Tell me why a C section’s better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thread history is here for all to see. You know perfectly well there was a PP who derailed the thread with talk of VBAC, and someone who chimed in about how all pelvic floor problems are from vaginal birth, which others took issue with.

Happens all the time. You're in the wrong place if you think DCUM posters are going to color within the lines.

And yeah, sounds like there are some folks who take issue with "tell me why a c-section's better" because it WASN'T for them. Those stories matter, too. Maybe the OP will get a fuller accounting of the good AND the bad so she can try to improve on the experience for herself and her baby. I saw some great nuggets of wisdom in this thread for any woman ever facing a c-section. If you only ever hear the positive stories then you're no better than the ones who actually are pushing an agenda - my ___ birth was all rainbows and puppy dogs! is not an authentic or helpful exercise.

So you object to women who have had bad vaginal birth experiences posting on this thread and you want to discredit them, but you think it's fine for women with bad C-section experiences to post? Also, nobody said that all pelvic floor injuries were from vaginal birth. Honestly, your dismissiveness and shaming of women who have had birth injuries is horrid. No wonder those poor women can't get good healthcare.

You are showing your true colors.

In haven't posted on this thread in a couple of days FWIW and haven't been engaging in the back and forth here.

But I mean. Let's say someone gets diagnosed with late stage renal disease and is informed that they can't eat meat anymore. So they ask a few friends if they have any experience with vegetarianism. Renal disease guy had to follow a restrictive diet once in their past and it was really difficult and messed with their head and caused some depression and they're nervous.

So a few friends start talking about positive experiences, recommend some vegetarian restaurants, are generally encouraging. One other friend talks about how they might be in the same position and are wrestling with the choice of whether to go full vegetarian for the same reasons renal disease guy is worried. Then the last friend goes on a rant about how it's impossible to get all the nutrition you need on a vegetarian diet. Plus it makes being friends and going to meals so difficult and most people who do it just eat macaroni and cheese and aren't even healthy.

That last friend is a d*ck.

This is spot on. Unfortunately. I hope at least that OP got some comfort from the positive C-section stories.

[Anonymous]

I had 3 C sections. The first was not planned, but not categorized as an emergency (though I was exhausted after being in labor and induced for 48 hours). Second twos were scheduled and great! I was 29 with my first and 34 with my third. Recovered quickly with all. No problems at all. My milk came a little later than average I think (about 4 days or so), but I supplemented with formula. The first 4-5 days are painful (2nd and 3rd are the worst). After that I recovered really fast (was in class 10 days later). I have no pelvic floor damage, no problems going to the bathroom from day 2. I never took anything other than Motrin and and a little Tylenol for the pain and only for the first 10 days. Most of my friends had C sections and the relatives I have that had vaginal deliveries took longer to recover, could not use the bathroom without extreme pain for weeks, got 20-30 stitches, etc.
I don’t know if C sections are better, but in my case they were not bad at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thread history is here for all to see. You know perfectly well there was a PP who derailed the thread with talk of VBAC, and someone who chimed in about how all pelvic floor problems are from vaginal birth, which others took issue with.

Happens all the time. You're in the wrong place if you think DCUM posters are going to color within the lines.

And yeah, sounds like there are some folks who take issue with "tell me why a c-section's better" because it WASN'T for them. Those stories matter, too. Maybe the OP will get a fuller accounting of the good AND the bad so she can try to improve on the experience for herself and her baby. I saw some great nuggets of wisdom in this thread for any woman ever facing a c-section. If you only ever hear the positive stories then you're no better than the ones who actually are pushing an agenda - my ___ birth was all rainbows and puppy dogs! is not an authentic or helpful exercise.

So you object to women who have had bad vaginal birth experiences posting on this thread and you want to discredit them, but you think it's fine for women with bad C-section experiences to post? Also, nobody said that all pelvic floor injuries were from vaginal birth. Honestly, your dismissiveness and shaming of women who have had birth injuries is horrid. No wonder those poor women can't get good healthcare.

You are showing your true colors.

In haven't posted on this thread in a couple of days FWIW and haven't been engaging in the back and forth here.

But I mean. Let's say someone gets diagnosed with late stage renal disease and is informed that they can't eat meat anymore. So they ask a few friends if they have any experience with vegetarianism. Renal disease guy had to follow a restrictive diet once in their past and it was really difficult and messed with their head and caused some depression and they're nervous.

