So what exactly is the problem with C-Sections?

[Anonymous]

Curious why C-Sections are seen as such a bad thing. I delivered vaginally for my first and it was awful. My care team was great, I just hated everything about the entire process. Seemed like a whole lot of waiting around and being in pain. And I ended up needing an episiotomy and extraction anyway, which then resulted in a bunch of scar tissue that caused problems.

Now that I'm pregnant with my second, a C section sounds pretty darn good. No labor, just go in and get the whole thing done and over with in 15 minutes. I know there's recovery, but recovery from vaginal birth sucked, too. And I know it's surgery, so there are risks associated with that, but from talking with my OB it sounds like it's a very, very small increase of risk.

So why exactly are c-sections seen as so horrible?

[Anonymous]

If I had your vaginal experience I would agree. I had 3 easy vaginal births. Not having surgery > having surgery, all else held equal.

[Anonymous]

None. But i don't want unncessary surgery. My first birth was ok but the epidural didn't work. Second birth it worked and it was 4 hrs of watching tv and the monitor and under 10 min pushing with no pain. Maternal post partum care is so subpar in the US, id rather not add surgical issues to it.

[Anonymous]

I have only had c-sections and am grateful they were available to me. However, they can cause scarring in your abdominal cavity and weakening in your uterine wall. The more you have, the higher the risk. Some people scar more than others.

[Anonymous]

It’s major abdominal surgery. It’s expensive and not necessary a lot of the time.

[Anonymous]

They are fine. I had my first for medical reasons and had a scheduled C for my second by choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have only had c-sections and am grateful they were available to me. However, they can cause scarring in your abdominal cavity and weakening in your uterine wall. The more you have, the higher the risk. Some people scar more than others.

This, and if you know you want more than 2 kids you have more reason to avoid C-section. If I’d had 2 c-sections I don’t think I would have had a third kid.

[Anonymous]

It's major abdominal surgery, with all the attendant risks (especially infection, limitations on activities, etc.). Plus, if you have multiple pregnancies, the scar tissue from the C-section can cause issues, because it doesn't stretch like unscarred tissue. Likely not a big deal for one more, but can become an issue with multiple.

[Anonymous]

I had three c-sections and didn't have any trouble with any of them. In each case I was up and walking around (slowly!) the next day.

I didn't much notice the recoveries as I was most focused on the baby, breast feeding etc.

[Anonymous]

My first was a delivery a lot like yours. I had a scheduled c section for my second (twins) and it was a much more pleasant experience!

[Anonymous]

I had three sections and bounced back like a pro each time. I never had a vaginal birth but I’m pretty happy that I never went through that tbh.

To each their own! I think the common ranking is

1) Uncomplicated vaginal birth
2) Scheduled c section
3) Complicated bit successful vaginal birth
4) Emergency c section without labor
5) Complicated labor that leads to an emergency c section

I had a 4 and two 2s. The 2s were in fact a lot better than the 4.

The problem is you don’t know if you’ll have an uncomplicated v birth until you’re in the thick of it

[Anonymous]

It’s major surgery, and like any surgery, things can go awry. I got an infection following my first emergency C-section and had to be rehospitalized. The infection left me sick and weak and I honestly looked and felt like a corpse. I had to be separated from my baby for four days, she could visit me during visiting hours, and I did my best to breastfeed her. (She couldn’t stay with me because only patients can stay, and she wasn’t a patient as she was completely healthy.)

Fortunately, I recovered fully, and we were able to breastfeed. But it was horrible.

There’s also a lot of difficult things even without complications, like blood clots, difficulty walking, difficulty with bowels, etc. The scar can not properly heal, etc. You have to have a freaking catheter.

It’s not a cake walk, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had three sections and bounced back like a pro each time. I never had a vaginal birth but I’m pretty happy that I never went through that tbh.

To each their own! I think the common ranking is

1) Uncomplicated vaginal birth
2) Scheduled c section
3) Complicated bit successful vaginal birth
4) Emergency c section without labor
5) Complicated labor that leads to an emergency c section

I had a 4 and two 2s. The 2s were in fact a lot better than the 4.

The problem is you don’t know if you’ll have an uncomplicated v birth until you’re in the thick of it

Try adding category 6, which is what I had:

6) Complicated labor that leads to an emergency C-section with complications that lead to a multi-day rehospitalization

[Anonymous]

I had two emergency c-sections. Either my kids or I would be dead without them, so I don't see any problem.

[Anonymous]

I had an unplanned c section after pushing and I have no plans to attempt a VBAC. Labor sucked, the c section recovery was fine.