Natural birth or C-section???

Question

I had a horrible birth experience with my son born 9 lbs 1 oz, 1 week overdue. I had Cholestasis, low amniotic fluid, induced labor, 36 hours with 4 hours of pushing, and a 4th degree tear that had to be resewn 12 weeks AFTER he was born because it didn't heal. Took almost a year to heal physically & more than 2.5 years to heal emotionally. Didn't think I'd EVER have another child but the desire overcame my fear. I am a petite woman but genetically prone to bigger babies. I'm 8 months along and HUGE! I don't want to go through all that trauma again so we plan to find out how large this baby is & possibly opt for a c-section. Recover from that can't possibly be as bad as what I went through but I hear so many horrible stories about C-sections - I'm scared! Does anyone have any other suggestions on my options to avoid a complicated birth? Maybe induce early but have him natural - before he has a chance to get too big? Or are c-sections really not that bad? Alex is due in 7 weeks.

I DID have midwives with my first delivery and I am disappointed with the care received.

For the first 3 months after my son was born I was pretty much couch bound. I had to lay down - could NOT sit - not for anything because of the tear. Even in the car I had to hover over the seat. I won't even go into the maxi-pops my husband had to make for me to wear in bed every night because of the terrible pain. He was amazing!!! I still think this was worse than a c-section recovery. We didn't have sex for 6 months and then rarely because of residual pain and sutures that never dissolved.

Answer 1

A c-section will be a cake walk compared to your last delivery.
Don't be afraid. Let the baby mature to full gestation and schedule a c-section.
Good Luck!

Answer 2

I would say you'd be justified in wanting to schedule a c-section.

That said, it sounds to me like the hospital staff and the doctor didn't have a clue of what to do with a pregnant woman. Is it the same doctor (if it is, may I ask, why do you hate yourself???), or is it the same hospital? It could be that if you tell them what went WRONG the first time, including the tear, which never should have happened, then they may be able to prevent that the second time.

My little sister had a horrible time giving birth to her first child (induced, and after they let her labor for over 24 hours, finally did a c-section... the doctor had to get on the table and literally pull my nephew out). She had a scheduled C-section with her second child a few weeks ago, and felt much better than she did the first time around. Actually, a little over 48 hours after he was born, she went to Chili's for lunch before going home.

But yeah, if I were you, I'd probably see about doing a scheduled c-section. I think it's better to enjoy your first moments of motherhood than it is to wear a "I pushed it out" badge of honor, but resent the whole experience.



EDIT: I read your extra info. Your midwives were morons. I'm so sorry you had that experience. You had enough risk for difficult labor that they should have decided against you having a "natural" childbirth. Also, since you were induced, the contractions come harder and faster than they do when labor happens naturally. One of my sisters is a labor and delivery nurse, and she said in the six years she's worked at the hospital, not one woman who has been induced has been able to have an otherwise "natural" childbirth. They need the drugs, because the labor is different than if it were naturally induced. I do want to mention that there is something available kind of between "natural childbirth" and a scheduled c-section. I had an epidural with both of my kids, and had them vaginally, and I have two wonderful kids and some really positive memories about their births and early hours.

And the woman a few answers below me clearly didn't read what you wrote. It doesn't sound to me like you forgot all that pain when you held your baby for the first time.

Answer 3

Congratulations to you - both on the pregnancy and on having an open mind on this question.
If you can go along with a natural birth, it is almost always easier on the mother and on the baby. You were an unfortunate exception with your first baby. BUT -- the good news is that subsequent births are always faster and easier, because the birth canal has been stretched already.
Women (like me) who were in labor a day and a half with their first child, find the labor reduced to six hours for the second child, and it's sprint to the hospital for third and fourth, because they really do come fast.
That said, the decision about whether to go with C-section or natural childbirth is really up to you, your baby, and your doctor. Given your case history, your doctor will doubtless be carefully monitoring the situation and if Alex gets too big, will probably suggest the C-section. But do wait until Alex is fully matured. Babies are meant to spend a certain amount of time in the womb, and it gets them off to a better start if you can give them that time. There are instances where babies have to be delivered early, but avoid that situation if you can.
Hope all goes well for you and Alex.

