Birth preferences (C-section or vaginal)
- Thread starter chris516
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- waiting for baby
@chris516 I would definitely prefer a vaginal birth because the healing process is faster and easier. The vagina/cervix are made to stretch like crazy and heal up quickly, and with a new baby I'd want to be on my feet and able to move around as much as possible, as soon as possible. I totally get that I can't control what's gonna happen and I'd do what's needed for my baby to be safe during delivery.
Also, I want to have 3+ kids, so I don't want repeat C-sections because it makes delivery more dangerous (risk of uterine rupture), plus you have to space your kids much further apart for more time to heal.
Also, I want to have 3+ kids, so I don't want repeat C-sections because it makes delivery more dangerous (risk of uterine rupture), plus you have to space your kids much further apart for more time to heal.
katrina2017
New member
@chris516 Vaginal. Fuck no to a C-section unless one of us is going to die or be maimed. I got three teensey holes in my abdomen to remove my appendix about 10 years ago and recovery sucked. I can’t imagine them making a baby sized hole. I have a hole. Don’t need more.
My husband was a C-section baby and his dad totally fainted in the OR when he saw his wife’s intestines piled on top of her stomach so they could get to the baby. I am, of course, very grateful they cut the cord out from around his neck. I went to elementary school with a girl that was injured because of it and she was in special ed with lifelong issues.
My husband was a C-section baby and his dad totally fainted in the OR when he saw his wife’s intestines piled on top of her stomach so they could get to the baby. I am, of course, very grateful they cut the cord out from around his neck. I went to elementary school with a girl that was injured because of it and she was in special ed with lifelong issues.
@katrina2017 So this is a massive myth - your intestines aren’t pulled out of your body during a Cesarean. A uterus with a term baby in it in takes up a lot of the space in your lower abdomen anyway, and the assistant retracts the bladder at the bottom of the incision (which is empty anyway because you have a catheter). If any stray bits of bowel come down, you shove them back above the uterus, because obstetricians are great at sewing uteruses back together - bowel not so much. Occasionally you might pull the uterus out of the incision if it won’t stop bleeding after you’ve taken the baby out - usually that stops it and you can shove it back in (you’ve not made any new cuts, it goes back as it always way) and sew it all up.
Having said, birth partners fainting is not super uncommon - obstetric theatre is hot, there is a lot of weird smells and if it’s an emergency they’ve probably not slept properly for a day or so before hand.
Having said, birth partners fainting is not super uncommon - obstetric theatre is hot, there is a lot of weird smells and if it’s an emergency they’ve probably not slept properly for a day or so before hand.
katrina2017
New member
@tiffc Well that makes me feel slightly better about the intestine thing. Though that was a story I’ve gotten from my husband, the baby in question, so his witness is a little spotty. I guess his dad didn’t look too hard before being grossed out and his mom probably was on the other side of the curtain or something so who knows what she saw.
@texas0987 Agreed, I want to be in a hospital and medicated.
@chris516 I had to have a c-section with my first because of a previa. It was under general anesthesia and that sucked hard core.
For my second I decided to have a c-section again. I didn’t want to try vaginal birth because of the risks invoked with a VBAC. I have also dealt with vulvodynia issues and figure my vagina had been through enough trauma and bullshit.
My second c-section was 1000 times better because I was actually awake. Recovery was easier because I wasn’t coming off of the anesthesia, and I felt better prepared to care for myself.
With two under my belt (pun intended) I’ll be riding that train all the way with the third. I often wonder what would have happened if I had been able to deliver vaginally with my first. But I do like knowing the day baby will arrive and I have a bad ass scar.
For my second I decided to have a c-section again. I didn’t want to try vaginal birth because of the risks invoked with a VBAC. I have also dealt with vulvodynia issues and figure my vagina had been through enough trauma and bullshit.
My second c-section was 1000 times better because I was actually awake. Recovery was easier because I wasn’t coming off of the anesthesia, and I felt better prepared to care for myself.
With two under my belt (pun intended) I’ll be riding that train all the way with the third. I often wonder what would have happened if I had been able to deliver vaginally with my first. But I do like knowing the day baby will arrive and I have a bad ass scar.
chaoticjoy3
New member
@chris516 I want a vaginal birth, ideally with very low levels of intervention. I know that's not always medically possible, but I would like to breastfeed and I know recovery from a caesarean can be long and uncomfortable (it really is major surgery) and can affect breastfeeding.
Trauma isn't automatically associated with vaginal birth. Some women have traumatic experiences with Caesarean sections (although I expect that's more common if they're unplanned). Obviously, these are choices for individuals to make, but neither is a guaranteed good or bad time.