So a few friends start talking about positive experiences, recommend some vegetarian restaurants, are generally encouraging. One other friend talks about how they might be in the same position and are wrestling with the choice of whether to go full vegetarian for the same reasons renal disease guy is worried. Then the last friend goes on a rant about how it's impossible to get all the nutrition you need on a vegetarian diet. Plus it makes being friends and going to meals so difficult and most people who do it just eat macaroni and cheese and aren't even healthy.

That last friend is a d*ck.

This is spot on. Unfortunately. I hope at least that OP got some comfort from the positive C-section stories.

No, it's an incredibly poor analogy. But I hope that the OP got some comfort from positive C-section stories, too. It sounds like she has every reason to be optimistic that the procedure will go smoothly and she'll recover well. It's wonderful to have that option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thread history is here for all to see. You know perfectly well there was a PP who derailed the thread with talk of VBAC, and someone who chimed in about how all pelvic floor problems are from vaginal birth, which others took issue with.

Happens all the time. You're in the wrong place if you think DCUM posters are going to color within the lines.

And yeah, sounds like there are some folks who take issue with "tell me why a c-section's better" because it WASN'T for them. Those stories matter, too. Maybe the OP will get a fuller accounting of the good AND the bad so she can try to improve on the experience for herself and her baby. I saw some great nuggets of wisdom in this thread for any woman ever facing a c-section. If you only ever hear the positive stories then you're no better than the ones who actually are pushing an agenda - my ___ birth was all rainbows and puppy dogs! is not an authentic or helpful exercise.

So you object to women who have had bad vaginal birth experiences posting on this thread and you want to discredit them, but you think it's fine for women with bad C-section experiences to post? Also, nobody said that all pelvic floor injuries were from vaginal birth. Honestly, your dismissiveness and shaming of women who have had birth injuries is horrid. No wonder those poor women can't get good healthcare.

You are showing your true colors.

In haven't posted on this thread in a couple of days FWIW and haven't been engaging in the back and forth here.

But I mean. Let's say someone gets diagnosed with late stage renal disease and is informed that they can't eat meat anymore. So they ask a few friends if they have any experience with vegetarianism. Renal disease guy had to follow a restrictive diet once in their past and it was really difficult and messed with their head and caused some depression and they're nervous.

So a few friends start talking about positive experiences, recommend some vegetarian restaurants, are generally encouraging. One other friend talks about how they might be in the same position and are wrestling with the choice of whether to go full vegetarian for the same reasons renal disease guy is worried. Then the last friend goes on a rant about how it's impossible to get all the nutrition you need on a vegetarian diet. Plus it makes being friends and going to meals so difficult and most people who do it just eat macaroni and cheese and aren't even healthy.

That last friend is a d*ck.

This is spot on. Unfortunately. I hope at least that OP got some comfort from the positive C-section stories.

No, it's an incredibly poor analogy. But I hope that the OP got some comfort from positive C-section stories, too. It sounds like she has every reason to be optimistic that the procedure will go smoothly and she'll recover well. It's wonderful to have that option.

Well, you've managed to chase off OP. I hope you are happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had 3 C sections. The first was not planned, but not categorized as an emergency (though I was exhausted after being in labor and induced for 48 hours). Second twos were scheduled and great! I was 29 with my first and 34 with my third. Recovered quickly with all. No problems at all. My milk came a little later than average I think (about 4 days or so), but I supplemented with formula. The first 4-5 days are painful (2nd and 3rd are the worst). After that I recovered really fast (was in class 10 days later). I have no pelvic floor damage, no problems going to the bathroom from day 2. I never took anything other than Motrin and and a little Tylenol for the pain and only for the first 10 days. Most of my friends had C sections and the relatives I have that had vaginal deliveries took longer to recover, could not use the bathroom without extreme pain for weeks, got 20-30 stitches, etc.
I don’t know if C sections are better, but in my case they were not bad at all

One of the actually supportive PPs here - I had no difference in when my milk came in with a vaginal delivery and a scheduled CS, and did not have to supplement with formula.

[Anonymous]

Another one of the supportive people here: my milk came in a little later than average, but not by much.

For me, breastfeeding was far more painful than the C-section. I kept at it, but it was excruciating for the first few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Mine was pretty bad but labor was a bit*** as well. I have the choice to choose vbac right now and I'm honestly not sure what to do. My first was breech presentation. I would do another c section in a heartbeat but I may want more children later. My husband jokes about having 11 kid's haha

[Anonymous]

C-sections are MAJOR ABDOMINAL surgery.

