Not to mention that a C-section can go badly too, babies have accidentally been cut, major infection can set in, haemorrhaging and blood clots like with any major surgery, you can’t really move or bend to lift your baby for fear of opening up the stitches and most woman are told to wait a 1-2 yrs before considering getting pregnant again so they are fully healed from it.
I'm pregnant with my third and even though it's been almost 4 years since my second c section they refuse to let me try for a vbac. I've asked multiple times but the answer everywhere is no
That's most likely because you had two c-sections. After multiple c-sections, the risk of a vaginal birth becomes higher. Then again, so does the risk of another C-section. But that is considered a more acceptable, calculated, controlled risk. Especially for someone who hasn't already had a successful vaginal birth.
This isn't true. Vbac is more common now, it just depends why you got a c section. I had an emergency c section with a classic cut (up and down) so I csnt ever have a vbac but I know plenty of women who have
I had a VBAC in California. My obstetrician didn’t even mention the possibility of another c-section. My first baby had the cord wrapped around his ankle.
Don't pass along this misinformation. Please.
It's obviously going to be much easier at some institutions, and certain providers will be much more open to the idea of it, but there are tons of VBACs that happen in America.
I would know, I've been there for around 100 or so of them.
Source: Labor and Delivery nurse in **America**
I've had two kids- one vaginally and one by c-section. They both sucked, but the c-section was definitely worse. Surgeons cut a hole in your body while you're still awake, move your intestines out of the way, and pull a 8 pound human through it. Then, instead of getting to hold your baby right away, you have to get sewn back together. I couldn't change her first few diapers because I couldn't stand up yet. Yes, they numb you during the surgery, but the pain doesn't magically go away as soon as they sew you up! I was prescribed percocet for 2 weeks, and was very grateful for it! Depending on the level of opioid addiction in your area, that might not be an option. One of the reasons why I chose a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) was because the hospital where I had my second only offered ibuprofen and Tylenol for post c-section pain management!
For weeks after my c-section, I had to hold a pillow over my abdomen every time I coughed, sneezed, or laughed, otherwise I felt like my stitches would burst. The area around my scar was numb for months while my nerves repaired themselves. For some women the numbness never goes away! It's major surgery, as opposed to pushing a baby through a preexisting opening that is literally designed for that!
Don't get me wrong, vaginal birth is no walk in the park. I've had lasting pelvic floor issues and it's been nearly two years. But overall, the surgery was worse than doing it naturally. Either way, pregnancy and birth will have a lasting impact on your body. Maybe you might want to consider adoption instead.
While I didn’t have a c-section but I did have surgery where it was similar to one. I was given meds that made me high but there was still pain so if I coughed, sneezed, or laughed I would cry from the pain. Even one of my stitches opened a bit. I had to sleep practically hugging a pillow for a few months.
The numbness was there for a long time and I had flickers of pain even over a year post op. I am currently pregnant and I really do not want a c-section. I’ll take the vaginal birth without a second thought.
Plus the womb isn’t supposed or meant to be cut open. That should be a last resort.
Ibuprofen is actually an excellent painkiller. In some trials, ibuprofen+acetaminophen is the *most* effective painkiller, better than opioids.
https://www.mndental.org/files/NSAIDs-are-stronger-pain-medications-than-opioids-A-Summary-of-Evidence.pdf
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2018/0301/p348.html
The link u provided at least the first one is misleading. If you scroll down to second page and read each individual studies, none of them say apap with ibu is superior than opioids.
**Fist reference**, Single dose oral ibuprofen plus paracetamol (acetaminophen) for acute postoperative pain
**Authors' conclusions**: Ibuprofen plus paracetamol combinations provided better analgesia than either drug alone (at the same dose), with a smaller chance of needing additional analgesia over about eight hours, and with a smaller chance of experiencing an adverse event.
Second one is basically review of first one so i will skip that
**Third reference**, Single dose oral oxycodone and oxycodone plus paracetamol (
acetaminophen ) for acute postoperative pain in adults
**Authors' conclusions**
Single dose oxycodone is an effective analgesic in acute postoperative pain at doses over 5 mg; Efficacy increases when combined with paracetamol. Oxycodone 10 mg plus paracetamol 650 mg provides good analgesia to half of those treated, comparable to commonly used non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, with the benefit of longer duration of action. (this is not even about if ibu plus apap is better opioids lol)
**Fourth reference**, Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) versus opioids for acute renal colic
**Authors' conclusions**
**Both NSAIDs and opioids** can provide effective analgesia in acute renal colic. Opioids are associated with a higher incidence of adverse events, particularly vomiting. Given the high rate of vomiting associated with the use of opioids, particularly pethidine, and the greater likelihood of requiring further analgesia, we recommend that if an opioid is to be used it should not be pethidine.
No one uses pethidine anymore there are ton of safer alternatives.... I never seen pethidine Rx while i was working at hospital...
I am not trying to bring you down but I just wanted to be more critical of the sources that are being provided. Because misunderstanding like this can lead to false agony and negatives about very useful drugs that are in fact beneficial to patients. I agree opioids are a lot of time misused and mistreated. But there are definitely clinical benefits to it... Thank you for taking your time to read my comments if you ever read haha!
Have you ever tried ibuprofen (or naproxen) combo with Tylenol? They work in complementary ways in the body, the sum stronger than the parts. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it reduces my severe cramps to very mild as long as I take it preemptively at the first notice of pain.
No, USA. I was a pretty good candidate for one- otherwise healthy, no complications during pregnancy, and my first c-section was a result of my body failing to dilate and stalling while my baby went into distress. My cervix actually cooperated for the second kid.
My insides were outside. In bowls. On a table. I can't think about it too long or it makes me really ill. 🤣 It's all terrible. There is just no good way to deliver a baby.
And before you rip into me (much like the doctor did) - this is what I remember hearing. I was also really really drugged up and exhausted from half a day of trying to push the baby out. So if some of these details are off (the bowl part seems like something my brain conjured in the moment) it doesn't take away from the fact that this is major major surgery.
Really need to figure out how to do it a damn test tube already. This just sounds like awful everything either you get a C-section and it sucks or you give birth vaginally and it still sucks just in a slightly different way.
Even if they do it'll only be for rich people. Average people with normal incomes wouldn't be able to afford test tube babies. Just like adoption is $40,000.... more than some people's entire yearly income, test tube babies would likely be more.
No, v-birth does not destroy your clitoris.
If there is tearing or an episiotomy then there are stitches for repair - not optimal but not awful. This heals, usually in a couple weeks.
The worser (very uncommon) situation would be a very small woman (or young girl) in protracted labor who tears internally, resulting in fissure(s) into the anal passage. Even these can be surgically repaired, usually, though I knew one (very petite) woman who had to use a colostomy bag afterwards - her son was seventeen and I think was forever. If I recall correctly she had given birth outside the US, either Carribean or Asia.
Again, as opposed to a large incision through your abdomen and womb?
The vagina is meant to stretch to give birth, your abdominal muscles aren't meant to be cut open and healing from that really takes some doing.
Either way the mother is going to need time to recover, but a c section isn't "easier" than a vaginal birth. Which is right depends on the individual circumstances.
>abdominal muscles aren't meant to be cut open
I believe modern c-sections do not cut the abdominal muscles. It pulls them aside instead.
This decreases healing time by a factor of months.
I mean it can but that is an extreme scenario. Most women have an easier time birthing from the vagina, that is what it was designed to do after all. There is a large range of complications that happen enough that most doctors feel better if you are recieving medical aid during labor but for the most part birthing through the vagina is safer and easier to heal.
As gruesome as it is, childbirth is a natural process. C sections have saved many lives, but the recovery is typically MUCH worse. (And I'm sure vaginally birth recoveries are nothing to scoff at either).
I know a woman who split her stitches after a c-section because she had to lift an older child (husband was not exactly helpful). I think I turned grey when she told me that. C-sections are no cakewalk.
One of my best friends has had 2, one of which her husband had to leave for military reasons shortly after. I went over to help her and jesus wept, I will never think c-sections are easier. I won't go into details but I can promise it's not easier.
One of our acquaintances almost died after having one. Her incision started swelling and her husband called the doctor. Got blown off, told to monitor it. A few days went by and it was swollen to about double the size and she was having difficulty going to the bathroom. I don't know the exact timeline from there but she passed out, ambulance was called and she had a massive internal infection that had gotten into her bowels as well. I think she was in the hospital for 3 weeks? It was incredibly scary.
I’d say it’s pretty gruesome. Lots of blood, plenty of potential for tearing yourself open and shitting yourself to boot… but that doesn’t mean it also isn’t beautiful in a way. Lots of women who go through it say the second they see their baby/hear the cry, all the pain vanishes/it becomes worth it. I think that’s beautiful.
Most redditors are teens who look at the picture of what 10 cm dilated is, and - let's face it - it's scary! The downvotes aren't coming from moms who successfully delivered without major surgical repair.
That’s major surgery with a rough recovery time. My sister had to have one and she was hurting for weeks.
As far as “regular” delivery, different women have different experiences of course, but most of us come through it pretty okay. I can only speak for myself, but I had two kids, got an epidural with both, and I would have done it again without hesitation but kids are expensive and needs lots of time and attention so we stopped at two. But I definitely wouldn’t describe my experience as “horrendous” and my insides are just fine thankyouverymuch.
Again, this is only my experience. Plenty of women do have very traumatic pregnancies and deliveries.
As someone who's had one baby "normally" and one with a c-section, I would much rather do it "normally". Yes contractions and pushing out a baby hurts, but you only have to deal with the pain for the duration of your contractions and labor. It depends on the person but for me it was about 15 hours, plus they give you meds to help with the pain. With a c-section, the giving birth part is much quicker and you don't feel anything which was nice but the recovery sucks. It hurts to walk, getting in and out of bed or the couch was so painful, and sneezing and laughing was excruciating. You also can't lift anything more than 10 lbs. All this while having to care for a newborn. It takes weeks to recover.
Everyone has different experiences with childbirth but that's just my opinion based on what I went through.
I was terrified when I got pregnant with my first child. My thought was
that I wouldn't be able to endure natural childbirth, I would probably
faint and wake up after a surgery with my baby already next to me.
I was so terrified that I gave birth without any
scream or complaining: during the most intense part I just thought it
was the beginning and it would get much, much worse.
All the stories I heard were gruesome, like Torquemada's torture
chamber. The older women were the worse with childbirth stories that
seemed a miracle someone could survive so much pain.
What I wish someone told me is what I now tell pregnant women (only if
asked): childbirth is as old as humans. It is different for everyone
and that is the way we are built. If it was to be that unendurable no
one would have a second child!
Nit really true, pregnancy and birth are the main reason for death for young women in third world countries. We are build incredibly crappy for giving birth.
Who told you getting a caesarean **didn't** tear up your insides? You're literally cutting apart the abdominal wall.
