Can I opt to have a C-section just because of fear of pain?

Question

I have seen the natural birth process and it scares the heck out of me! I was wondering if you can request to have a C-section even if there are no complications with pregnancy? Also, for those who had their children naturally, can you describe what it was like, mostly focusing on the pain?

Answer 1

I alway's went natural....It was hard that is true. But, within a few hours it's over and your body is almost back to normal!!! C-section takes a long time to heal. It's hard to even enjoy the baby with the gas pain and staples..etc....

If you are truly desperate then speak to your doctor about it...Tell him/her that it is consumming your mind and you NEED to have a C...My sister was terrified herself and bugged the doc. til he gave in and offered for her to have a 'C'.......

Good luck!! Hope all turns out well!!

Dahrma

Answer 2

Well, if you think a C-Section involves no pain, you are quite mistaken. Waking up in the recovery room...you're in quite a bit of pain. And many C-Sections are only given in an instance where the baby is showing signs of distress, which means you have already gone through a good part of labor (which is intense!).

Anyway, some hospitals will perform C-Sections by request, but most do not. Childbirth, in many medical opinions, should be as natural as possible. There are risks with any surgery, and if the surgery is not needed why take those risks? (Allergies and reaction to anesthesia, baby's reactions to drugs, recovery complications, bleeding, infections.)

However, the choice is ultimately yours. I underwent an emergency C-Section with my first child, and everything went so quickly---the epidural didn't even have time to work correctly. It was painful, and add to that I had just gone through 18 hours of labor. I am a small woman, and he was a large baby.

When I had the ultrasounds for my second child, they discovered she would be a big one, too. So I opted to have a C-Section from the get go, and the doctor agreed. Everything went much smoother, and the pain was significantly less.

However, if I could have had natural births, I would have chosen to do so. Either way, natural or C-Section, there is going to be pain. HOWEVER----

Let me tell you the most important thing. That pain doesn't mean squat when you finally meet and see that little baby :)
The pain, you can get through. You really can. It hurts, but we survive, and you get the greatest award you could imagine. And you will realize that the first time you hold that baby in your arms.

Relax, as much as you can. Pain is temporary. Love is forever. :)

Answer 3

PLEASE reconsider the c section thing. I had one natural (without drugs also) and I had one c-sectoin and the c-secton was absolutely horrible. You can always get an epidural with natural birth but once you have a c-section that could be it forever. Most hospitals will not do VBACs anymore because of the risk. I am not going to tell you it didn't hurt because I won't lie but I felt more reward from the natural birth. Now I'm definitely not saying do it with no drugs because that was pretty dumb but I will never be able to have another natural birth because my doctor tricked me into having a c-secton. The pain of natural birth does go away after a while but once you've been cut open they cut your muscles and then you could have a bit of a flabby belly because they don't heal right. I would do a natural birth 10 times over a c-section. I would definitely say do it natural with an epidural and completely pass on that c-section crap. The healing process for a natural birth is so much easier than a c-section. I ask again please way your options. I hope you do what is best for you and not what someone convinces you to do. Good luck.

Answer 4

Elective c-sections are certainly possible. In some places like Brazil nearly 50% of the people choose to deliver via c-section. In the US there's the "too posh to push" group of celebrities and folks who have such a rigorous work schedule that they schedule the birth of their babies similarly. A c-section is major surgery and has the risk of a lot of complications; it's also painful and you're out of commission for a good 6 weeks after. Most women I know who had c-sections complain that they never could get their tight stomach back because of having to cut through abdominal muscles. Either way there's going to be pain - wouldn't you rather have one bad day than a month or more? If you get a c-section you have to have an epidural, so just opt for the epidural at the beginning of labor and do it natural. Same amount of time, shorter period of pain, shorter recovery time. I'd take natural pain over doctors slicing me open kind of pain any day!

Answer 5

Why would you want to have a c-section because you fear pain? After the c-section, you would be left with pain from the incision site and the recovery would be longer. I would go for the natural birth process over a c-section any day!

