-sections should be reserved for high-risk pregnancies and births, as they were designed to.

Good luck with your decision!

Answer 5

Yeah, I wouldn't take a c-section over birth. No way. Your body is meant to give birth. Yeah, there are many circumstances where they have to do a c-section, but those are to protect you or the baby. The recovery time for a c-section is close to 6 weeks where as for a vaginal birth, a week tops with slight bleeding/spotting up to 6 weeks. The recovery time after a surgery such as a c-section is a lot harder than the birth itself.

Answer 6

having had 5 c-sections and no labour I cant compare. but I can say I would NEVER have chosen to have an elective c-seciton. your body is made to deliver babies. and its only when something goes wrong that you should consider an elective c-section.

my first was breech and I was young and nieve, and didnt think I could do a breech birth so I chose a c-section. I never thought Id end up having my 2nd that way too, let alone ALL of them.

I will never get to experience the joy of delivering my own baby and holding it immediately after birth all covered in gunk. I have delt with 10 years of feeling like a faliure becuse I never gave birth natrually.

but Im getting over it now.

please think long and hard before giving in and not giving your body a chance, you might surprise yourself!!

goodluck either way

Answer 7

Comparing my two births, I would elect a c-section every time. My first was a long, drawn out, painful labor.

The pain after my Cesarean was nothing. I was up and walking a few hours after, home a few days later, and doing housework that same day. I even remember taking a trip to Walmart the day after we got home. The only time I remember really being in pain, is when they took out the staples.

You are not sleeping for days after your c-section, unless they knock you out, which they don't normally do. A simple spinal block is all.

People's experiences are different. Some can handle more pain then others, some people handle labor better than others. I was not one of those people.

Answer 8

I have never had a c-section but do know people who have had both a vaginal and c-section delivery and they have said that the pain from a c-section is less during delivery but so much worse after. If you sneeze after a c-section you feel like you riped open your wound all over again. Also I heard some complain of it taking longer to get back to normal activity. The only one to make this decision is you so make one that you feel comfortable with but remember once you commit to a c-section and you're on the table you can't change your mind.

Answer 9

NO, you may get out of a few contractions, but the delivery itself is much less invasive than a C section. your body is made to have babies, and will do quite well...

yes its painful, but there are drugs if you can't handle it - you may find its not that bad (I didn't use drugs with my first tow, but I'm not against it either - I just managed it and it WAS NOT AS BAD AS THE STORIES SAY - don't listen to them.)3

a C section is a major surgery which involves cutting your abdominal muscles to get to the baby out + there is much greater chance for infections.

research the procedure and vaginal delivery and see for yourself...watch TLC's a baby story and you'll see real life births and that will give you an idea of hoe labor and delivery goes, talk to your doc about your concerns, GET EDUCATED then make a decision.

Answer 10

Ha ha, How do you figure?! A c-section is a major surgery that requires WEEKS and not days for a recovery like a natural birth. I mean the birth part is shorter but not worth it. With a natural birth you can be up and walking withing minutes of delivering but with a c-section you are confined to a bed for 2 to 3 days and sleeping because of the Anesthesia...Oh that and they MAKE you walk when you are in sssooooooooooooo much pain. Wouldn't you want to be with your new child?!!?!?!?!?! I think they should rid of elective c-sections, they should only be medically needed!!! I'd always choose natural birth unless my baby was in distress or I was in danger.