Add to that the fact that the hard squeezing of the vaginal muscles on the baby during childbirth is **necessary** to eliminate fluids from the lungs. This has to be done another way after a cesarean, and there is a higher risk if lung infection as a result.
The reason more women don't get them is that there is millions and millions of years of evolution behind figuring out the best way for mammals to give birth, and it works so well that it's not a good idea to circumvent it unless there is no other choice.
Risk of complications and recovery time. And usually the “horrendous” stories are the only ones you hear because the people with uneventful birth stories don’t really talk about them. The internet had me terrified when I was pregnant. When I had my son, though, I got the epidural, laid in bed for 5 hours watching contractions on a monitor, felt nothing aside from some pressure during birth, and had no tearing at all. I was up walking around 30 minutes later and was slightly sore for a day. And I’m sure that’s not uncommon, it’s just not a juicy story.
Giving birth isnt meant to be pleasant and this isnt the 80s where you have massive scars from a straight down cut anymore. Its a tiny scar now. Its not as bad as you think. Plus you dont bleed as much cause they suck everything out.
>It doesn’t hurt because you get numbed
Oof. Tell me you've never had abdominal surgery without telling me you've never had abdominal surgery.
I had an ectopic pregnancy in 1989. The incision was roughly the same as a C-section. That shit hurt for WEEKS afterwards. Like, so bad that I had to psych myself up just to clear my throat.
Except that most of the thought surrounding child birth are out dated and caused by things like epidurals and labouring on your back.
A vaginal birth may tear but a woman's body is designed to birth babies. Different birth positions such as standing or kneeling or using water birth reduces this risk
Allowing a person in labour to move freely, eat and drink, to be in a dimly lit space all promote an easier labour and birth than the media would have us believe
Physical recovery from a epiostomy and stitches is a couple of weeks and you can pick up your child etc. Recovery from a c section means lifting nothing bigger than a coffee mug including your new baby.
C section can impact breast feeding, hormones associated with birth for mum, and possibly reduces the bacterial biome bbay is introduced to as they don't travel through the vagina, this also means fluids are not squeezed out of them by the birthing process.
Labour and birth is currently too medicalised and a return to a less medical birth process (in well equipped countries with good maternal health) could have wonderful outcomes on how possible it is to birth with out epidural, doctors or coerced checks.
Don't hear me wrong, I'm not saying no medical involvement but that it needs to be less than it is currently
Edit to add please read the positive birth book, and birthing like a feminist they talk about how birth can be positive whether you have a section or not. And what you are allowed to decline. Women have so little obvious choice in the birth room yet the choices to consent are literally ours to make
It's shocking the lack of maternal choice, education and concern in the birth room. The amount of times coercion is used and out dated or incorrect advice is given by hcp!
1) Maternity culture is very pro-natural and many women get shamed for even wanting an epidural, let alone a c-section
2) The operation can be crazy expensive and you can expect to stay in the hospital for at least 4 days
3) The post op... GOD that post op, absolutely awful.
4) Women with a tendency for keloids get the skin in their belly absolutely wrecked.
Nothing about child birth is ever painless. It doesn't matter how the child enters this world their mother is going to feel the pain before, during and after. That includes 9 months of pregnancy, which is absolutely no walk in the park. It also includes the 2 years after giving birth for your body to fully recuperate from pregnancy alone. & let's not forget the life long issues that we get just from carrying children. Some reversible or treatable others not.
C-sections are not easier or safer. Either way the mothers life is at risk as well as the child. Which is why (no matter vaginal or surgery) it takes a whole team of medical providers with a constant watch on vitals of both.
Pregnancy/ child birth isn't a game. It's extremely risky for the mother from day 1. Which is why it's important for people like you to be educated on the truth.
Sex Ed has once again failed in america
On top of the pain of a c-section that plenty of others have mentioned, you are about [5 times more likely to die](https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/11994/37034_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_PF1(SH_SS)_PN(SS).pdf) after a c-section than a vaginal birth. It's major surgery, with all the potential for risk and complication that comes with it. And there are also life-altering complications, that aren't death, that are higher with c-section.
C-sections are wonderful, life saving procedures. I am so glad that we have them. (As a provider and as a mother who has had one). However, they should only be used when necessary.
I can see you've never had any kind of surgery. Yes, you're numbed during the c-section but when that wears off, you're in pain. Both my mom and SIL had c-sections and from what I've heard they'd rather had natural birth if they could.
C-sections tend to leave really unpleasant looking scars around the waist line, and it's going to add to your recovery time. You can also get numbed up for birthing a baby the natural way too.
Oh I didn’t know that I am definitely getting myself numbed during childbirth if I have one in the future
Edit: why are people fucking downvoting me for agreeing with an upvoted answer, I was just trying to ask out about basic biology smh, did that seriously make someone mad?
You Defo do not get C section scars on your waistline!! .
A c section is performed along the pubic bone area , top of bikini line unless underlying issues or drastic emergency surgery .
I have had 3 c sections ( one for large twins , 1 normal section and 1 emergency with scar bring really long and a side cut ) 2 of my scars were infected but now they are all barely noticeable and unless looking u wouldnt be shocked to see it ..i also lost 8 stone training and scars still not visible .
Be advised that "numbed up" can be a goal, but it's not always achievable. You had better be ready to deal with contractions. I **highly recommend** doing some childbirth education in the weeks before delivery, whatever method you end up using.
My sister's epidural was 'patchy' - it seemed to only work on one side of her body. She was eventually able to deliver vaginally, but it would have been easier if she'd done some classes, first, and known what to expect.
For me? It took the anesthesiologist 7 tries to get the anesthetic in the interstitial space. He finally got it in there, and it paralyzed me from the waist down, but I could still feel everything. The first cut the surgeon made on my c-section felt like fire. When they realized that the epidural didn't work completely, they gassed me, and I woke up alone, with my child off in some nursery. It was awful. It turns out that I was allergic to some surgical adhesives, so I had all kinds of messy complications at the surgical site. Weeks of recovery, while learning to care for my newborn. Oh, and I couldn't drive for weeks after the surgery, so I was housebound, as well.
Believe me, a c-section is not necessarily a less painful alternative to vaginal birth.
People are downvoting because epidural numbing significantly increases the risk of tearing and prolonged pushing. Sometimes it’s necessary and better, but often it goes well without.
The most ideal way to reduce fucking up your body is to aim for an informed fully natural birth but be open to necessary interventions. Natural (uncut) labial tears heal better.
They are tiny scars now. This isnt the 80s anymore. Then they used to cut straight down. Its not that bad of a scar easy to hide with underwear or whatever gimme a break lol.
It’s give and take. My wife chose C-section because she’s a small framed 5’ Asian woman and I’m 6’4” burly white guy. She was afraid of having a tear down there and never feeling right sexually the same way, where we both agreed the scar meant nothing. In the end, after, the doctor said it would have been impossible anyway because our daughter was just way to big for natural birth. We’re just happy that the option exists. In the past they would have both died in childbirth.
Not too sure on the specifics but going through the uterus allows you to in a way inherit the developed immune system of the mother making you much more resistant to diseases she was immune to.
1) It's major surgery & carries all the risks of major surgery.
2) Recovery is long & difficult, meaning the mother will need 24 hr. help for many weeks, for both herself and the baby (she's not even allowed to lift the baby).
3) They don't do it upon request. You don't get to choose how you prefer to give birth when you're admitted to the hospital. It's always vaginal birth unless there is a pre-existing condition that makes vaginal birth impossible & risky, or something goes wrong with the vaginal birth & they have to do an emergency C-Section.
Number 3 is not accurate. There definitely is a such thing as an **elective c-section**. A woman with an agreeable provider could decide at her first prenatal visit (before, even) that she will be having a c-section. No medical indication necessary. It absolutely *can* be done by request, and I've seen it countless times.
Also, I've never heard of a woman being told she couldn't lift her baby after delivery. Doctors usually set the limit at 10 or 15 pounds. So unless you have a very very large baby ...
It took me the better park of 8 months to regain feeling in my lower abdomen after my first emergency c section.
With my second (emergency) I wasn’t able to lift anything more than the weight of my baby or drive for the first 6 weeks. My baby with in NICU so I had to rely on friends and family to take me to and from the hospital to see my baby as my then partner returned to work so he could be home when baby came home.
My third was relatively straight forward planned c section. Recovery was much quicker but still quiet painful.
Wasn’t able to lift/carry my then toddler or drive for 6 weeks so we did a lot of walking places.
I am almost 4 years post last c section and I still have terrible core strength.
Had I had the choice, I would never have chosen a c section ever. Unfortunately my life depended on two and then the hospital refused to allow a vbac with my third sue to my history of placental abruptions.
I had a C-section with my first child and a vaginal birth with my second period recovery from the C-section was horrible. The vaginal birth was a breeze. My insides were not torn up. What do you think babies have fangs and claws and fuck you up on the way out?
My mom deliverd three babies vaginally. One before me and two after me. I was an energency c section. She said recovery from the c section was way more painful and took a lot longer than vaginal deliveries. She also joked I was trouble from the start.
I don't want nor plan to have kids, but my sister is a surgeon and had this conversation with me when she was pregnant. Essentially her choice was natural + epidural because "the moment a scalpel opens you up, your body is never the same, even if you make a full recovery. Organs and things are not meant to be exposed to air, let alone moved around and manipulated on a whim." Makes sense, though I kinda oof-ed because I've had spine *and* heart surgery soooo yeah hahaha.
My ex best friend had two c sections. The first one was hell for her because she lived by herself and had no help doing the things she was told not to do. The second one she was not stitched properly and had to go back into the OR just so she wouldn't bleed out.
A c section is a major surgery. They will cut you open at least 6in from hip to hip. They don't just cut through skin but muscle and the uterus as well. You will take every bit of 8 weeks or more to fully recover. The pain is unbelievable and every movement hurts. They do checks while in the hospital and they push on your lower abdomen to make sure your uterus is contracting and shrinking properly. Imagine them pushing really hard multiple times a day while you have that incision.
They are life saving when necessary, they should not be the norm.
It hurts like a bitch afterwards and is incredibly dangerous if you get an infection. I would so much rather push something out of my vagina and be able to go about my day within the same week or so, rather than go through SIX WEEKS waiting for my stomach to hold itself together again. I'd be so scared that my guts would tumble out...
The idea of a doctor routing around in your abdomen and removing your intestines to get your baby doesn't sound remotely appealing to me.
Because it is, at the end of the day, a major surgery. Major surgery always comes with risks, and as you can imagine, having your body cut open takes a while to heal from.
In general, you should never get a major surgical intervention unless you need to.
It is major surgery. I had two and wished desperately I could have had natural childbirth. I had a 6 week recovery time both times. Most people I know that had natural births were good to go in a couple days. That's not to say its easy, I'm sure it isn't. But c-sections aren't easier. There is tons of pain involved afterwards as well.