And recovery is maddening.

Who wants to recover from a major operation while caring for a colicky, demanding newborn......??

*crickets....*

It feels like a huge paper cut across your entire abdomen and you need to take painkillers for at least a few weeks.

You have to eat a liquid diet, then a soft diet before graduating to a regular diet.
Some Dr.s will not allow immediate post-birth showers.

Some people may get a fever shortly after birth while others may have some severe blood clotting as well.

After you are home, you are discouraged from even doing laundry tasks as you need to get plenty of rest so you can heal properly.

Rest.....??!
With a needy, fussy baby??
Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:C-sections are MAJOR ABDOMINAL surgery.

And recovery is maddening.

Who wants to recover from a major operation while caring for a colicky, demanding newborn......??

*crickets....*

It feels like a huge paper cut across your entire abdomen and you need to take painkillers for at least a few weeks.

You have to eat a liquid diet, then a soft diet before graduating to a regular diet.
Some Dr.s will not allow immediate post-birth showers.

Some people may get a fever shortly after birth while others may have some severe blood clotting as well.

After you are home, you are discouraged from even doing laundry tasks as you need to get plenty of rest so you can heal properly.

Rest.....??!
With a needy, fussy baby??
Lol.

Sorry, this was not my experience nor was it the experience of many of my friends who had c sections. Yes it is major abdominal surgery. Mine occurred after 26 hours of labor, followed by 2 hours of pushing, ending in major fetal distress. My body was in rough shape before I got to the operating room. C section was straightforward even so. I was relieved to have a healthy baby even in less than ideal circumstances. First day after WAS painful but not terrible once I was up and moving. I was allowed to eat normal that day with no restrictions. They gave me a belly binder for walking which helped immensely. Roughest part was getting in and out of bed and pooping (take lots of stool softner). By day 4 I was off pain meds except advil. I had no clotting issues and also did not have that much vaginal bleeding, was already onto small maxi pads. I could go on walks outside, etc. I was shocked how quickly I recovered. Was it without issue? No. No one heals quickly from birth. But I didnt have a choice like OP and the fear mongering on this thread is insane. I know the risks of a C and was hoping to avoid one but even with a surgical outcome it was fairly straightforward. Also not everyone will deal with a fussy colicky baby just like not everyone will have a horrible complicated c section. No terrible or good experience is a guarantee regardless of method of delivery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:C-sections are MAJOR ABDOMINAL surgery.

And recovery is maddening.

Who wants to recover from a major operation while caring for a colicky, demanding newborn......??

*crickets....*

It feels like a huge paper cut across your entire abdomen and you need to take painkillers for at least a few weeks.

You have to eat a liquid diet, then a soft diet before graduating to a regular diet.
Some Dr.s will not allow immediate post-birth showers.

Some people may get a fever shortly after birth while others may have some severe blood clotting as well.

After you are home, you are discouraged from even doing laundry tasks as you need to get plenty of rest so you can heal properly.

Rest.....??!
With a needy, fussy baby??
Lol.

And vaginal birth is major vaginal trauma and one of the hardest physical feats of a woman’s life. You are being nasty to OP, who has to have a section. Vaginal birth isn’t a cake walk and many people with schedule C sections have a different experience from what you are describing. Postpartum is hard for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:C-sections are MAJOR ABDOMINAL surgery.

And recovery is maddening.

Who wants to recover from a major operation while caring for a colicky, demanding newborn......??

*crickets....*

It feels like a huge paper cut across your entire abdomen and you need to take painkillers for at least a few weeks.

You have to eat a liquid diet, then a soft diet before graduating to a regular diet.
Some Dr.s will not allow immediate post-birth showers.

Some people may get a fever shortly after birth while others may have some severe blood clotting as well.

After you are home, you are discouraged from even doing laundry tasks as you need to get plenty of rest so you can heal properly.

Rest.....??!
With a needy, fussy baby??
Lol.

This wasn't at all my experience. Actually I think a lot of it is plain wrong. No idea where you are getting this liquid diet nonsense from, for instance.

My recovery was faster and easier than most of my friends who had vaginal birth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:C-sections are MAJOR ABDOMINAL surgery.

And recovery is maddening.

