Weddingbee boards

I had one, but not by choice.  My labor had stalled and the doctor said I needed it.  I honestly was in a lot of pain at the time, so I don't remember the exact reasons she wouldn't let labor continue. 

So I reluctantly agreed.  And I was actually surprised.  I already had an epidural in, so all they had to do was turn it up.  The c-section itself was amazing to me.  I had zero pain or discomfort and was fully aware of what was going on.  They handed the baby directly to me as soon as he was pulled out.

My previous labor had been very long with three hours of pushing, multiple episiotomies, tearing, forceps...just awful.  Her head finally came out, then her shoulders got stuck.  They had to break her collarbone to get her out.  The c-section was a hundred times easier. 

If I were to have another baby, I would request a c-section.  I have learned that I have a narrow birth canal and my babies have had exceptionally large heads.  I would never put myself through labor again.  Yes, the recovery was much longer, but it was far easier than the three hour nightmare of pushing.

@SoontobeMrsA:  You're right.  I've had both vaginal delivery, with episiotomy and tearing, and a c-section and the c-section took a lot longer to recover from.  The recovery wasn't that bad, but it did take longer.

i would absolutely be HORRIFIED if i had to get a c-section...the whole experience of child birth has to do with giving birth vaginally and i would NOT want to miss that for the world, so unless it was a life or death emergency, i would NOT get a c section. Funny...hubby and i were just talking about this last night.

sorry camrie, i dont mean to be anti c section! just wanted to throw in my 2 cents :) good luck with your decision!

Yes, I want one. My mother needed one because she's very petite and I take after her. She had c sections with each of us and her and my brother almost died because he tore her up inside so badly. I am also very tight and my muscles are very rigid. My gyno always has to "persuade" my lady parts to even get a finger in. The amount of tearing that I would go through is terrifying to think of.

I'm open to it. My mother had to have them for both my sister and I, because her pelvis was too small and couldn't stretch out enough to let a baby pass through. Which ended up for the best, as my sister's cord was wrapped around her neck quite a few times, and that probably would have been fatal. Since the build of her body is genetic, and I'm pretty similar to her, I plan to mention it to my doctor just in case I'll need one too. I'm not opposed to it by any means, but if it's possible I'd like to give a vaginal birth to see what all the fuss is about. I feel like I've had enough surgeries to grasp the concept of a c-section, but regardless of what the books say, I'm pretty sure a vaginal birth just ain't the same as a bm. I certainly won't be disappointed if it's recommended for me.

@sand dollar:  "I'm pretty sure a vaginal birth just ain't the same as a bm."  I almost spit out my drink after reading that. 

After my 1st emergency C-section I would've said "Hell no!" to wanting another one, but after the 2nd planned one (had to take her out 5 weeks early because of some health issues) it was so much easier.  That recovery was 1000x better, so the experience for me wasn't totally horrible.

For those on the fence, I'd recommend the book Deliver THIS! by Marisa Cohen...she gives anecdotal stories from women who have had nearly every type of birth, ranging from at home antural birth (unmedicated) to elective c-section.  It's all about knowing your options & choosing the right path/birth plan for you.  I LOVED that it had really no judgment on any of the options & let me understand what I could choose if I wanted. 

After reading the book I was drawn both to having a doula/midwife & trying for unmedicated (with the option of going with the epidural if I just coudn't go on) AND to elective C-section...there are so many benefits (and drawbacks) to either option, in my eyes.  The deciding factor for me (& Hubs, since we're making these decisions together) was that C-sections, and really ANY abdominal surgery, weaken the uterine wall & can affect any future attempts at pregnancy & full-term birth.  Now, many women who have had C-sections, whether emergency/non-elective or elective, have gotten pregnant a second, third, even more times...but factor in the fact that I'll be 34 when I give birth to our first & that we'd like to wait 2-3 years before trying for a second, & that my mom had 3 miscarriages before having me, then 2 stillborns afterwards, I'd like to give my uterine wall all the help I can.  But if we were only planning to try for one, this Kid could have been born through elective C-section...in part because Hubs' biggest fear is dealing with the Kid all alone if I didn't make it, & elective C-section seems a LOT less traumatizing upfront than vaginal delivery.