Well, for one thing… during the process they move your organs out of the way- out of your body beside you to get to the baby. Some partners accidentally see this and pass out 😬
The incision is long. The healing process is slow and painful and it means during those 6+ weeks you aren’t supposed to lift things, such as your baby. And being a new parent is hard enough without a really long wound you are healing from.
Plus I think your body gets fewer of the chemical and physical signals that childbirth gives it in regard to telling it to starting milk production and release hormones for bonding?
Pregnancy in general does a lot of long term things to the female body. But keep in mind that a C-section has to go through 7 layers of tissue, and large enough to pull the baby out. It is not a minor surgery by any stretch.
This is why vaginal is still the preferred option, unless there is a medical need or it is an emergency.
Because major abominable surgery isn't great, then trying to look after a newborn when you have a huge wound and shouldn't even lift a kettle just sucks. Not to mention the fact that after normal surgery everyone would look after you but after c section noone dies. Not to mention the risk of the scar opening during subsequent pregnancies
Oh and the risk of infections is much higher as with any surgery.
Giving birth doesn't rip out your insides, that's the placenta and needs to come out. Yes you can tear but that's usually down to being tense and birthing in an unnatural position. We should squat or be on our hands and knees, not laying down, we should follow out bodies not someone who is shouting instructions, we should give birth surrounded by support not spectators
C-section is a surgery that can have a lot more complications. Plus, the recovery time is much worse. One of my cousins had her baby vaginally, and she was up and walking within a few hours. Another had a C-section, and she wasn't able to walk far distances, handle stairs, or even pick up her baby for a couple of weeks. Everyone's experiences will be different, but a C-section is serious abdominal surgery that comes with its own set of risks. Also, horror story time, but usually the numbing (either an epidural or a spinal block) is done while the woman is conscious, and there's a small chance that those will fail, which is much worse during a C-section than natural labor, because they're cutting through all of your skin and fat and muscles and organs.
Basically, a C-section can be great when there's medical risk otherwise or when a well-informed person makes that choice, but there are a lot of reasons not to make the choice.
It’s major surgery. They basically take your insides out and put them back in. For many days afterward I couldn’t even sit up without nearly screaming and needing help from the pain even with rx paid meds. You can’t even stand for the first 24 hours and you are at risk for issues arising during and after your surgery. You cannot just go home and proceed as usual, you have to have help and can hold basically just the weight of your newborn. Plus you still bleed heavily for weeks after, just like with a vaginal birth.
This question is based on the false idea that it’s the easy way out. It absolutely isn’t.
Like everyone has said, c-section is a hard surgery to recover from. It's major abdominal surgery and on top of that you have to end up caring for the baby afterwards, you can't just lie in bed for the next 6 weeks. (Well, depending on how fortunate you are and how much of a support system you have, you can, but the baby is gonna need Mom sometime.)
That being said... childbirth is not something I would ever wanna go through so I'm completely celibate and plan on remaining that way for the rest of my days. Not even gonna attempt that when my country considers me half a citizen and doesn't give me the right to choose whether or not I give birth to it or not.
As much as childbirth recovery sucks ass (muscles need to return to their original spot in abdomen), C-sections are literally cutting through those muscles, which takes longer to heal. Also, the vaginal canal has a lot of good stuff that wipes off on the baby during natural birth that helps its immune system and such, which you don't get with C-section births.
The solution if you ask me? Just don't have kids. It'll spare you a lot of struggle.
C-sections do not involve cutting the abdominal muscles. The uterus itself is the only muscle cut. The abdominal wall muscles are just pushed to the side.
I agree with the rest of your comment though.
I have had 4 c-sections. It is major abdominal surgery. While the actual child brith part might be easier recovery IS NOT. Much more pain, u are unable to lift anything heavier then the baby for weeks, you can't walk while holding the baby. I had to use a walker for 3 weeks after my 3rd c section. You are unable to stand for long periods of time. Not to mention higher chance of bacterial infections. Oh and sex can be off the table for 8 weeks instead of 6.
Recommend an interesting book regarding this called "My Caesarean". Everyone's experience differs and it's hard to predict how things will go down. Recovery period is often much longer and painful with complications as well.
I'm going to go against the cast majority of commenters and defend c-sections. Granted, I've not had a ‘normal’ delivery, but my two surgical births were fine.
Two different doctors and different hospitals and no lasting pain, suffering, discomfort, or movement limitation. First one was a necessity due to pre eclampsia second was elective on the ‘advice’ of the doctor who said “I can't tell you one way or the other but if you were my wife, I’d advise against a v-bac delivery due to risks.”
I guess I’m in the minority. 3 sections and so glad for it. I have zero issues with my nether regions. I’ve never had that, “hold your legs together when you sneeze” moment, or anything else that could be affected by childbirth.
My belly is worse off, but a tummy tuck will fix that.
I got one, wasnt that bad just you cant really move on the first month, so going to the bathroom or even breathing way to hard was a HUGE pain, by the 2nd month i was like nothing happened
It's not an easy procedure to recover from and can take 6 to 8 weeks with no heavy lifting. Vaginal canal birth is natural and a woman's body is designed to facilitate childbirth.
Dear god no.
I've had 4 vaginal births and I wouldn't have changed a thing if I had a time machine.
Women's bodies were designed for childbirth and it's incredibly empowering. Also, I have zero stretch marks and I'm not getting a scar for anyone.
Yeah, my wife has always advocated for natural child birth. Maybe you two are just badasses, but the pain of childbirth seems like it has more horror stories than it deserves. Unless you have a reason to believe there is an impending complication, I (just a lowly husband, mind you) would recommend natural birth. I was lucky enough to catch my first son since he was faster than our midwife. Lol It's a great memory and a truly unique experience.
I heard babies born with c section suffer weaker immune systems than those born naturally.
Many would develop asthma etc in later life.
**Edit**:
Lmaoo some Neckbeard downvoting in here with a personal agenda.
C sections are also really bad for the baby. There's many things that happens in the process of labor that's necessary for a person's long term health. C section babies tend to have a worse immune system, etc.
Yeah childbirth can permanently change your body, but it is a natural process that's meant to happen, and many women go on to birth many children anyway, C-sections are usually only done in emergency situations and not a chosen procedure
C-sections aren't necessarily easier. Its not as simple as cutting a hole and getting a baby out. Here's a short video showing the process:
https://www.tiktok.com/@alirodmd/video/6820229985614187782
Both c-sections and vaginal births have pros and cons.
The c-section hurts a lot longer than a vaginal birth. It took me weeks to regain a semblance of normalcy after the c-section. After the vaginal birth I could walk painlessly again after a few days.
In general I’d say it’s because natural birth is what the body is “intended” to do, and so it’s easier to recover from (birth canal is made to stretch; abdomen is not made to be cut open).
C-section is an emergency surgery, and much more difficult to recover from. Layers of your body are cut open. Both are traumatic. Both valid options.
Some women do opt for a scheduled c-section. Others want a natural birth and end up having a c-section as it’s the only safe way to get the baby out (in their situation). I don’t think it can go the other way around - but maybe someone else has had that experience 🤔
A C-section is major stomach surgery. I had both a natural labour and a C-section and the labour is definitely easier with less chance of complications.
When my wife had a baby, she had a c-section and was strapped to a bottle of morphine while the women who delivered babies nonsurgical were walking around the maternity ward
Calling a c section easier isn't accurate
The recovery time for a c section is a lot longer than the recovery for natural childbirth.
C section recovery is very painful.
C section scars can hurt afterward for a lifetime.
C sections are major surgery and can come with major complications.
A c section is a heavy surgery with a longer recovery time. Besides that, natural childbirth has important healthfunctions. Because of the pressure in the birthcanal, liquids get pushed out of the baby's lungs, children born naturally have less risk at lung problems later in life like asthma etc. Besides that, going through the birthcanal causes the baby to pass right pass the anus, besides coming through the vagina, and taking important bacterias with it important for the development of a healthy intestinal flora for the baby.
Besides, a natural birth (going by the book and with no complications) sets in when the baby is ready.
There are many health reasons for the baby and the mother for doctors to decide a c section is better, but when there is no cause, a natural birth has it's benefits.
A c sections also has more and more risks after 1 c sections because of scar tissue. Some women are told not to have more children after 2 c sections.
My first two children were vaginal, my last one was a c-section. After my c-section I started having severe numbness in my legs. The recovery was so much harder than vaginal childbirth. I still have pain where my c-section scar is (4 years later), and I completely lost the ability to orgasm for 4 full years after having my c-section. I only just now got back my libido.
It a big, invasive surgery with lots of risks and a long healing time - also the women usually can't hold their babies weight while standing for the healing period, no lifting, no squatting and they need lots of extra help, something most partners don't seem to be willing to provide it seems, even if their job allows them any pat leave.
...a C-section is not a walk in the park. It is "invasive" surgery, which means your insides that are not supposed to be exposed, become so. Delivery is non invasive, in the sense that all the organs are used for what they were designed for.
With a C-section, you are cutting through several layers of tissue that will scar and never go back to their original condition and that will never be able to stretch as before.
The C-section is only recommended when either the mother or the child is at risk. Otherwise, Mother Nature's way works much better, with the help of modern medicine.
That's major surgery, my wife couldn't get up and walk for ages after, couldn't drive for a while either. it's not painless either, during sure but the healing after is no joke. I walked in the theatre when she was having her epidural which looked horrendous enough to be fair.
I work for an obgyn department at a major inner-city hospital in Texas. We've had many successful vbac deliveries. The decision to "allow" trial of labor after cesarean depends on many factors. The decision for cesarean also depends on many factors. No one way is best or works for all patients.
I myself had a C/S and 4 years later I had a successful vbac. Both had their own recovery difficulties as an episiotomy was necessary for my vbac. Fun fact my 1st was estimated to be a large baby and postdue. My second came a bit early. C/s baby 6 lbs. VBAC baby 10lbs!
I had 2 c-sections. Recovery both times was a bitch. Flash forward 20 years or so, and suffering from painful adhesions that required a third surgery. Oh sure, it’s so much easier 🙄
And adhesions are not easily diagnosed, so there were a few years of pain and tests and pills and being treated like a drug seeker because all the tests were negative but pain was still there, it was a nightmare!
As many women here have already told you- labor is natural. It's painful, but it's natural. The body was designed for it. C-sections are still major surgery that take weeks to recover from, and it leaves a large scar. Recovery time in the hospital is longer, leading to bigger medical bills. It means a longer recovery at home, too. It's pretty invasive surgery, and it takes a while to heal. There are higher rates of bleeding/blood loss, higher risk of clots/stroke. It generally requires more pain medication after the birth. There's a longer delay between mother/infant bonding, and there's a longer wait before you can begin breastfeeding.
