Why do some people think c-sections are the easy way out?

Question

The recovery period is significantly longer than natural birth... you have to be drugged... your stomach muscles are severed, which means you can't lift your baby by yourself, you can't open a door, you can't lie down in bed, you can't sit up... you have a permanent 5 inch scar... your chances of infection are greatly increased.
Don't get me wrong... sometimes they're necessary.

Answer 1

Of course there are cases where a C-section is necessary for the health of the baby and/or mother. But there are lots of people who choose C-sections *coughbritneyspearscough*

My theory is that those women don't want to do the actual work of childbirth. Sure, recovery from surgery is tough, but they didn't have to push the baby. And some women (like the female doctor on Dr. 90210) want the convenience of a scheduled birth. And there are women who think that because they had to have a C-section with their first baby, they need one for there other babies, which isn't necessarily true. And I fear that some women are worried about stretching out their vaginas.

Answer 2

c-sections are by no means the easy way out, however i had 2 and will be having a third in february. there is more recovery time, but i was mobile a few hours after my c-sections and was able to walk to the nursery to see my daughter. who really cares about a scar nobody can see anyway...the result is the same in most cases...a healthy baby. you and your docs and spouse are the only ones who can see the scar. after the first c-section, it is advised that you have c-sections for any other births you might be having. my pain management was well, i was able to sit up in bed and a chair, shower, go to the bathroom, walk around...everything a woman does normally. most babies weigh less than 20 lbs and most women having c-sections are able to lift their newborns without difficulty. i was not scared to have a vaginal birth, if i had a choice, i would have preferred it actually. i didn't dialate with my first pregnancy and i was overdue, so i had a c-section. i didn't want that to happen again, so i had a repeat c-section with my second pregnancy and will have my third and final c-section with this pregnancy. there was also complications with my epidural, so i have to be put under general anesthesia. the infection rate is generally the same with either way of giving birth. it doesn't make you less of a woman if you have a c-section.

Answer 3

I don't know. With my son I had a emergency C-Section and people say "oh, you took the easy way out". That Pisses me off to no end. I was hospitalized for 1 week had 2 blood transfusions and didn't get milk because of how much blood I lost. This pregnancy I will have to have another C-Section and people are already saying I'm taking the easy way out.

Answer 4

I've had 3 and each one got easier. The first - I was in labor for a VERY long time (you wouldn't believe me if I told you) and so I was completely exhausted and healed very slowly. The second one - they tried to induce labor and gave up after 16 hours of nothing. I healed a LOT quicker since I had no labor and was well rested. The third one was planned since you can't try VBAC after 2 c-sections. I was well rested and prepared and healed even faster than number 2. Take the opportunity to get as much rest as you can before hand and I'm sure it will be much easier with a quicker healing time. After all, you know what to expect now - that by itself makes it easier.

Answer 5

I agree, I had to have a caesar with my third child and it was a lot harder than my natural births. My first and second births were quite easy, my caesar was a nightmare even though I didn't get an infection, my fourth birth was a breeze and my fifth and six, even though they were long labours, were still much easier.

I don't think people who call them easier really have any conception of how difficult it really is. I had a really great surgeon, and excellent post-op care, but I was still in a lot more pain then my natural births (didn't need any pain relief for them at all) and my pain lasted for weeks. I hated the fact that I couldn't get up straight away, and the fact that the first time I visited my child (who was in NICU), I had to be wheeled up there in a wheelchair (hospital policy, it was either that, or get taken up in my bed). My recovery from my caesar was called excellent by the hospital, so I couldn't imagine how difficult it would be for someone who had a harder time.

Answer 6

I don't know. My mom was going to have a vaginal birth with my youngest sister, just as she had with me and my 3 other siblings. But when she got to the hospital complications arose and she had to have c-section. When she got home from the hospital it was really difficult because she couldn't move very much and was in a LOT of pain. She said it was way worse than a vaginal delivery.

If a woman has a c-section for one baby though, Drs usually advise that they have a c-section with the future babies they may have. So, that's one reason some women have them.

Answer 7

I agree with your opinions here. I have a neighbor that with her first she had to have a C-section but then elected to have her second by c-section and plans on having the child she is carrying done by c-section also. I think that she said that delivering vaginally freaked her out. I dont get it, I think what is natural is less freaky. Not having to be sliced open.

Answer 8

my sister thought a C-section would be the easy way out lol ha! she realized when she had to have one that it def wasnt. i think most people who think c-sections are easier dont understand or know about the pain that comes after birth.

Answer 9

i dont know, i had a vaginal delivery and it wasnt nearly as horrible as i feared it would be. I had an epidural of course but the pushing only lasted 10 minutes, that was it. once his head came out it was pretty much over with. I was out of the hospital and doing regular activities the next day.....far better than if i had opted for a c-section!

Answer 10

i completely agree i would have much rather have had a natural birth my body just would let it happen, it was fine while giving birth but then i got low b/p cause of the drug to numb me and i fell asleep straigh after seeing my baby and everything after was so much harder having to get in and out of the bed to see to my daughter was very hard and painfull i couldnt go out alone or tyde up for six weeks and being a lone parent made it even harder i had to depend on the help of my mum and sister alot.so i dont think it is the easier way out at all if your thinking about it then dont! you will find it much better having it naturally.