I had both my babies naturally. The first one I was given some kind of narcotics but those didn't last long and the closer I got to delivering, they wouldn't give me anymore because it would affect the baby's APGAR score. The second one I didn't have any pain meds at all. Yes labor is really painful, however it has to end sometime and once the baby is here, the pain scale drops dramatically. I don't have a high pain tolerance and I did okay.

Good luck.

Answer 6

The pain of a C-section can be worse than a vaginal birth. You can get an epidural with a natural birth. I've had two children and Im pregnant with the third. The first I had an epidural and didnt feel a thing,, the second was 100 percent natural and it did hurt like hell but if it was that bad I wouldnt of gotten pregnant on purpose with my third. Dont worry its painful but in the end its worth it. The contractions are like extreme cramps times 10. The pushing part actually hurts less than some of the contractions... almost feels like you need to take a big dump... its a burning pulling sensation.

Answer 7

I can tell you the facts as I see them (I have had both a cesarean and a vaginal birth), as well as give my opinion.

SOME doctors will do an elective cesarean, although it is against AAOG guidelines. Why? Because cesarean should be reserved as a last resort due to the increased risks it poses to both mother and child.

My first child was born via cesarean. I was under general anesthesia, so I definitely did not feel anything during the surgery. However, the pain I experienced after delivery and during the (long) recovery was much greater than what I experienced after my vaginal birth. To have a cesarean in order to "avoid pain" is ridiculous, in my opinion. Think about it...abdominal incision, stitches, and an average of eight weeks to completely recover (sometimes MUCH longer). You also still get to experience the vaginal bleeding, etc. that follows birth.

My second child was born vaginally. My labor was augmented (helped along) with pitocin, yet I had no pain meds. Because of his shoulder dystocia, I had a small episiotomy and still ended up tearing (fourth degree). Even so, I plan to have another VBAC for the delivery of my third child (due in September).

You CAN receive pain meds for a vaginal birth, however. I chose not to, but if you are only scared of the pain then it can definitely be lessoned/eliminated for you (depending on the medication you choose). In the long run, a vaginal birth is MUCH less painful and recovery is quicker.

I wish you the best whatever you choose...

Answer 8

Yes you can opt out and cite pain as the reason but c-sections are not necessarily pain free. There are plenty of needles and stitches to deal with. I mean they are cutting you open. And so the recovery from a c-section is way longer than a natural birth. I thought I wanted a c-section but when I was in the hospital, I suddenly became really aware of the all the things that could go wrong, so I went natural. And I swear, it wasnt as bad as I always thought it would be. I did alot of walking in the weeks before and pre natal yoga and the baby was out in a flash. Good Luck - either way.

Answer 9

You honestly think a c-section would be less painful than a vaginal birth? Most c-section mommies are in far more pain during recovery (their stomachs have been torn apart and stapled back together). Labor is painful, yes, but very bearable until you get your epidural and then you'll feel little to nothing. 15 minutes after the births of both of my girls, I was up walking around and taking a shower. I was also released within 24 hours and didn't have to use any pain medications. I pray I never have to have surgery!

Answer 10

I have 2 kids and I had them both naturually, OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUCH! Most doctors want you to have a vaginal birth for your own health. A C section is really only done when there is some kind of complication with vaginal delivery or with the babies. Natural birth without drugs is horrible and I recommend drugs highly when you go into labor. Like everyone else said, once you drugged up, you dont feel anything, i guess. But once that baby is out of you, really the pain is gone, it hurts like hell though,lol

Answer 11

I don't want to confuse you but I didn't have an epidural and it wasn't that bad. Mostly jsut pressure down there. When I was havign contractions before the pushing part, it was like the worst mentrual cramps I've ever had. So that part wasn't much fun. However, when it came time to push it was almost like my body just knew what to do. The nurses were great at guiding me through the breathing and I'm sure that helped. i would do it again the same way if I got pregnant again.

Your doctor can decide for you to schedule a c section if you prefer and he/she is ok with it.