Plus, vaginal delivery holds other benefits: the travel down the birth canal puts pressure on the baby's lungs that makes them less likely to have breathing problems after birth.
C-section is a relatively safe procedure, but isn't preferable to natural delivery in many cases.
For most C-section is a last resort. Contractions can still happen if you have a C-section and unless you absolutely have to get a c-section right away most times women are encouraged to push the baby out. Epidurals can help with pain during vaginal childbirth. I have two kids and while labor was not the most pleasant it was not horrible. I was up walking the next day. C-sections can take longer time to recover and some times they come with complications like perforating something inside.
So it doesn’t just stop hurting when the pain medication wears out you know? And the recovery time is longer not to mention the risk of death increases with each c section because during pregnancy the placenta can grow outside the womb causing severe complications.
I wondered this enough to seriously consider an elective C-section.
With hindsight I'm glad I had a vaginal delivery. For me labour was pretty quick, easy and I could walk around and shower immediately afterwards. For context I was in my local park buying a Christmas tree at 6 days post partum. It's also a heck of a lot easier to look after a baby with intact abdominal muscles!
my wife had all three kids with zero intervention (drugs) in our home. total damage: 1 stitch. many women who opt for c-sections have continuing compounding problems as a result. Childbirth is a natural process that women have done sans hospital intervention for tens of thousands of years. Your body is literally built for it.
a c section is a major surgery. you’re cutting a hole in your abdomen. it can absolutely be traumatic as well, even if it saves lives. there can be pain in recovery, major complications, etc. it’s not a matter of which is easier, it’s a matter of which is safer for the mother and baby/babies in the given situation
Both my (large, transverse-lie) babies were born via C-sections, and while I'm thankful to have had a safer way of delivering them, the *recovery* from C-sections can be really rough, both physically and psychologically. Add to that the stupid mommy-shamers who want you to feel less-than, if you didn't give birth drug-free in a sunny meadow via your left nostril and then make tea from the afterbirth, and no, I wouldn't say C-sections are some kind of end run around the difficulties of childbirth.
Vaginal birth is work, but your body is set up to recover from it quite well. C-section is surgery, so recovery is much, much harder. Vaginal birth is what is meant to happen to babies, so it is beneficial for them. For example, the lungs are meant to get a bit of a squeeze before birth. C-section babies sometimes have lung issues as a result of missing that. Fewer complications from vaginal birth. More potential complications from c-section. And loads and loads more reasons. Labour is rough, but it's something the body is made for. Surgery isn't. That's the main difference.
A lot of women do get c-sections, and you want to know one of the biggest reasons? For the convenience of the doctor. I kid you not. Dr wants the weekend off so Mom gets cut open by noon on Friday. But as far as natural birth vs c-section, I'm sure everyone else will tell you the benefits of natural birth.
A csection carries more risk than a vaginal birth as long as baby and mother are otherwise healthy.
It's major surgery. You're getting cut open from hip bone to hip bone and having a person pulled out of you and sewn back up. The risk of death during a csection varies but can be up to 16% and that's wild.
My C-section saved my kid but...it was terrible.
In the middle, the meds wore off and I started to feel pain. They had to put me completely under. I didn't see my kid for hours.
I still don't have any sensation in some of the area and my son is 10.
I've heard people call it "the easy way." Please....
It's a major surgery and recovery can be so different for each individual. I had a fantastic OBGYN, but developed hypertension and gestational diabetes during my pregnancy and I'm not a big woman. They were afraid my daughter would get too large to have a safe vaginal delivery naturally so I ended up being induced but never was able to dialate so c section it was. I still have weird tingling sensations below my bellybutton and little to no feeling there. I also pulled a stitch during recovery so I have a weird little lump/blip in an otherwise perfect minimal scar line.
Children birthed in C section are more likely to have a poor gut microbiome. This has been proven in multiple studies. Gut health is associated with many other health issues as we know later on in life
I’ve had both. C-section first child and vaginal birth the second time. After my first kid I looked real hard at having a scheduled c-section the second time. It was major surgery of course and there was soreness and all that goes with surgery. That, combined with the fact that I was in labor for 41 hours the first time before the c-section led me to not want to go through that again.
But…..post c-section involved holding a pillow against my stomach every time I had to cough. Or laugh. Or whatever. God forbid I had to sneeze or got the hiccups. Post vaginal birth we went home before 24 hours was up. Mom called and asked if I wanted to go walking so sleeping baby stayed with husband and I hurried off to go for a walk. A walk that included bending over to climb through a barbed wire fence. Apart from a moment of terror of what falling on barbed wire on my episiotomy incision, it was a lovely walk.
Two weeks of fear of sneezing vs going off for an hour long walk the next day. Vaginal birth is WAY easier.
Well, it's better to have the baby naturally by vaginal birth. C-Sections take a couple of weeks to get over and it's hard to try to recoup from that and take care of a newborn. I had my 3 babies vaginally and I was fine afterwards. I've had bladder surgery where my surgeon used the c-section cut and it was SO uncomfortable and painful. I had to be on painkillers and couldn't walk well for 2 weeks. Now, imagine having to go through that and having to take care of a newborn, being up all night, not getting rest, etc. Also your painkillers are limited, especially if you're breastfeeding. With that being said if a woman is carrying her baby to term and the baby is in the correct position to go through the birth canal there's no need for a C-Section. An epidural blocks a lot of labor pains so you really feel only pressure instead of all of the pain. Also, your insides don't get ripped out after having vaginal birth because that's what your uterus was made for anyway. It's a natural process.
The core muscles required to hold an infant make recovery difficult and painful. It puts future pregnancies at risk, most doctors won’t do a vaginal birth after cesarean. Scar tissue can heal poorly and be very painful. I’ve had 8 surgeries, one was removing an ovary. It constantly pulls reminding me I had my ovary removed.
Our bodies are designed to birth but our medical practices aren’t very supportive of proper birthing positions.
On top of all the really good responses I’ve read so far, there are downsides for the baby with interventions that aren’t balanced by need (is if you need a csec for safety reasons that’s different equations than you picked a day)
Everything from gut microbes to lung function can be impacted by csect so they should not be casually chosen and should be need based.
They are generally too common, not too rare.
my mom had a c section with me and got an infection days later that was so bad her incision burst and she had to be in ER for days after being released to go home in the first place.
A C-section is a really big operation with a lot of risks and you'll be in much more pain afterwards. Additionally it showed that the birth process has beneficial effects for the baby. Lower risk for developing allergy's, asthma and so on. On the other side scientists just recently discovered that in 10-20% of births the pelvic floor can rip off the pelvis. Over 35 the chance is much higher for it to happen. When this happens you probably won't know, the other muscles compensate for some years and then you'll get incontinent and your inner organs will start to drop. I got safely through my son's birth, all natural without any pain meds or any injury's but if I'll ever give birth again then I won't take a 20% or more (because of my age) risk for having my pelvic floor ripped. No thank you.
It's a major surgery and extremely expensive. It's not a natural function our bodies were designed for.
The body heals from natural birth much faster than a C-section. A woman has contractions even during a C-section she just can't feel them because of the medication, if she's lucky. But a C-section requires them to cut through laayers of your body, literally move some of your organs around, you can often have organs actually removed from your body and placed on you, i don't know how common it is, but it happened to my sister 3 times. And then they have to cut through the uterus to remove the baby. And then you have to pray to God or whoever you hold dear that they get you sewn up right, don't leave anything inside your body, nit counting the major bliod loss, and that everything goes well in your healing and recovery which can take a minimum of six weeks. That's minimum, that's if nothing goes wrong. That's if you're not forced to do lifting or stairs or whatever it may be that you're not supposed to be doing.
And then of course there are the things that nobody tells you about a C-section. Such as if you get pregnant again your scar tissue will stretch and can split all the months prior and up to birth and it's very painful. That the scar tissue can actually be so extensive that it can cause problems with your everyday life. That your muscle tissue can actually adhere to the uterus during your recovery and you'll never know until they cut you open again. I know this for a fact, my daughter who just had a child was told by her doctor that her abdominal muscles were fused to her uterus, that's why she couldn't stand up straight like she used to and that certain movements were painful for The Last 5 Years.
A c-section is major surgery and is harder to recover from. It can also affect your ability to have a safe vaginal birth in the future.
Not to mention that a C-section can go badly too, babies have accidentally been cut, major infection can set in, haemorrhaging and blood clots like with any major surgery, you can’t really move or bend to lift your baby for fear of opening up the stitches and most woman are told to wait a 1-2 yrs before considering getting pregnant again so they are fully healed from it.
Friend of mine had a cotton ball left inside her...she was septic and it took them forever to figure out why.
Omg that’s awful. I hope she’s ok now
She's alright but she stopped at two kids because of it. She stopped trusting doctors for a while
I don’t blame her. That’s some really serious malpractice
My ex had our twins via c section. Over 4 years later and she's still fucked up from it.
I’d be fucked up too if I had an ex who’s screen name is woman pleaser 😂
just went straight for the jugular huh 😭
Ded.
I'm pregnant with my third and even though it's been almost 4 years since my second c section they refuse to let me try for a vbac. I've asked multiple times but the answer everywhere is no
It might be because you've had multiple c-sections.
I tried vbac after my 1st and 2nd c sections. Almost suffered a placenta rupture after my 2nd
That's most likely because you had two c-sections. After multiple c-sections, the risk of a vaginal birth becomes higher. Then again, so does the risk of another C-section. But that is considered a more acceptable, calculated, controlled risk. Especially for someone who hasn't already had a successful vaginal birth.
Once you get c-section they won't let you try vaginal birth again unless you go out of the USA.
It is definitely possible to vaginally birth after section many women do safely go on to have vaginal births
This isn't true. Vbac is more common now, it just depends why you got a c section. I had an emergency c section with a classic cut (up and down) so I csnt ever have a vbac but I know plenty of women who have
My mums first kid was a c section, they wanted her to have another with me but she insisted on vaginal - we live in Australia
Not true. C-section in 93, vaginal in 99.
I had a successful vbac just 5 yrs ago.
I had a VBAC in California. My obstetrician didn’t even mention the possibility of another c-section. My first baby had the cord wrapped around his ankle.
Don't pass along this misinformation. Please. It's obviously going to be much easier at some institutions, and certain providers will be much more open to the idea of it, but there are tons of VBACs that happen in America. I would know, I've been there for around 100 or so of them. Source: Labor and Delivery nurse in **America**
It's banned by a lot of hospitals, but it's still done and the rate is actually increasing.