Who wants to recover from a major operation while caring for a colicky, demanding newborn......??

*crickets....*

It feels like a huge paper cut across your entire abdomen and you need to take painkillers for at least a few weeks.

You have to eat a liquid diet, then a soft diet before graduating to a regular diet.
Some Dr.s will not allow immediate post-birth showers.

Some people may get a fever shortly after birth while others may have some severe blood clotting as well.

After you are home, you are discouraged from even doing laundry tasks as you need to get plenty of rest so you can heal properly.

Rest.....??!
With a needy, fussy baby??
Lol.

This wasn't at all my experience. Actually I think a lot of it is plain wrong. No idea where you are getting this liquid diet nonsense from, for instance.

My recovery was faster and easier than most of my friends who had vaginal birth.

My experience was similar to the pp but but but I still want a repeat c section. I hated labor pain. I would do just about anything to avoid labor. All options suck! We need to come up with a way to grow our babies in an aquarium ladies!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:C-sections are MAJOR ABDOMINAL surgery.

And recovery is maddening.

Who wants to recover from a major operation while caring for a colicky, demanding newborn......??

*crickets....*

It feels like a huge paper cut across your entire abdomen and you need to take painkillers for at least a few weeks.

You have to eat a liquid diet, then a soft diet before graduating to a regular diet.
Some Dr.s will not allow immediate post-birth showers.

Some people may get a fever shortly after birth while others may have some severe blood clotting as well.

After you are home, you are discouraged from even doing laundry tasks as you need to get plenty of rest so you can heal properly.

Rest.....??!
With a needy, fussy baby??
Lol.

This wasn't at all my experience. Actually I think a lot of it is plain wrong. No idea where you are getting this liquid diet nonsense from, for instance.

My recovery was faster and easier than most of my friends who had vaginal birth.

My experience was similar to the pp but but but I still want a repeat c section. I hated labor pain. I would do just about anything to avoid labor. All options suck! We need to come up with a way to grow our babies in an aquarium ladies!

That made me laugh. At least you kept your sense of humor!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I tend to get quiet during birth experience stories because I had an amazing planned C, and I was so happy and thrilled with the experience that I feel bad talking about it with people who had much worse vaginal birth experiences.

I can't imagine what's "amazing" about having major surgery. Most people would choose not to do so. I wouldn't classify my vaginal birth as "amazing" but I was up and walking around the day after birth and I didn't have to stay in the hospital for 4 days to recover from surgery.

I am the PP who wrote that. Yes, amazing is the right word. For me, I had such a feeling of pure, incandescent joy after my scheduled C-section that lasted for hours and hours. I couldn't fall asleep for many hours afterwards because I was so thrilled. It sounds like you didn't experience what I've heard described as a "birth high," which is okay -- lots of women don't -- but it was a remarkable experience. I directly attribute it to the ease of my scheduled C-section. I had almost no pain: all I had was this deeply emotional feeling of happiness, which I could focus on because I wasn't feeling pain, and wasn't tired and exhausted. In terms of logistics, I was up walking the same day (later in the day) and went home 48 hours later. My pain was entirely managed -- I don't remember feeling almost any pain -- and by the end of the week I wasn't using any painkillers, not even ibuprofen. I breastfed for years afterwards.

But there's a lot of people who are really really invested in all C-sections being horrible awful experiences that women endure. I've found that they don't really want to hear about my positive birth experience with a scheduled C-section, so I keep pretty quiet about it. I also feel really sorry for women who have terrible birth experiences (vaginal or C-section), and it seems tacky to talk about how awesome mine was. I only really talk about it in anonymous places like DCUM, and even then, only when people like OP are asking for positive experiences.

Based on conversations I've had with other women who had scheduled C-sections, my experience seems pretty common. But we don't talk about it with anyone else.

I had a birth high after my marathon vaginal birth. It was amazing and I felt like I could climb a mountain. I was full of energy and felt great for about three days before my body was like, "ok, you need to take it easy now". I mostly don't talk about it because people expect three nights of early labor to be an awful birth experience.

[Anonymous]

I had an unplanned c-section and my recovery was very smooth. Never took anything other than extra-strength ibuprofen. It was a tough first week or two, but got better very quickly. Breastfed and milk came in well. There are lots of people with positive c-section and positive vaginal delivery stories, and lots with more negative experiences. Think positive, OP, if you're still out there!