Trauma isn't automatically associated with vaginal birth. Some women have traumatic experiences with Caesarean sections (although I expect that's more common if they're unplanned). Obviously, these are choices for individuals to make, but neither is a guaranteed good or bad time.
@chris516 Hey there. Birth educator here 
. You absolutely have the right to chose whatever kind of birth you want. However, I strongly encourage you to consider taking a birth education course/class and get more in-depth professional information. C-section is major surgery and while they can and usually do get baby out really quickly, recover is very hard and long on mom. If you’re fearful of the pain, an epidural could really help you! That’s what they’re there for. There are also other pain management plans too! DM if you want any more information. I’m happy to forward you some data and info!
. You absolutely have the right to chose whatever kind of birth you want. However, I strongly encourage you to consider taking a birth education course/class and get more in-depth professional information. C-section is major surgery and while they can and usually do get baby out really quickly, recover is very hard and long on mom. If you’re fearful of the pain, an epidural could really help you! That’s what they’re there for. There are also other pain management plans too! DM if you want any more information. I’m happy to forward you some data and info!@greg231 Oooh I have a question for you! Do you find that standard birthing classes provided by hospitals go into enough detail regarding pain management like shifting positions, different breathing techniques, and what various medical things do (like “you might be recommended pitocin which does xyz”) or do you find that they really don’t teach you as much and you’d need to talk to a doula or somebody else about it? I’m definitely going to have a hospital birth and plan for an epidural and pain management but I’m interested in learning some other birthing positions and want to be able to use every skill and bit of knowledge to my advantage and just to know what my options are and what everything means and does
@godzreal Hmm hard to say because each instructor is different but they will cover general position changes and go over the details of each intervention. The main difference I find between hospital classes and independent classes is that independent classes provide a lot more options for pain management that are not medical interventions as well as explain the interventions. A good instructor should give you all the information so you can make an educated decision on each choice and they should also leave their biases at the door. Meaning, hospital instructors shouldn’t look down at non intervention based pain management and independent independent educators shouldn’t look down on medical interventions. Science is awesome and we should use it when necessary or wanted. All about that info!
maggiecutajar
New member
@chris516 If this is something you want and are sure of then more power to you. I think there are definitely valid reasons to prefer a c section, although I would warn you that many women have no pain or trauma with vaginal births and lots of pain and trauma with c sections - there are absolutely no guarantees. But if you feel like it will give you the outcomes you want or make you feel most in control then absolutely go for it!
I‘m hoping delivery with #2 goes as smoothly as with my first - I had an uncomplicated vaginal birth with an epidural and recovery was a breeze, even though I did tear a bit. I only ever needed one Motrin to deal with the pain (while I was still in the hospital) and within 24 hours walking around was actually significantly less painful than it had been while I was super pregnant since my back and hip pain was gone. Im sure I won’t get so lucky a second time but a girl can dream!
I‘m hoping delivery with #2 goes as smoothly as with my first - I had an uncomplicated vaginal birth with an epidural and recovery was a breeze, even though I did tear a bit. I only ever needed one Motrin to deal with the pain (while I was still in the hospital) and within 24 hours walking around was actually significantly less painful than it had been while I was super pregnant since my back and hip pain was gone. Im sure I won’t get so lucky a second time but a girl can dream!
@chris516 I would much prefer a vaginal delivery, due to relative ease and speed of recovery and avoiding unnecessary interventions. Giving vaginal birth feels primal to me and I was excitedly nervous to do it. However, my first child was breech. No biggie I'd try for a vbac but then my second was breech too. 
I'm not a candidate for a vba2c so C-section it is. After our third child is born my poor husband will be caring for at least 2 kids pretty much solo for the first few weeks.
I'm not a candidate for a vba2c so C-section it is. After our third child is born my poor husband will be caring for at least 2 kids pretty much solo for the first few weeks.janine_h25
New member
I don't actually know. I think I'd prefer vaginal personally but I can understand why you wouldn't wanna do that, sounds like a world of pain!proteinshake25
New member
@janine_h25 You are! Personal preference is counted as a valid reason for elective c section 
most obstetricians and midwives will advise against a medically unnecessary c section though due to much longer recovery (vs the average vaginal delivery, obviously not vagina delivery with complications)
most obstetricians and midwives will advise against a medically unnecessary c section though due to much longer recovery (vs the average vaginal delivery, obviously not vagina delivery with complications)@janine_h25 You can, I just had my elective c section 12 days ago. It was an absolute dream.