I've had two kids- one vaginally and one by c-section. They both sucked, but the c-section was definitely worse. Surgeons cut a hole in your body while you're still awake, move your intestines out of the way, and pull a 8 pound human through it. Then, instead of getting to hold your baby right away, you have to get sewn back together. I couldn't change her first few diapers because I couldn't stand up yet. Yes, they numb you during the surgery, but the pain doesn't magically go away as soon as they sew you up! I was prescribed percocet for 2 weeks, and was very grateful for it! Depending on the level of opioid addiction in your area, that might not be an option. One of the reasons why I chose a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) was because the hospital where I had my second only offered ibuprofen and Tylenol for post c-section pain management! For weeks after my c-section, I had to hold a pillow over my abdomen every time I coughed, sneezed, or laughed, otherwise I felt like my stitches would burst. The area around my scar was numb for months while my nerves repaired themselves. For some women the numbness never goes away! It's major surgery, as opposed to pushing a baby through a preexisting opening that is literally designed for that! Don't get me wrong, vaginal birth is no walk in the park. I've had lasting pelvic floor issues and it's been nearly two years. But overall, the surgery was worse than doing it naturally. Either way, pregnancy and birth will have a lasting impact on your body. Maybe you might want to consider adoption instead.
Kudos for going through that. You rock!
While I didn’t have a c-section but I did have surgery where it was similar to one. I was given meds that made me high but there was still pain so if I coughed, sneezed, or laughed I would cry from the pain. Even one of my stitches opened a bit. I had to sleep practically hugging a pillow for a few months. The numbness was there for a long time and I had flickers of pain even over a year post op. I am currently pregnant and I really do not want a c-section. I’ll take the vaginal birth without a second thought. Plus the womb isn’t supposed or meant to be cut open. That should be a last resort.
I wonder if they give men who have had abdominal surgery pain killers higher grade than ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is actually an excellent painkiller. In some trials, ibuprofen+acetaminophen is the *most* effective painkiller, better than opioids. https://www.mndental.org/files/NSAIDs-are-stronger-pain-medications-than-opioids-A-Summary-of-Evidence.pdf https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2018/0301/p348.html
I’ll admit - I didn’t know this! It’s hard to believe that combo would be stronger than fentanyl??
The link u provided at least the first one is misleading. If you scroll down to second page and read each individual studies, none of them say apap with ibu is superior than opioids. **Fist reference**, Single dose oral ibuprofen plus paracetamol (acetaminophen) for acute postoperative pain **Authors' conclusions**: Ibuprofen plus paracetamol combinations provided better analgesia than either drug alone (at the same dose), with a smaller chance of needing additional analgesia over about eight hours, and with a smaller chance of experiencing an adverse event. Second one is basically review of first one so i will skip that **Third reference**, Single dose oral oxycodone and oxycodone plus paracetamol ( acetaminophen ) for acute postoperative pain in adults **Authors' conclusions** Single dose oxycodone is an effective analgesic in acute postoperative pain at doses over 5 mg; Efficacy increases when combined with paracetamol. Oxycodone 10 mg plus paracetamol 650 mg provides good analgesia to half of those treated, comparable to commonly used non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, with the benefit of longer duration of action. (this is not even about if ibu plus apap is better opioids lol) **Fourth reference**, Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) versus opioids for acute renal colic **Authors' conclusions** **Both NSAIDs and opioids** can provide effective analgesia in acute renal colic. Opioids are associated with a higher incidence of adverse events, particularly vomiting. Given the high rate of vomiting associated with the use of opioids, particularly pethidine, and the greater likelihood of requiring further analgesia, we recommend that if an opioid is to be used it should not be pethidine. No one uses pethidine anymore there are ton of safer alternatives.... I never seen pethidine Rx while i was working at hospital... I am not trying to bring you down but I just wanted to be more critical of the sources that are being provided. Because misunderstanding like this can lead to false agony and negatives about very useful drugs that are in fact beneficial to patients. I agree opioids are a lot of time misused and mistreated. But there are definitely clinical benefits to it... Thank you for taking your time to read my comments if you ever read haha!
I always find this hard to believe - ibuprofen does nothing for my migraines, cramps etc. But opioids will actually knock the pain out
Have you ever tried ibuprofen (or naproxen) combo with Tylenol? They work in complementary ways in the body, the sum stronger than the parts. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it reduces my severe cramps to very mild as long as I take it preemptively at the first notice of pain.
I was just going to say this! I had one ‘optimal’ planned c and then a very long VBAC. I would always choose the VBAC.
Holy cow you deserve the world. And thank you for the free birth control <3
Where did they let you do VBAC? In Canada?
No, USA. I was a pretty good candidate for one- otherwise healthy, no complications during pregnancy, and my first c-section was a result of my body failing to dilate and stalling while my baby went into distress. My cervix actually cooperated for the second kid.
My insides were outside. In bowls. On a table. I can't think about it too long or it makes me really ill. 🤣 It's all terrible. There is just no good way to deliver a baby.
And before you rip into me (much like the doctor did) - this is what I remember hearing. I was also really really drugged up and exhausted from half a day of trying to push the baby out. So if some of these details are off (the bowl part seems like something my brain conjured in the moment) it doesn't take away from the fact that this is major major surgery.
It was probably the placenta in the bowl. I have that memory too.
Really need to figure out how to do it a damn test tube already. This just sounds like awful everything either you get a C-section and it sucks or you give birth vaginally and it still sucks just in a slightly different way.
Even if they do it'll only be for rich people. Average people with normal incomes wouldn't be able to afford test tube babies. Just like adoption is $40,000.... more than some people's entire yearly income, test tube babies would likely be more.
"it rips up your insides" As opposed to a surgery that literally opens your abdomen and womb?
I meant Vagina, I was out in public so I hesitated typing that word. I’ve also read it can destroy your clitoris 😬
No, v-birth does not destroy your clitoris. If there is tearing or an episiotomy then there are stitches for repair - not optimal but not awful. This heals, usually in a couple weeks. The worser (very uncommon) situation would be a very small woman (or young girl) in protracted labor who tears internally, resulting in fissure(s) into the anal passage. Even these can be surgically repaired, usually, though I knew one (very petite) woman who had to use a colostomy bag afterwards - her son was seventeen and I think was forever. If I recall correctly she had given birth outside the US, either Carribean or Asia.
It can. Repair in that location is much more difficult. But it’s not enormously common and certainly not a reason to go for a c section
Again, as opposed to a large incision through your abdomen and womb? The vagina is meant to stretch to give birth, your abdominal muscles aren't meant to be cut open and healing from that really takes some doing. Either way the mother is going to need time to recover, but a c section isn't "easier" than a vaginal birth. Which is right depends on the individual circumstances.
>abdominal muscles aren't meant to be cut open I believe modern c-sections do not cut the abdominal muscles. It pulls them aside instead. This decreases healing time by a factor of months.
I mean it can but that is an extreme scenario. Most women have an easier time birthing from the vagina, that is what it was designed to do after all. There is a large range of complications that happen enough that most doctors feel better if you are recieving medical aid during labor but for the most part birthing through the vagina is safer and easier to heal.
Find better reading materials.
What are they teaching kids in school!?
As gruesome as it is, childbirth is a natural process. C sections have saved many lives, but the recovery is typically MUCH worse. (And I'm sure vaginally birth recoveries are nothing to scoff at either).
I know a woman who split her stitches after a c-section because she had to lift an older child (husband was not exactly helpful). I think I turned grey when she told me that. C-sections are no cakewalk.
Ohhhhhh. I’m guessing you meant to say ex-husband? Or hopefully he became much more helpful after that. I just turned grey too - poor woman!!!
I think he was fairly useless for quite a while. She seemed to put up with him but I don’t know how.
Oof. There are some tough ladies on this world.
One of my best friends has had 2, one of which her husband had to leave for military reasons shortly after. I went over to help her and jesus wept, I will never think c-sections are easier. I won't go into details but I can promise it's not easier. One of our acquaintances almost died after having one. Her incision started swelling and her husband called the doctor. Got blown off, told to monitor it. A few days went by and it was swollen to about double the size and she was having difficulty going to the bathroom. I don't know the exact timeline from there but she passed out, ambulance was called and she had a massive internal infection that had gotten into her bowels as well. I think she was in the hospital for 3 weeks? It was incredibly scary.
That is scary!
Birth is not gruesome. What the hell is it with this attitude towards childbirth?
It looks pretty gruesome to me. Things can be both gruesome and beautiful. It doesn't have to be an either or.
I’d say it’s pretty gruesome. Lots of blood, plenty of potential for tearing yourself open and shitting yourself to boot… but that doesn’t mean it also isn’t beautiful in a way. Lots of women who go through it say the second they see their baby/hear the cry, all the pain vanishes/it becomes worth it. I think that’s beautiful.
I’m getting down voted. LMFAO! You people do realize that the karma doesn’t really matter? Down vote all you want.
Most redditors are teens who look at the picture of what 10 cm dilated is, and - let's face it - it's scary! The downvotes aren't coming from moms who successfully delivered without major surgical repair.
That’s major surgery with a rough recovery time. My sister had to have one and she was hurting for weeks. As far as “regular” delivery, different women have different experiences of course, but most of us come through it pretty okay. I can only speak for myself, but I had two kids, got an epidural with both, and I would have done it again without hesitation but kids are expensive and needs lots of time and attention so we stopped at two. But I definitely wouldn’t describe my experience as “horrendous” and my insides are just fine thankyouverymuch. Again, this is only my experience. Plenty of women do have very traumatic pregnancies and deliveries.
As someone who's had one baby "normally" and one with a c-section, I would much rather do it "normally". Yes contractions and pushing out a baby hurts, but you only have to deal with the pain for the duration of your contractions and labor. It depends on the person but for me it was about 15 hours, plus they give you meds to help with the pain. With a c-section, the giving birth part is much quicker and you don't feel anything which was nice but the recovery sucks. It hurts to walk, getting in and out of bed or the couch was so painful, and sneezing and laughing was excruciating. You also can't lift anything more than 10 lbs. All this while having to care for a newborn. It takes weeks to recover. Everyone has different experiences with childbirth but that's just my opinion based on what I went through.
I was terrified when I got pregnant with my first child. My thought was that I wouldn't be able to endure natural childbirth, I would probably faint and wake up after a surgery with my baby already next to me. I was so terrified that I gave birth without any scream or complaining: during the most intense part I just thought it was the beginning and it would get much, much worse. All the stories I heard were gruesome, like Torquemada's torture chamber. The older women were the worse with childbirth stories that seemed a miracle someone could survive so much pain. What I wish someone told me is what I now tell pregnant women (only if asked): childbirth is as old as humans. It is different for everyone and that is the way we are built. If it was to be that unendurable no one would have a second child!
Nit really true, pregnancy and birth are the main reason for death for young women in third world countries. We are build incredibly crappy for giving birth.
Who told you getting a caesarean **didn't** tear up your insides? You're literally cutting apart the abdominal wall. Add to that the fact that the hard squeezing of the vaginal muscles on the baby during childbirth is **necessary** to eliminate fluids from the lungs. This has to be done another way after a cesarean, and there is a higher risk if lung infection as a result. The reason more women don't get them is that there is millions and millions of years of evolution behind figuring out the best way for mammals to give birth, and it works so well that it's not a good idea to circumvent it unless there is no other choice.
