C-section versus bad tearing from a vaginal delivery? Please read the whole question - thanks!?

Question

Hey all. I'm just wondering from those who have "been there done that" which is easier to heal from - a c-section or a bad vaginal tear. With my first baby, I tore really, really bad (it took half an hour to stitch me up), I couldn't sit down for a whole month (either had to lay down, half way lay down, or stand) and it took almost a year to heal and even now (2 years later) I still have pain in the scar area at times to the point where my husband and I can't do anything so to speak. I'm just wondering what your experiences with c-sections were - most of my friends have had c-sections and they were back to normal within 2 to 4 weeks. I think that I'd rather have an abdominal incision than another really bad vaginal tear, and I'm afraid that I'll tear worse this time around (I'm 6 months pregnant with baby #2). Any experiences / advice, would definitely be welcome! Thanks in advance and God bless!

WIMOM - I said "at times". And yes, I my friend who just had a c-section was back to normal with no pain or discomfort within 2 weeks - same with other friends I have (5 total) who have had c-sections - the longest that took any of them to heal completely was 4 weeks - and she had baaaaad complications like hemoraging and all that stuff.

Answer 1

I have had to vaginal deliveries. One with a 7 pound and one with a 9 pound........and ouch!!! I just had my first c-section (at the age of 21) because i was having twins. Ya know...honestly..i was expecting terrible pain and everything and it wasnt bad at all..i was expecting death or something lol. I can say I had pretty much no vaginal bleeding and i could poop with out it hurting down there. The only crappy part with a c-section is that i had to wear really weird underwear to go over the cut but honestly i was at the park walking with my twins a week and a half after i had them... it wasnt fast walking but still. the only thing u need to be careful about it lifting which is normal even if u vaginal deliver. I liked it alot more actually oh and....i was doing the unmentionable about two weeks or three weeks after which was soooo much soon then vaginal. With a c-section you just have pinching on the ends of the cut as it heals but seriously after a month of having them i was perfectly fine. i started driving the week i had them too. BUT keep in mind that all of us are different..some women have had different experiences but in my opinion i think i will get a c-section with my next.

Answer 2

My doctor told me that tears are usually on a scale from 1-4, 4 being the worst. I had a # 3 tear after my son, and it took her about 15 minutes to sew things up... I would say that it only took me about 2 weeks to heal, and during that time I was doing everything normal though... not any side effects like you describe.

A c-section is a major surgery that has the potential for many complications. Although you went through a very bad tear I would encourage you to try a vaginal delivery again. There is actually a lot less chance of problems with this versus a c-section. A c-section cuts through all the different layers of your belly and it takes a long time to heal... also there is risk of infection, and complications with the drugs. It is also less healthy for the baby because of the drugs. I of course recognize that a c-section is sometimes necesarry for the mother and baby's health, but if you have a choice, I encourage you to try vaginal delivery again. Make sure your OB (if different from the first time) is aware of what happened the first time.

Good luck!

Answer 3

A friend of mine had a bad tear the same time I had an emergency C-section, and I was back to normal way before she was. Not 2-4 weeks, though, more like 8. C-section scars shouldn't stay painful, any more than tear scars should. That's a myth unless something else is wrong - one I didn't know about at the time. I did still have pain in the area of my C-section scar when I had my second (who also had to be C-section) and the surgeon was able to sort it out for me at the same time.

I'd advise discussing your concerns with your doctor. Scar tissue doesn't stretch as well as normal tissue. You shouldn't really have pain still in the area, and you really don't want to be back to square one tearing again.

I would just get as much medical advice as you can, from people who know exactly what state you are in "down there". A normal delivery is much better for you than a C-section, all things being equal. But sometimes all things aren't equal.

Answer 4

When I was in nursing clinicals, I saw a woman come in for a vaginal delivery of a second baby after having a 4th degree tear (the worst type) with her first. She had seriously considered planning a c-section because healing may be easier considering that the location of the scar doesn't affect your sex life, your ability to go to the bathroom, or how you sit. She changed doctors and decided on a vaginal birth, and her second outcome was very different from her first.

It seems her problem was in her doctor. The doctor for her first birth had used his hands to try to stretch her perinneum open more as the baby emerged, and this manual pressure is what caused the severe tearing. She chose a different doctor for the second birth and he didn't touch her as the baby's head emerged. It made all the difference and she didn't tear at all.

Do you know of any factors that contributed to why you tore? It can't always be prevented (I had minor natural tears with both of mine, but no problems healing), but sometimes your positioning, how you push, or the way you were handled can make a difference. There is no guarantee that your next experience will be the same as the first.

