C-Section or Natural? Post Reply

[Janet14]

Hi
I had two extreme opposites - the first was water birth with just gas and the second was crash section with General, the works! Both had their positives actually! The first was a dream delivery for my son and he had a very relaxed start to life! I however was pushing for a long time and although I coped ok my pelvic floor took some hammering! My body bounced back pretty quick though and no tears (I'd done perineal massage)
My second was showing big so I'd been told not to even attempt a water birth and thank God for that as although I got to 10 cms they had him out within 45 mins on general due to his heart rate dropping. At the time I was just relieved my pelvic floor was going to be saved this time round! The pain immediately after was unbelievable but after those initial few days I probably actually recovered more quickly. A BIG negative though is it's taking MUCH longer to get my stomach back due to the muscles being cut.
I still wouldn't change any of it though and NHS we're amazing.
Good luck!
Xx

[nuttymummy]

SO, as I'm sure you're realising there is no definitive answer because none of us could ever predict (mystic Mog/Meg/whoever included!) how things for you will definitively turn out. I note your references to physical 'ability'.... I have x2 other female siblings.... Let's just say that in general it's fair to say I was the 'sporty one'!...one of those siblings has given birth to x3 extreme bigguns (I'm talking near on 10lbs & plus!!) with not a nick or whimper & the remaining two (obvs me included) were not so 'gifted'! My birth experiences first x2 were pretty unpleasant (understatement) in the birth injury department (full on 3rd degrees +..) but to be honest the post c-section recovery (x3) was probably significantly longer & more limiting. I also have a sis in law who's done x4 c-sections and thinks nothing of it..... My very basic advice (& I ain't an expert!) is, unless you have a major phobia, try vaginal birth first..... If it goes perfectly/vaguely good/or not at all you're still in with a better recovery time scale than if your stomach muscles have been cut in half! Best advice for a parent/parent to be is.... Whatever decision you make at the time is the RIGHT one - you made it for a reason at that precise moment. Let us know how it all goes!x

[Bibbity]

Stomach muscles are not generally 'cut' during a c-section. Have a look at these links:

http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and- ... procedure/

http://www.caesarean.org.uk/FAQ.html

NICE guidelines on how to perform a c-section:

http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/ca ... he-surgery

Relevant extract here with my emphasis: Use the Joel Cohen incision as the transverse incision of choice (a straight skin incision, 3 cm above the symphysis pubis; subsequent tissue layers are opened bluntly and, if necessary, extended with scissors and not a knife), because it is associated with shorter operating times and reduced postoperative febrile morbidity.