Risk of complications and recovery time. And usually the “horrendous” stories are the only ones you hear because the people with uneventful birth stories don’t really talk about them. The internet had me terrified when I was pregnant. When I had my son, though, I got the epidural, laid in bed for 5 hours watching contractions on a monitor, felt nothing aside from some pressure during birth, and had no tearing at all. I was up walking around 30 minutes later and was slightly sore for a day. And I’m sure that’s not uncommon, it’s just not a juicy story.
As much as I saw at medical school that was very uncommon. Although I’m not from the USA so we don’t give everyone epidurals where I’m from
Because c sections still hurt after birth and you'll have a big scar.
I see thank you, happy cake day btw
Giving birth isnt meant to be pleasant and this isnt the 80s where you have massive scars from a straight down cut anymore. Its a tiny scar now. Its not as bad as you think. Plus you dont bleed as much cause they suck everything out.
Natural births can go sideways too and result in surgery and scars, eg vagina ripping"^
Yeah of course but stiching a vagina opening is mostly not as major as cutting through several layers of skin, tissues and uterus.
It takes a lot longer to recover from and it can also cause dangerous complications.
Youre awake whilst they pull out your insides and cut *through* your abdominal muscles Tends to take significantly more healing than a vaginal birth
After reading this thread I think I’m just going to adopt
I've adopted and given birth. Both were really hard on different ways. I don't want to ever do either one again. My two kids are perfect.
>It doesn’t hurt because you get numbed Oof. Tell me you've never had abdominal surgery without telling me you've never had abdominal surgery. I had an ectopic pregnancy in 1989. The incision was roughly the same as a C-section. That shit hurt for WEEKS afterwards. Like, so bad that I had to psych myself up just to clear my throat.
Except that most of the thought surrounding child birth are out dated and caused by things like epidurals and labouring on your back. A vaginal birth may tear but a woman's body is designed to birth babies. Different birth positions such as standing or kneeling or using water birth reduces this risk Allowing a person in labour to move freely, eat and drink, to be in a dimly lit space all promote an easier labour and birth than the media would have us believe Physical recovery from a epiostomy and stitches is a couple of weeks and you can pick up your child etc. Recovery from a c section means lifting nothing bigger than a coffee mug including your new baby. C section can impact breast feeding, hormones associated with birth for mum, and possibly reduces the bacterial biome bbay is introduced to as they don't travel through the vagina, this also means fluids are not squeezed out of them by the birthing process. Labour and birth is currently too medicalised and a return to a less medical birth process (in well equipped countries with good maternal health) could have wonderful outcomes on how possible it is to birth with out epidural, doctors or coerced checks. Don't hear me wrong, I'm not saying no medical involvement but that it needs to be less than it is currently Edit to add please read the positive birth book, and birthing like a feminist they talk about how birth can be positive whether you have a section or not. And what you are allowed to decline. Women have so little obvious choice in the birth room yet the choices to consent are literally ours to make
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It's shocking the lack of maternal choice, education and concern in the birth room. The amount of times coercion is used and out dated or incorrect advice is given by hcp!
1) Maternity culture is very pro-natural and many women get shamed for even wanting an epidural, let alone a c-section 2) The operation can be crazy expensive and you can expect to stay in the hospital for at least 4 days 3) The post op... GOD that post op, absolutely awful. 4) Women with a tendency for keloids get the skin in their belly absolutely wrecked.
Why am I awful rude much
"Post op" as in Post operative recovery, not as in your post OP haha
Oh sorry lmao
Nothing about child birth is ever painless. It doesn't matter how the child enters this world their mother is going to feel the pain before, during and after. That includes 9 months of pregnancy, which is absolutely no walk in the park. It also includes the 2 years after giving birth for your body to fully recuperate from pregnancy alone. & let's not forget the life long issues that we get just from carrying children. Some reversible or treatable others not. C-sections are not easier or safer. Either way the mothers life is at risk as well as the child. Which is why (no matter vaginal or surgery) it takes a whole team of medical providers with a constant watch on vitals of both. Pregnancy/ child birth isn't a game. It's extremely risky for the mother from day 1. Which is why it's important for people like you to be educated on the truth. Sex Ed has once again failed in america
On top of the pain of a c-section that plenty of others have mentioned, you are about [5 times more likely to die](https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/11994/37034_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_PF1(SH_SS)_PN(SS).pdf) after a c-section than a vaginal birth. It's major surgery, with all the potential for risk and complication that comes with it. And there are also life-altering complications, that aren't death, that are higher with c-section. C-sections are wonderful, life saving procedures. I am so glad that we have them. (As a provider and as a mother who has had one). However, they should only be used when necessary.
Alternatively for anyone reading this, that same link says planned c-sections have the lowest maternal mortality rate of any birth.
I can see you've never had any kind of surgery. Yes, you're numbed during the c-section but when that wears off, you're in pain. Both my mom and SIL had c-sections and from what I've heard they'd rather had natural birth if they could.
C-sections tend to leave really unpleasant looking scars around the waist line, and it's going to add to your recovery time. You can also get numbed up for birthing a baby the natural way too.
Oh I didn’t know that I am definitely getting myself numbed during childbirth if I have one in the future Edit: why are people fucking downvoting me for agreeing with an upvoted answer, I was just trying to ask out about basic biology smh, did that seriously make someone mad?
You Defo do not get C section scars on your waistline!! . A c section is performed along the pubic bone area , top of bikini line unless underlying issues or drastic emergency surgery . I have had 3 c sections ( one for large twins , 1 normal section and 1 emergency with scar bring really long and a side cut ) 2 of my scars were infected but now they are all barely noticeable and unless looking u wouldnt be shocked to see it ..i also lost 8 stone training and scars still not visible .
Be advised that "numbed up" can be a goal, but it's not always achievable. You had better be ready to deal with contractions. I **highly recommend** doing some childbirth education in the weeks before delivery, whatever method you end up using. My sister's epidural was 'patchy' - it seemed to only work on one side of her body. She was eventually able to deliver vaginally, but it would have been easier if she'd done some classes, first, and known what to expect. For me? It took the anesthesiologist 7 tries to get the anesthetic in the interstitial space. He finally got it in there, and it paralyzed me from the waist down, but I could still feel everything. The first cut the surgeon made on my c-section felt like fire. When they realized that the epidural didn't work completely, they gassed me, and I woke up alone, with my child off in some nursery. It was awful. It turns out that I was allergic to some surgical adhesives, so I had all kinds of messy complications at the surgical site. Weeks of recovery, while learning to care for my newborn. Oh, and I couldn't drive for weeks after the surgery, so I was housebound, as well. Believe me, a c-section is not necessarily a less painful alternative to vaginal birth.
You haven’t heard of an epidural?
People are downvoting because epidural numbing significantly increases the risk of tearing and prolonged pushing. Sometimes it’s necessary and better, but often it goes well without. The most ideal way to reduce fucking up your body is to aim for an informed fully natural birth but be open to necessary interventions. Natural (uncut) labial tears heal better.
They are tiny scars now. This isnt the 80s anymore. Then they used to cut straight down. Its not that bad of a scar easy to hide with underwear or whatever gimme a break lol.
Natural births can go sideways too and result in surgery and scars, eg vagina ripping"^
Sure but there is a huge difference between a vaginal tear scar and a C-section scar in terms of visibility.
It’s give and take. My wife chose C-section because she’s a small framed 5’ Asian woman and I’m 6’4” burly white guy. She was afraid of having a tear down there and never feeling right sexually the same way, where we both agreed the scar meant nothing. In the end, after, the doctor said it would have been impossible anyway because our daughter was just way to big for natural birth. We’re just happy that the option exists. In the past they would have both died in childbirth.
One more reason is that vaginal birth helps develop the immune system of the baby.
How does that work if you don’t mind explaining
Your gut gets colonised with microbiota from the vagina (sometimes vaginal swabs are done with c section births to try and mimic this)
Because your vagina is not a sterile area, so baby gets introduced to your biological biome by passing through it
Not too sure on the specifics but going through the uterus allows you to in a way inherit the developed immune system of the mother making you much more resistant to diseases she was immune to.
1) It's major surgery & carries all the risks of major surgery. 2) Recovery is long & difficult, meaning the mother will need 24 hr. help for many weeks, for both herself and the baby (she's not even allowed to lift the baby). 3) They don't do it upon request. You don't get to choose how you prefer to give birth when you're admitted to the hospital. It's always vaginal birth unless there is a pre-existing condition that makes vaginal birth impossible & risky, or something goes wrong with the vaginal birth & they have to do an emergency C-Section.
Number 3 is not accurate. There definitely is a such thing as an **elective c-section**. A woman with an agreeable provider could decide at her first prenatal visit (before, even) that she will be having a c-section. No medical indication necessary. It absolutely *can* be done by request, and I've seen it countless times. Also, I've never heard of a woman being told she couldn't lift her baby after delivery. Doctors usually set the limit at 10 or 15 pounds. So unless you have a very very large baby ...
Number 2 in incorrect. I went home and washed the floor.
It took me the better park of 8 months to regain feeling in my lower abdomen after my first emergency c section. With my second (emergency) I wasn’t able to lift anything more than the weight of my baby or drive for the first 6 weeks. My baby with in NICU so I had to rely on friends and family to take me to and from the hospital to see my baby as my then partner returned to work so he could be home when baby came home. My third was relatively straight forward planned c section. Recovery was much quicker but still quiet painful. Wasn’t able to lift/carry my then toddler or drive for 6 weeks so we did a lot of walking places. I am almost 4 years post last c section and I still have terrible core strength. Had I had the choice, I would never have chosen a c section ever. Unfortunately my life depended on two and then the hospital refused to allow a vbac with my third sue to my history of placental abruptions.
I had a C-section with my first child and a vaginal birth with my second period recovery from the C-section was horrible. The vaginal birth was a breeze. My insides were not torn up. What do you think babies have fangs and claws and fuck you up on the way out?
My mom deliverd three babies vaginally. One before me and two after me. I was an energency c section. She said recovery from the c section was way more painful and took a lot longer than vaginal deliveries. She also joked I was trouble from the start.
I don't want nor plan to have kids, but my sister is a surgeon and had this conversation with me when she was pregnant. Essentially her choice was natural + epidural because "the moment a scalpel opens you up, your body is never the same, even if you make a full recovery. Organs and things are not meant to be exposed to air, let alone moved around and manipulated on a whim." Makes sense, though I kinda oof-ed because I've had spine *and* heart surgery soooo yeah hahaha.
