Did anyone here have a scheduled, elective c-section and would not do it again?

[Anonymous]

I think if I have a second I'm not trying to VBAC. I had an unplanned but not emergency c section when my son simply wouldn't come out (he was slightly angled and wouldn't come out). I don't want to go through that again. I was exhausted from being in labor for 2 days and from pushing and then had to have the surgery anyway. It sucked.

[Anonymous]

I had 3 c-sections. The first one was advised by the doctor for various reasons, but considered "elective." I have mixed feelings. My OBs never thought 3 c-sections was a problem, and after the 3rd they told me things looked ok that I could have a 4th if I wanted to (we are done!). However, some people would be advised not to have a 4th depending on how the uterus is looking.

I recovered the easiest from my first c-section, although at times I did regret having it, as it left me few choices about the next two. I considered vbac for my second, but because of circumstances unique to me, I was advised against it. After my second, I had a lot of core strength issues and physical pain. We discovered in my 3rd surgery, I had a lot of adhesions from scar tissue inside from the previous surgeries. During the 3rd surgery they were actually able to fix some adhesions, and I have felt better since the 3rd!

I think at the end of the day birth is risky no matter what route you choose. I had 3 scheduled c-sections, and the recovery and experience during was different for each. You can be left with long term issues from both types of birth, and there is just no way of really predicting. I have heard horrible stories, like you, of vaginal births, but then I know people where the baby basically slid out and they had much easier recoveries and less lasting issues than in a c-section.

[Anonymous]

I have had 4 quick vaginal births. I almost ended up with c section the last time. I told the doctor, if I need a c section, please don't delay it.
In the end the baby turned last minute.

My mom had horrific tearing resulting in multiple surgeries to fix it and has no feeling in in the vaginal area. To me nothing is worth that risk and if I wasn't such a proven quick laborer I would do planned Cs.

[Anonymous]

My c-sections weren't bad at all. I had a failed induction the first time and then scheduled my second. Recovery was fine both times.

[Anonymous]

Something you have to consider is the possibility of other surgeries in the future. Each surgery in the same general area is progressively riskier.

There are studies that show that outcomes for vaginal deliveries are better than those of c sections, and c sections have adverse impacts on the baby as well so you can check those out too.

Whoever said that not all c sections have a difficulty recovery is wrong. You have to lay down a lot to recover which is hard regardless but especially with a newborn.

I had two c sections and no vaginal births. I had reasons to have a c section but I could have tried harder for vaginal but since everything was fine and I don’t know what the outcome of vaginal would have been, I don’t regret my choices.

For somebody who has good medical care, your odds of having a good outcome at heigh in both scenarios.

[Anonymous]

I had 3 vaginal births (the last one was twins). My second was unmedicated and was by far the easiest recovery--although going through the experience hurt like crazy. No tears. I have a small amount of inconentinence with the twins when I jump or sneeze, but all and all I think I was pretty blessed with everything.

I bring up the above just to show that sometimes vaginal deliveries turn out ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something you have to consider is the possibility of other surgeries in the future. Each surgery in the same general area is progressively riskier.

There are studies that show that outcomes for vaginal deliveries are better than those of c sections, and c sections have adverse impacts on the baby as well so you can check those out too.

Whoever said that not all c sections have a difficulty recovery is wrong. You have to lay down a lot to recover which is hard regardless but especially with a newborn.

I had two c sections and no vaginal births. I had reasons to have a c section but I could have tried harder for vaginal but since everything was fine and I don’t know what the outcome of vaginal would have been, I don’t regret my choices.

For somebody who has good medical care, your odds of having a good outcome at heigh in both scenarios.

The bolded part is not correct - these studies didn't differentiate between emergency CS (hey, something IS already wrong before CS) and planned ones. If you separate out planned ones they are much safer for both mom and baby.

And you are wrong PP - it's possible to have an easy recovery from a planned CS - I know because I did. Mine was purely elective, no underlying issues that necessitated it. I was up and about from day 2, by the time we went home on day 4 - I could care for the baby OK, and had abdominal discomfort only in certain cases (e.g. taking stairs). I chose to stay in the hospital for 4 days because that's what insurance covered, could have gone home earlier but didn't want to. And my insurance had zero issues coding it and covering fully, despite "elective" , non-medically prescribed CS.

[Anonymous]

I had an elective C for my second due to PTSD from my first birth which required an emergency C section. In contrast, the planned C section was so calm and quick, and I have no regrets. I also knew I was done with pregnancy and wasn't giving birth again, so the multiple C section risk wasn't a concern. I had a tubal ligation as part of the same procedure.

[Anonymous]

I had one emergency and one planned c-section. The recovery was fine both times, although obviously I can't compare with vaginal delivery. My OBGYN said I can have another one without worry, it's at the 4th c-section when the risks are elevated.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I did with my second. Don’t regret it one bit.

I didn’t want to attempt VBAC. The c-section for my first was unplanned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Something you have to consider is the possibility of other surgeries in the future. Each surgery in the same general area is progressively riskier.

There are studies that show that outcomes for vaginal deliveries are better than those of c sections, and c sections have adverse impacts on the baby as well so you can check those out too.

Whoever said that not all c sections have a difficulty recovery is wrong. You have to lay down a lot to recover which is hard regardless but especially with a newborn.

I had two c sections and no vaginal births. I had reasons to have a c section but I could have tried harder for vaginal but since everything was fine and I don’t know what the outcome of vaginal would have been, I don’t regret my choices.