Answer 4

Having a c-section may not be that bad after the experience you went through. But it is major surgery so there is a recovery period and you may not be able to do as much since it is had on your body. I had a c-section with my first daughter because she wouldn't turn and I hated the recovery plus you have a scar and you can't feel much where they cut and my cut wouldn't heal fast, no infection though. You still have lochia and you still have to take good care fo yourself. The doctor can see how big baby is and start labor and if it starts getting too bad ask for c-section, you don't want to have an emergency c-section at all.
My second daughter I had natural and it was way better!

Answer 5

First, I want to tell you that I'm so sorry you went through that! That sounds terrible. Again, I'm sorry!
Second, try to relax about the upcoming labor. I know that is much easier said then done but try! I understand that your concerned about having another large baby and going through all that again. I would be too! My sister had 3 large babies and 3 c-sections! She scheduled all 3 on her own choice. She was a large baby herself and knew she had a very low threshold for pain. She decided c-sections would be better for her and the babies. All three went great! She was only in the hospital 2 extra days compared to vaginal birth. Yes, she did have to deal with the some pain after since it was major surgery but it wasn't as horrible as some people make it seem. It will be much easier compared to what you went through last time. Much easier!
No-one can make this decision for you. You have to decide what will be best for you and your precious little Alex. You have to consider your health since he needs you to be healthy. You also have to consider his safety. With him possibly being a large baby and you being a small woman the chances for stress on him is higher. There is so much to think about that it can be overwhelming. Just remember that this surgery is performed everyday and there will be plenty of doctors and nurses there to take care of you and your little baby.
In your situation, I would choose a c-section (even if he isn't huge). This should be a wonderful experience for you and your family.
Good luck hun! Lots of hugs and positive thoughts.
-Brit

Answer 6

I would avoid the c-section if at all possible. C-section is major surgery carrying many risks with it, and your recovery time might nearly double. It will also require thousands more dollars and a longer hospital stay. You will be in a lot of stomach pain afterwards and your activities will be severely restricted. It will make your milk come in late and so might interfere with breastfeeding. Worst of all, they will take the babies away from you right after the birth and you will be whisked away to the recovery room - ALONE

Many women feel that every delivery will be the same and the same complications will repeat themselves, which is not usually the case b/c each pregnancy is different. To help minimize your tearing you can do kegels in the 3rd trimester and try perineal massage.

I had low amniotic fluid with my 1st baby but no problems with my 2nd and 3rd babies.

Plus, my subsequent labors shortened by 50%. Labor for baby number 2 was 15 hours and labor for baby number 3 was 7 hours.

Seriously consider using a midwife this time around. They have very high sucess rates for vaginal births and have great tricks for avoiding or minimizing tearing.

Perhaps you could get an ultrasound very late in the pregnancy to estimate the size and then see what you are up against.

Answer 7

there, im only 21 weeks but first time round (4years ago now!) i had an epidural, the birth was totally painless, - ahh bliss. This time though the hospital don't give epidurals anymore so i'm opting for a water birth - everyone i speak to tells me that you have a very very very small chance of getting a tear or anything and that the water really takeste pain off - not completely of course but you can always have pethodine to take the pain away too and still have a water birth. Check out 'you tube' and type in water births, omg some of them are amazing good luck hun

Answer 8

I had a c-section and do NOT want another one....I asked my mother who has had both natural and c-section and she said she would choose natural anyday over a c-section....I HAD to have a c-section a fetal pelvic index said that my son's shoulders would not be able to fit the natural way.....But I have heard many people state that they would choose another c-section.....Most the time though you will need to get your drs approval to have a c-section.....they would prefer to deliver it naturally!!! I think it just depends on the situation at hand, your dr may recommend a c-seciton due to the previous experience! C-sections are not fun and games...it is a truly painful healing process!!


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Answer 9

Natural birth is def because then u can forget the pain when u hold ur newborn baby, as for c-section it will pain take a long time to heal it...

Answer 10

C-sections are really not bad at all. I was so scared to death of a csection but I had my daugher on February 15th 2007 by a csection and it was not bad at all. During the csection, it didnt hurt at all..the best way i can describe it "it was a relaxing feeling". It is up to you if you want to have the baby natural or c-section..but i will tell you csections are really not bad at all..trust me i heard the stories too before i had a csection