Answer 5

Hi! I am not sure about a vaginal delivery as I just recieved an emergency c-section with my first three weeks ago. I can tell you how I am recovering and that is all, sorry! Exactly a week after my c-section I quit taking the prescribed medication, partly because I was not feeling that bad and partly because I wanted to be more awake with my baby when he was awake. I had reduced the amount of the medication by more than half four days after the surgery. I am recovering quite well, but I have nothing to compare it to. Everyone seems to be a bit amazed at my recovery to be honest. I can tell you what I did that I personally think helped in my recovery. The day after the surgery my baby was on oxygen and I was told that I would not be able to see him unless I were to able to get up and put myself in a wheel chair. I got up! I got up, took a shower, but eventually had to lay back down for an hour. If you do get a c-section, try to get up as soon as you are able and walk around a bit. The longer you lay in the bed, the more difficult it will be to get up and walk. In all honesty, I eventually felt much better walking around than laying in a bed. The worst part of a c-section was getting out of the bed and the fact that I wasn't able to hold my baby directly after his birth (I don't think that this happens with everyone though!). The incision is still a little swollen, but it doesn't hurt, it's just uncomfortable. It's not large either. It is directly midway between my wahoo and the area where the hair begins. You can't even see it. I have heard of people having difficulty with c-sections, so please do not rely on my account of the situation. I really liked the surgeon a lot, I had visited her before the birth of my child on numerous occasions. I suggest that if you are to opt for a c-section that you ask around to see which surgeons are the best in the area, after all, you have that option. After doing this, visit with them! You never know what kind of birth you are going to have, whether it be your first or your fifth child (which you already know)= this is why I suggest that you meet with the surgeon. Good luck in whatever you decide!! I hope that I have helped!

Answer 6

I had a c-section with my son 2 1/2 years ago and it was pretty terrible for about a week and then it got much better after that. I bounced back by 2 weeks with no problems. I think it just depends on you and your body. I don't have any problems with the scar...although it did randomly itch for about a year and my friend also said the same thing. It is major surgery and some women do have trouble with scar tissue later in life. If I were you, I would be tempted to do a c-section...that sounds like an awful experience! The only advice I can give you is that a c-section does have benefits, but remember it IS major surgery which COULD come with more complications. But between the two experiences...I'd take a c-section any day!

Answer 7

Well since I have had 4 c-sections and all except for 1 has giving me pain. My 2nd child was a long recovery for me and I didn't think I wanted to do it again. Well I had 2 more kids and ready for that 5th. I think you should understand that every person tolerate pain different. So one person can have less pain to very bad pain. I do know people who has had the tear and cut but really would prefer getting cut. Now you will have to talk to your Dr about your fears on this. He then could lay out the pros and cons in each surgery. If I was in your situation I would opt for the C-Section. But again everyone is different in the way they heal. The best of luck to you and the blessing from heaven.

Answer 8

I had a c-section last Thursday and I feel great. The day after the surgery I felt nauseous from the medications, but that wore off quickly. I have no pain at all now and I'm up, walking around, and taking care of baby with no problems whatsoever. Maybe a vaginal birth would have been just fine too, but I'm really happy with how this turned out.

Definitely talk to your doctor about your past experience and your current options. Good luck and hope everything goes well for you.

Answer 9

Well I havent had any c sections, but i have friends who have and said they wouldnt have done it any other way. My personal experience, I have three kids, all vaginal delivery and i tore REAL Bad with my middle child because of how quickly he was delivered. With my baby after that, my doctor told me he wanted me to "cough" the baby out when she started to crown. I did exactly that, I pushed for about 4 contractions and when the dr said she was right there with my next contraction i coughed just a little bit like i was trying to get mucus out of the bottom of my lungs, and she slid out no tear. My doctor told me that he has delivered 12 lb babies this way without ever having a woman tear. I know that it is easier for your body to heal with a vaginal delivery, everything falls back into place a lot faster. It takes about a year to heal completly after having a baby anyhow, all your insides need to go back into place and your muscles in your stomach need to unstretch, which actually takes longer to do through scar tissue form a cesarian.

Answer 10

A C-Section takes much longer to heal than a vaginal birth. Your doctor should have given you an episotomy with your first child and your stitches would have healed within two weeks. I hope you are not using the same doctor. With this being your second child you should not tear at all.

With a Vaginal Birth you should be feeling better within a week and stitch free.

With a C-Section it will take months to heal and you will have a sensitive scar for life.