My body after birth c-section vs normal...?

RM I agree, most people get stuck on the plan and when things don't go according to the plan, you feel like you loose control and its a downward spiral from there.

That is the most wonderfull gift I got from the hypnobirthing classes. Control. Most of you followed my birth story, so I'm not going to repeat it all. But I would like to tell you how HB helped me.

I did not feel threatened when the monitor showed that baby was in distress, I knew my options and I knew that I would choose to have a safe, calm baby rather than a distressed one. The gyni suggested that we rupture membranes (break water) to check for meconium. I agreed as this could give me a second indication of distress. There was meconium. My gyni gave me the option of staying on the monitor for another 20 mins to see if baby calms down instead of rushing off to do a section.

I was calm and relaxed, I knew that I would embrace my baby, regardless of the way I birthed her. Then she calmed down, no more distress. And I chose to go on with a natural birth.

Being adaptable and knowledgable helped me stay in control of my body and the birth process.

Have a plan, because failing to plan is planning to fail. But be open minded and calm about other possibilities. Discuss your preferances with your care provider prior to the birth so that there is less chance for miscommunication during the process. Be clear and specific about what you want, yes, he is the doctor, but you are paying him a lot of money to do this. And if he refuses let you try to have the birth of your choice, go to someone else.

Personally I would not elect to have a c-section. But in SA it is your choice to make.

My body returned to normal almost instantly. I did tear a little with both my births, but it healed within 6 days and did not restrict me from doing anything I wanted to do. I was driving 3 days after the birth and my 16 month old son could carry on using my body as a jungle gym just the way he did before the birth. I was back in size 32 about 4 days after the birth. My vjj shows no signs of having birthed two babies and sex was back to normal as soon as the bleeding stopped.

Reluctant Mom wrote:

I think a lot of moms are so fixated on the plan, and when it does not go to plan, then they feel that it was a bad experience or that they were short changed or or or ..... when it actual fact it was just a change in the plan ..... not good, not bad .... just a change.

RM, 100% agree!

It's one of the reason we refer to the 'birth plan' as birth preferences' in HB, that you need to be prepared for any eventuality and that HypnoBirthing is not all about the birth, the benefits through pregnancy are as important and the aim is actually to remain calm and in control througout your birth experience whatever turn the birth might take.
It is hard though because statistically only around 5% of women fall in to that emergency or high risk catagory but you still need to be realistic.

I love to use the analogy that preparing for your birth is a bit like prparing for your wedding day, you can spend a year planning that to make sure it is perfect, occasionally things don't go to plan, it is disappointing but would you have put less effort into the planning? You have much less time to prepare for your birth but the effort is almost always worth it - you can't go back and do it again! (for that baby anyway!)

Good Luck with your decision carla, it is always a tough one. i had 2 elective C-Sections and am quite pro ceaser. However I have always regretted not trying to go natural and now even with the amazing developments regarding VBACs these days it is probably something that I will never experience because most doctors are unwilling to risk a VBA2C. My Babies were fine after the cesearians, I was fine, had almost no pain. Just a jelly tummy for a while and I was quite swollen and had bad nausea on the first day. The cut did not prevent me from picking up my baby, bathing her or breastfeeding her in hospital or the same with my son. It also didn't prevent me from carrying my 3 year old toddler around although I did give it a few days. My cut healed very quickly and you can almost not see it now. I hardly even needed painkillers. I got out of bed and took a shower on my own the minute the drip came out which was the evening of the birth. I was stiff but managed. Next morning was much better and I was sitting cross legged on the bed B/Feeding when my Gynie walked in and announced "Did you not just have major abdominal surgery??"

Go with your Gut, it's the best indicator.

Good luck Carla - good to go in to it with an open mind, being optimisic about the event, but carrying a healthy dose of scepticism (which I like to call realism) as well.

I think many of the moms have echo'd that you go in with a plan, prepare for the plan, but try to accept that sometimes that plan is not going to work out.

I think a lot of moms are so fixated on the plan, and when it does not go to plan, then they feel that it was a bad experience or that they were short changed or or or ..... when it actual fact it was just a change in the plan ..... not good, not bad .... just a change.

When is your due date?

Someone also suggested that if you feel that you would prefer a c-section, wait until you go into labour and then elect a c-section, however this might have risks and most OGBYN's are not going to totally love this idea.

Good luck.

Thank you to everyone who shared their own (and I respect very personal) opinions and experiences.

I really do understand that it is a choice that only i will be able to make, but the choice for me becomes easier to make if i take all possible outcomes into consideration. I just feel more in control that way. (misconception, i know)

I have discussed my feelings with DH and he's sooooo supportive. He actually just wants me to cherish the experience and be happy with my decision, but understands my concerns - do i choose c-section and strugle with a major surgical wound for a few weeks, or do i choose normal with no real certainty of the outcome.

So decision at this stage will be to keep our elective C-Section date and should anything happen before then, I will deal with it as it happens.

The decision can only be yours..

Having had a painful and traumatic natural birth where I ended with a 2nd degree tear and an episiotomy which was just horrific, followed by a totally pain-free, drug-free birth without even a graze I can say that you can't just 'decide' to go natural, you do need to prepare yourself mentally (releasing fear and tension) and physically (by this I mean pelvic floor exercises and perineal massage which significantly reduces the risk of tearing)

For me (personally) I would still still have chosen the 12 stitches 'down there' to having my abdominal wall and uterus cut open!

With regards to your body afterwards, a natural birth gives you faster recovery every time.. But it also takes determination and work, I used pilates almost daily..This was me within 6 months of my 2nd baby
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Hi, I had both:

First was a natural birth at 40 weeks, induction and episiotomy (VERY TRAUMATIC). Felt extremely proud of myself for giving birth naturally. Felt great afterwards (like immediately got off bed and off to bath) BUT the episiotomy was not only very sore, it also left an emotional scar and did not want sex for a long long time.

Which is why I opted for C-sec 2nd time around. Not as dignified as I thought it was going to be, not as fast as I hoped it would be. I got this horrible creepy feeling in my arms when I lay on the table WAITING for the dr. Also felt extremely nauseous afterwards and could not hold my beautiful daughter for a few hours The pain was bearable. Dont get me started on a drip! Not being able to move from your bed is the pits. But it is over soon enough.

So my ideal birth scenario would be natural birth at an active birth unit like Genesis Clinic with a very capable midwife. Gynaes tend to rush you and are quick to induce and CUT.

Hope this helps. Good luck