For somebody who has good medical care, your odds of having a good outcome at heigh in both scenarios.

The bolded part is not correct - these studies didn't differentiate between emergency CS (hey, something IS already wrong before CS) and planned ones. If you separate out planned ones they are much safer for both mom and baby.

And you are wrong PP - it's possible to have an easy recovery from a planned CS - I know because I did. Mine was purely elective, no underlying issues that necessitated it. I was up and about from day 2, by the time we went home on day 4 - I could care for the baby OK, and had abdominal discomfort only in certain cases (e.g. taking stairs). I chose to stay in the hospital for 4 days because that's what insurance covered, could have gone home earlier but didn't want to. And my insurance had zero issues coding it and covering fully, despite "elective" , non-medically prescribed CS.

Does this take into account moms safety long term or just for the delivery in question? My understanding is that any c-section (planned or otherwise) raises the chances for uterine rupture, placental accretia, and other major complications in subsequent pregnancies, as well as the risk of miscarriage. So it maybe safer for this baby and this birth but it doesn’t seem to be overall safer for the mother if she plans to have more children.

[Anonymous]

I had two breech babies and two scheduled c-sections as a result. Both had easy recoveries. I do have a tiny section of my abdomen near my scar that is numb but it’s fine. And some women get a c-section pouch. Bonus though is that I don’t pee when I laugh like a lot of my friends!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something you have to consider is the possibility of other surgeries in the future. Each surgery in the same general area is progressively riskier.

There are studies that show that outcomes for vaginal deliveries are better than those of c sections, and c sections have adverse impacts on the baby as well so you can check those out too.

Whoever said that not all c sections have a difficulty recovery is wrong. You have to lay down a lot to recover which is hard regardless but especially with a newborn.

I had two c sections and no vaginal births. I had reasons to have a c section but I could have tried harder for vaginal but since everything was fine and I don’t know what the outcome of vaginal would have been, I don’t regret my choices.

For somebody who has good medical care, your odds of having a good outcome at heigh in both scenarios.

So much of this is bullshit fear mongering. I had super easy recoveries, no problems caring for my kids. They’re both perfectly healthy and super smart!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Something you have to consider is the possibility of other surgeries in the future. Each surgery in the same general area is progressively riskier.

There are studies that show that outcomes for vaginal deliveries are better than those of c sections, and c sections have adverse impacts on the baby as well so you can check those out too.

Whoever said that not all c sections have a difficulty recovery is wrong. You have to lay down a lot to recover which is hard regardless but especially with a newborn.

I had two c sections and no vaginal births. I had reasons to have a c section but I could have tried harder for vaginal but since everything was fine and I don’t know what the outcome of vaginal would have been, I don’t regret my choices.

For somebody who has good medical care, your odds of having a good outcome at heigh in both scenarios.

The bolded part is not correct - these studies didn't differentiate between emergency CS (hey, something IS already wrong before CS) and planned ones. If you separate out planned ones they are much safer for both mom and baby.

And you are wrong PP - it's possible to have an easy recovery from a planned CS - I know because I did. Mine was purely elective, no underlying issues that necessitated it. I was up and about from day 2, by the time we went home on day 4 - I could care for the baby OK, and had abdominal discomfort only in certain cases (e.g. taking stairs). I chose to stay in the hospital for 4 days because that's what insurance covered, could have gone home earlier but didn't want to. And my insurance had zero issues coding it and covering fully, despite "elective" , non-medically prescribed CS.

Oh thanks for that info! I hadn’t realized that.

I did come across this study, showing that the women who had c-sections before labor, after the age of 35, had significantly worse outcomes than those who had vaginal births. Also, babies born vaginally get benefits thar babies born via c section don’t. https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/everything-pregnancy/babies-born-via-c-section-do-better-if-mom-labors-first/

But my main point is that overall you are likely to be fine either way.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cesarean-section-complication-risk-rises-mother-s-age-study-finds-n993611

And about recovery: I guess we just have different definitions of what’s hard. I found it hard to take care of a baby when I had a big wound in my abdomen and had to lay down a lot (even though yes I too was walking around on day 2), and my body does not agree with narcotics so that sucked. People who I knew who had vaginas deliveries recovered quicker, generally speaking. I don’t think it’s a huge deal, but I think somebody should give off the impression that recovering from major abdominal surgery is easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Something you have to consider is the possibility of other surgeries in the future. Each surgery in the same general area is progressively riskier.

There are studies that show that outcomes for vaginal deliveries are better than those of c sections, and c sections have adverse impacts on the baby as well so you can check those out too.

Whoever said that not all c sections have a difficulty recovery is wrong. You have to lay down a lot to recover which is hard regardless but especially with a newborn.

I had two c sections and no vaginal births. I had reasons to have a c section but I could have tried harder for vaginal but since everything was fine and I don’t know what the outcome of vaginal would have been, I don’t regret my choices.

For somebody who has good medical care, your odds of having a good outcome at heigh in both scenarios.

So much of this is bullshit fear mongering. I had super easy recoveries, no problems caring for my kids. They’re both perfectly healthy and super smart!

Oh please. This is not bullshit fear mongering. I too had two c sections that went fine, I don’t regret them, and I specifically said that both vaginal deliveries and planned c sections have good outcomes so both are fine. There are just some positives and negatives to consider.