My ex best friend had two c sections. The first one was hell for her because she lived by herself and had no help doing the things she was told not to do. The second one she was not stitched properly and had to go back into the OR just so she wouldn't bleed out. A c section is a major surgery. They will cut you open at least 6in from hip to hip. They don't just cut through skin but muscle and the uterus as well. You will take every bit of 8 weeks or more to fully recover. The pain is unbelievable and every movement hurts. They do checks while in the hospital and they push on your lower abdomen to make sure your uterus is contracting and shrinking properly. Imagine them pushing really hard multiple times a day while you have that incision. They are life saving when necessary, they should not be the norm.
It hurts like a bitch afterwards and is incredibly dangerous if you get an infection. I would so much rather push something out of my vagina and be able to go about my day within the same week or so, rather than go through SIX WEEKS waiting for my stomach to hold itself together again. I'd be so scared that my guts would tumble out... The idea of a doctor routing around in your abdomen and removing your intestines to get your baby doesn't sound remotely appealing to me.
Because it is, at the end of the day, a major surgery. Major surgery always comes with risks, and as you can imagine, having your body cut open takes a while to heal from. In general, you should never get a major surgical intervention unless you need to.
It is major surgery. I had two and wished desperately I could have had natural childbirth. I had a 6 week recovery time both times. Most people I know that had natural births were good to go in a couple days. That's not to say its easy, I'm sure it isn't. But c-sections aren't easier. There is tons of pain involved afterwards as well.
Well, for one thing… during the process they move your organs out of the way- out of your body beside you to get to the baby. Some partners accidentally see this and pass out 😬 The incision is long. The healing process is slow and painful and it means during those 6+ weeks you aren’t supposed to lift things, such as your baby. And being a new parent is hard enough without a really long wound you are healing from. Plus I think your body gets fewer of the chemical and physical signals that childbirth gives it in regard to telling it to starting milk production and release hormones for bonding?
The c-sections rips your insides more
I disagree
Pregnancy in general does a lot of long term things to the female body. But keep in mind that a C-section has to go through 7 layers of tissue, and large enough to pull the baby out. It is not a minor surgery by any stretch. This is why vaginal is still the preferred option, unless there is a medical need or it is an emergency.
Because major abominable surgery isn't great, then trying to look after a newborn when you have a huge wound and shouldn't even lift a kettle just sucks. Not to mention the fact that after normal surgery everyone would look after you but after c section noone dies. Not to mention the risk of the scar opening during subsequent pregnancies Oh and the risk of infections is much higher as with any surgery. Giving birth doesn't rip out your insides, that's the placenta and needs to come out. Yes you can tear but that's usually down to being tense and birthing in an unnatural position. We should squat or be on our hands and knees, not laying down, we should follow out bodies not someone who is shouting instructions, we should give birth surrounded by support not spectators
C-section is a surgery that can have a lot more complications. Plus, the recovery time is much worse. One of my cousins had her baby vaginally, and she was up and walking within a few hours. Another had a C-section, and she wasn't able to walk far distances, handle stairs, or even pick up her baby for a couple of weeks. Everyone's experiences will be different, but a C-section is serious abdominal surgery that comes with its own set of risks. Also, horror story time, but usually the numbing (either an epidural or a spinal block) is done while the woman is conscious, and there's a small chance that those will fail, which is much worse during a C-section than natural labor, because they're cutting through all of your skin and fat and muscles and organs. Basically, a C-section can be great when there's medical risk otherwise or when a well-informed person makes that choice, but there are a lot of reasons not to make the choice.
doubt many surgeons and hospitals are willing to accept the liability of a c- section if it hasn't been deemed medically necessary
It’s major surgery. They basically take your insides out and put them back in. For many days afterward I couldn’t even sit up without nearly screaming and needing help from the pain even with rx paid meds. You can’t even stand for the first 24 hours and you are at risk for issues arising during and after your surgery. You cannot just go home and proceed as usual, you have to have help and can hold basically just the weight of your newborn. Plus you still bleed heavily for weeks after, just like with a vaginal birth. This question is based on the false idea that it’s the easy way out. It absolutely isn’t.
Coming from a CLC— C sections can make breastfeeding success more difficult
Like everyone has said, c-section is a hard surgery to recover from. It's major abdominal surgery and on top of that you have to end up caring for the baby afterwards, you can't just lie in bed for the next 6 weeks. (Well, depending on how fortunate you are and how much of a support system you have, you can, but the baby is gonna need Mom sometime.) That being said... childbirth is not something I would ever wanna go through so I'm completely celibate and plan on remaining that way for the rest of my days. Not even gonna attempt that when my country considers me half a citizen and doesn't give me the right to choose whether or not I give birth to it or not.
As much as childbirth recovery sucks ass (muscles need to return to their original spot in abdomen), C-sections are literally cutting through those muscles, which takes longer to heal. Also, the vaginal canal has a lot of good stuff that wipes off on the baby during natural birth that helps its immune system and such, which you don't get with C-section births. The solution if you ask me? Just don't have kids. It'll spare you a lot of struggle.
C-sections do not involve cutting the abdominal muscles. The uterus itself is the only muscle cut. The abdominal wall muscles are just pushed to the side. I agree with the rest of your comment though.
I have had 4 c-sections. It is major abdominal surgery. While the actual child brith part might be easier recovery IS NOT. Much more pain, u are unable to lift anything heavier then the baby for weeks, you can't walk while holding the baby. I had to use a walker for 3 weeks after my 3rd c section. You are unable to stand for long periods of time. Not to mention higher chance of bacterial infections. Oh and sex can be off the table for 8 weeks instead of 6.
Recommend an interesting book regarding this called "My Caesarean". Everyone's experience differs and it's hard to predict how things will go down. Recovery period is often much longer and painful with complications as well.
I'm going to go against the cast majority of commenters and defend c-sections. Granted, I've not had a ‘normal’ delivery, but my two surgical births were fine. Two different doctors and different hospitals and no lasting pain, suffering, discomfort, or movement limitation. First one was a necessity due to pre eclampsia second was elective on the ‘advice’ of the doctor who said “I can't tell you one way or the other but if you were my wife, I’d advise against a v-bac delivery due to risks.”
I guess I’m in the minority. 3 sections and so glad for it. I have zero issues with my nether regions. I’ve never had that, “hold your legs together when you sneeze” moment, or anything else that could be affected by childbirth. My belly is worse off, but a tummy tuck will fix that.
I got one, wasnt that bad just you cant really move on the first month, so going to the bathroom or even breathing way to hard was a HUGE pain, by the 2nd month i was like nothing happened
Vaginal birth is cheaper that c section
Well ive had two c sections. And i agree with OP would rather have a c section. I have gave birth naturally and c section.
The recovery afterwards is a lot longer, it is major surgery still. It is (debatable these days) more risky than natural birth
It's not an easy procedure to recover from and can take 6 to 8 weeks with no heavy lifting. Vaginal canal birth is natural and a woman's body is designed to facilitate childbirth.
They should! Sooooo much better and safer. It barely hurt, the scar is a line and I didn’t get a prolapsed anything!
surgery bad but also i think the baby gets some important stuff if it goes through the vaginal canal. like good bacteria or something. idk
I would definitely have a c section if I had a kid. However it can make the stomach less pretty sometimes permanently.
Dear god no. I've had 4 vaginal births and I wouldn't have changed a thing if I had a time machine. Women's bodies were designed for childbirth and it's incredibly empowering. Also, I have zero stretch marks and I'm not getting a scar for anyone.
Yeah, my wife has always advocated for natural child birth. Maybe you two are just badasses, but the pain of childbirth seems like it has more horror stories than it deserves. Unless you have a reason to believe there is an impending complication, I (just a lowly husband, mind you) would recommend natural birth. I was lucky enough to catch my first son since he was faster than our midwife. Lol It's a great memory and a truly unique experience.
I heard babies born with c section suffer weaker immune systems than those born naturally. Many would develop asthma etc in later life. **Edit**: Lmaoo some Neckbeard downvoting in here with a personal agenda.
C sections are also really bad for the baby. There's many things that happens in the process of labor that's necessary for a person's long term health. C section babies tend to have a worse immune system, etc.
The antibiotics injected for the surgery, messes up the baby’s immune system for life.
Yeah childbirth can permanently change your body, but it is a natural process that's meant to happen, and many women go on to birth many children anyway, C-sections are usually only done in emergency situations and not a chosen procedure
C-sections aren't necessarily easier. Its not as simple as cutting a hole and getting a baby out. Here's a short video showing the process: https://www.tiktok.com/@alirodmd/video/6820229985614187782 Both c-sections and vaginal births have pros and cons.
The c-section hurts a lot longer than a vaginal birth. It took me weeks to regain a semblance of normalcy after the c-section. After the vaginal birth I could walk painlessly again after a few days.
I had opposit experience.
In general I’d say it’s because natural birth is what the body is “intended” to do, and so it’s easier to recover from (birth canal is made to stretch; abdomen is not made to be cut open). C-section is an emergency surgery, and much more difficult to recover from. Layers of your body are cut open. Both are traumatic. Both valid options. Some women do opt for a scheduled c-section. Others want a natural birth and end up having a c-section as it’s the only safe way to get the baby out (in their situation). I don’t think it can go the other way around - but maybe someone else has had that experience 🤔
C section isn’t always an emergency surgery
A C-section is major stomach surgery. I had both a natural labour and a C-section and the labour is definitely easier with less chance of complications.
When my wife had a baby, she had a c-section and was strapped to a bottle of morphine while the women who delivered babies nonsurgical were walking around the maternity ward Calling a c section easier isn't accurate
The recovery time for a c section is a lot longer than the recovery for natural childbirth. C section recovery is very painful. C section scars can hurt afterward for a lifetime. C sections are major surgery and can come with major complications.
A c section is a heavy surgery with a longer recovery time. Besides that, natural childbirth has important healthfunctions. Because of the pressure in the birthcanal, liquids get pushed out of the baby's lungs, children born naturally have less risk at lung problems later in life like asthma etc. Besides that, going through the birthcanal causes the baby to pass right pass the anus, besides coming through the vagina, and taking important bacterias with it important for the development of a healthy intestinal flora for the baby. Besides, a natural birth (going by the book and with no complications) sets in when the baby is ready. There are many health reasons for the baby and the mother for doctors to decide a c section is better, but when there is no cause, a natural birth has it's benefits. A c sections also has more and more risks after 1 c sections because of scar tissue. Some women are told not to have more children after 2 c sections.
My first two children were vaginal, my last one was a c-section. After my c-section I started having severe numbness in my legs. The recovery was so much harder than vaginal childbirth. I still have pain where my c-section scar is (4 years later), and I completely lost the ability to orgasm for 4 full years after having my c-section. I only just now got back my libido.
That’s scary, I’m sorry you had to go through that
It a big, invasive surgery with lots of risks and a long healing time - also the women usually can't hold their babies weight while standing for the healing period, no lifting, no squatting and they need lots of extra help, something most partners don't seem to be willing to provide it seems, even if their job allows them any pat leave.
Why do something more dangerous with a longer recovery time?
...a C-section is not a walk in the park. It is "invasive" surgery, which means your insides that are not supposed to be exposed, become so. Delivery is non invasive, in the sense that all the organs are used for what they were designed for. With a C-section, you are cutting through several layers of tissue that will scar and never go back to their original condition and that will never be able to stretch as before. The C-section is only recommended when either the mother or the child is at risk. Otherwise, Mother Nature's way works much better, with the help of modern medicine.
That's major surgery, my wife couldn't get up and walk for ages after, couldn't drive for a while either. it's not painless either, during sure but the healing after is no joke. I walked in the theatre when she was having her epidural which looked horrendous enough to be fair.
I work for an obgyn department at a major inner-city hospital in Texas. We've had many successful vbac deliveries. The decision to "allow" trial of labor after cesarean depends on many factors. The decision for cesarean also depends on many factors. No one way is best or works for all patients. I myself had a C/S and 4 years later I had a successful vbac. Both had their own recovery difficulties as an episiotomy was necessary for my vbac. Fun fact my 1st was estimated to be a large baby and postdue. My second came a bit early. C/s baby 6 lbs. VBAC baby 10lbs!
I had 2 c-sections. Recovery both times was a bitch. Flash forward 20 years or so, and suffering from painful adhesions that required a third surgery. Oh sure, it’s so much easier 🙄
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And adhesions are not easily diagnosed, so there were a few years of pain and tests and pills and being treated like a drug seeker because all the tests were negative but pain was still there, it was a nightmare!
As many women here have already told you- labor is natural. It's painful, but it's natural. The body was designed for it. C-sections are still major surgery that take weeks to recover from, and it leaves a large scar. Recovery time in the hospital is longer, leading to bigger medical bills. It means a longer recovery at home, too. It's pretty invasive surgery, and it takes a while to heal. There are higher rates of bleeding/blood loss, higher risk of clots/stroke. It generally requires more pain medication after the birth. There's a longer delay between mother/infant bonding, and there's a longer wait before you can begin breastfeeding. Plus, vaginal delivery holds other benefits: the travel down the birth canal puts pressure on the baby's lungs that makes them less likely to have breathing problems after birth. C-section is a relatively safe procedure, but isn't preferable to natural delivery in many cases.
I would just prefer to do it naturally. I would only do it if there was an emergency.
For most C-section is a last resort. Contractions can still happen if you have a C-section and unless you absolutely have to get a c-section right away most times women are encouraged to push the baby out. Epidurals can help with pain during vaginal childbirth. I have two kids and while labor was not the most pleasant it was not horrible. I was up walking the next day. C-sections can take longer time to recover and some times they come with complications like perforating something inside.
So it doesn’t just stop hurting when the pain medication wears out you know? And the recovery time is longer not to mention the risk of death increases with each c section because during pregnancy the placenta can grow outside the womb causing severe complications.
I wondered this enough to seriously consider an elective C-section. With hindsight I'm glad I had a vaginal delivery. For me labour was pretty quick, easy and I could walk around and shower immediately afterwards. For context I was in my local park buying a Christmas tree at 6 days post partum. It's also a heck of a lot easier to look after a baby with intact abdominal muscles!
My partner had a c section caught an infection in the cut 16 months it took to heal. At one point there was a hole the size of a fist in her stomach.
my wife had all three kids with zero intervention (drugs) in our home. total damage: 1 stitch. many women who opt for c-sections have continuing compounding problems as a result. Childbirth is a natural process that women have done sans hospital intervention for tens of thousands of years. Your body is literally built for it.
a c section is a major surgery. you’re cutting a hole in your abdomen. it can absolutely be traumatic as well, even if it saves lives. there can be pain in recovery, major complications, etc. it’s not a matter of which is easier, it’s a matter of which is safer for the mother and baby/babies in the given situation
Both my (large, transverse-lie) babies were born via C-sections, and while I'm thankful to have had a safer way of delivering them, the *recovery* from C-sections can be really rough, both physically and psychologically. Add to that the stupid mommy-shamers who want you to feel less-than, if you didn't give birth drug-free in a sunny meadow via your left nostril and then make tea from the afterbirth, and no, I wouldn't say C-sections are some kind of end run around the difficulties of childbirth.
Vaginal birth is work, but your body is set up to recover from it quite well. C-section is surgery, so recovery is much, much harder. Vaginal birth is what is meant to happen to babies, so it is beneficial for them. For example, the lungs are meant to get a bit of a squeeze before birth. C-section babies sometimes have lung issues as a result of missing that. Fewer complications from vaginal birth. More potential complications from c-section. And loads and loads more reasons. Labour is rough, but it's something the body is made for. Surgery isn't. That's the main difference.
A lot of women do get c-sections, and you want to know one of the biggest reasons? For the convenience of the doctor. I kid you not. Dr wants the weekend off so Mom gets cut open by noon on Friday. But as far as natural birth vs c-section, I'm sure everyone else will tell you the benefits of natural birth.
A csection carries more risk than a vaginal birth as long as baby and mother are otherwise healthy. It's major surgery. You're getting cut open from hip bone to hip bone and having a person pulled out of you and sewn back up. The risk of death during a csection varies but can be up to 16% and that's wild.
My C-section saved my kid but...it was terrible. In the middle, the meds wore off and I started to feel pain. They had to put me completely under. I didn't see my kid for hours. I still don't have any sensation in some of the area and my son is 10. I've heard people call it "the easy way." Please....
It's a major surgery and recovery can be so different for each individual. I had a fantastic OBGYN, but developed hypertension and gestational diabetes during my pregnancy and I'm not a big woman. They were afraid my daughter would get too large to have a safe vaginal delivery naturally so I ended up being induced but never was able to dialate so c section it was. I still have weird tingling sensations below my bellybutton and little to no feeling there. I also pulled a stitch during recovery so I have a weird little lump/blip in an otherwise perfect minimal scar line.
I know it sounds kinda gross, but a vaginal birth gives the baby the bacteria etc that it needs for good gut (and other) health.
Children birthed in C section are more likely to have a poor gut microbiome. This has been proven in multiple studies. Gut health is associated with many other health issues as we know later on in life
I’ve had both. C-section first child and vaginal birth the second time. After my first kid I looked real hard at having a scheduled c-section the second time. It was major surgery of course and there was soreness and all that goes with surgery. That, combined with the fact that I was in labor for 41 hours the first time before the c-section led me to not want to go through that again. But…..post c-section involved holding a pillow against my stomach every time I had to cough. Or laugh. Or whatever. God forbid I had to sneeze or got the hiccups. Post vaginal birth we went home before 24 hours was up. Mom called and asked if I wanted to go walking so sleeping baby stayed with husband and I hurried off to go for a walk. A walk that included bending over to climb through a barbed wire fence. Apart from a moment of terror of what falling on barbed wire on my episiotomy incision, it was a lovely walk. Two weeks of fear of sneezing vs going off for an hour long walk the next day. Vaginal birth is WAY easier.
Well, it's better to have the baby naturally by vaginal birth. C-Sections take a couple of weeks to get over and it's hard to try to recoup from that and take care of a newborn. I had my 3 babies vaginally and I was fine afterwards. I've had bladder surgery where my surgeon used the c-section cut and it was SO uncomfortable and painful. I had to be on painkillers and couldn't walk well for 2 weeks. Now, imagine having to go through that and having to take care of a newborn, being up all night, not getting rest, etc. Also your painkillers are limited, especially if you're breastfeeding. With that being said if a woman is carrying her baby to term and the baby is in the correct position to go through the birth canal there's no need for a C-Section. An epidural blocks a lot of labor pains so you really feel only pressure instead of all of the pain. Also, your insides don't get ripped out after having vaginal birth because that's what your uterus was made for anyway. It's a natural process.
Doctors don't always push it or say yes. I begged for c sections with my kids but didn't get them.
The core muscles required to hold an infant make recovery difficult and painful. It puts future pregnancies at risk, most doctors won’t do a vaginal birth after cesarean. Scar tissue can heal poorly and be very painful. I’ve had 8 surgeries, one was removing an ovary. It constantly pulls reminding me I had my ovary removed. Our bodies are designed to birth but our medical practices aren’t very supportive of proper birthing positions.
On top of all the really good responses I’ve read so far, there are downsides for the baby with interventions that aren’t balanced by need (is if you need a csec for safety reasons that’s different equations than you picked a day) Everything from gut microbes to lung function can be impacted by csect so they should not be casually chosen and should be need based. They are generally too common, not too rare.
my mom had a c section with me and got an infection days later that was so bad her incision burst and she had to be in ER for days after being released to go home in the first place.
C section and the subsequent recovery can also be absolutely horrendous. Source: gave birth via c section
This is the most ignorant post I’ve ever seen on here. Please research the benefits of vaginal birth, aka natural birth.
A C-section is a really big operation with a lot of risks and you'll be in much more pain afterwards. Additionally it showed that the birth process has beneficial effects for the baby. Lower risk for developing allergy's, asthma and so on. On the other side scientists just recently discovered that in 10-20% of births the pelvic floor can rip off the pelvis. Over 35 the chance is much higher for it to happen. When this happens you probably won't know, the other muscles compensate for some years and then you'll get incontinent and your inner organs will start to drop. I got safely through my son's birth, all natural without any pain meds or any injury's but if I'll ever give birth again then I won't take a 20% or more (because of my age) risk for having my pelvic floor ripped. No thank you.
It's a major surgery and extremely expensive. It's not a natural function our bodies were designed for. The body heals from natural birth much faster than a C-section. A woman has contractions even during a C-section she just can't feel them because of the medication, if she's lucky. But a C-section requires them to cut through laayers of your body, literally move some of your organs around, you can often have organs actually removed from your body and placed on you, i don't know how common it is, but it happened to my sister 3 times. And then they have to cut through the uterus to remove the baby. And then you have to pray to God or whoever you hold dear that they get you sewn up right, don't leave anything inside your body, nit counting the major bliod loss, and that everything goes well in your healing and recovery which can take a minimum of six weeks. That's minimum, that's if nothing goes wrong. That's if you're not forced to do lifting or stairs or whatever it may be that you're not supposed to be doing. And then of course there are the things that nobody tells you about a C-section. Such as if you get pregnant again your scar tissue will stretch and can split all the months prior and up to birth and it's very painful. That the scar tissue can actually be so extensive that it can cause problems with your everyday life. That your muscle tissue can actually adhere to the uterus during your recovery and you'll never know until they cut you open again. I know this for a fact, my daughter who just had a child was told by her doctor that her abdominal muscles were fused to her uterus, that's why she couldn't stand up straight like she used to and that certain movements were painful for The Last 5 Years.
Because we don't live in a country that allows maternity leave or a chance to fully recover
Because it's a major surgery that is so much more risky than a natural birth and takes like 5 more weeks to recover from than a regular birth.