Is a C-section really that bad?

Vix-Christopher-16/10/2008 wrote:

Laliek,

There are women who will tell you they had a wonderful C-sec and no pain, they're either lying or they forgot the pain. I'm sorry but the recovery is sore.

I've had 2 C-sections, the first one wasn't too bad but it is very sore and the recovery is hard for the first week at least. Everytime you cough, laugh, sneeze etc you feel like your wound might just burst open and it's sore!

It makes it very difficult to bend over to bath/change baby in the first few days, you loose all control over your abdominal muscles so you have to use your arms to push up from chairs or beds, it's tough I'm not gonna lie but by 6w i had forgotten all about the pain and carried on with my life.

Before i found out i was having twins the second time i already knew i wanted a VBAC, not to be righteous or because i feel i 'missed out' on something but because i was sure the recovery of Natural birth was going to be much easier.

However i had to have a C-sec again. Now this time made me even more pro natural because i developed a clot on the wound at 2w, that was way more painful than the C-sec recovery. it doesn't happen to everyone but it is a potential issue to every C-sec recovery. I cried hard tears when that clot developed, it was one of the worst pains in my life.

so having had 2 C-sec and no naturals i would still say go natural if you can, you might have more discomfort at birth but you heal quicker which makes it more conducive to looking after a newborn.

Good luck with your descision

I think it differs from person to person. For me, I can remember it very clearly... and it really wasn't bad at all! I was preparing myself for the worst pain ever ( I had natural and ended up having an emergency c-section) But it was really not that sore... It is painful, but it heals quickly, I already got up walking the next morning, and was bending over and everything!

For getting back into shape, I didn't have a problem, again, everyone is different!
I will definitely want VBAC the next time.

Rely on your gut feeling and do what you feel most comfortable with! Don't let anyone scare you about it, just relax and do what you feel is best, after all you are the mom, so you know best!

Good luck

Lalie - fantastic on making your choice and its a pleasure you know me I am no nonsense kinda gal! I do agree with Vix on taking it easy though! prepare your husband beforehand with just how much help you are going to need. make meals for 1 week at least etc etc.

Laliek my story is much like Claire's in that I was prepared for it and in a good place about it. I had a very positive experience in general and dont regret how things turn out.

In the end its your choice and you have to be comfortable with it.
I would've liked to try for natural, but baby never turned so it was out of my hands and I was okay with that at the end. But I'd like to give natural a try next time if I can.

Thanks Vix and Julz! I'm also happy that I'm at peace now

Vix - I think with all the stories and I did check out the advice on c-sections thread you started I'm going to be well prepared!! I think I may just need extra luggage for what I'm planning on taking with to hospital lol

Oh and another great thing about having scheduled a c-section...I get to go on maternity leave two weeks earlier...bonus for some me-time before baba comes

Seriously though - thanks for the support and all the advice!

Laliek- I'm so pleased you made your dercision, it will make the whole experience a lot better if you're mentally prepared. If you're expecting it to be sore and you take your meds all the time you won't find it as bas as you expected. JUST please please take it easy afterwards, you might not feel much pain and you might feel spritely and energetic but being on pain meds means you won't feel IF something is sore for a reason. Our bodies react in pain as a warning to us not to do certain things but by blocking out the pain we put ourselves at risk of hurting further, I was sleeping so nicely one night, exhausted from the night feeds and pain free from the meds that when Alex woke for a feed I just jumped out of bed without thinking about it and I ripped the internal wound a little. That was as bad if not worse than the C-sec itself because the wound developed a haematoma and that if Fing sore, so please please please just take it easy for the first few weeks xxxxx Looking forward to seeing you next month xxxxx oh bugger that reminds me I still need to RSVP......bad bad buddy!!!!! Oh and check out the thread for advice for C-sec, there are a few handy tips not to be missed in there!

Claire- I'm so pleased your C-sec recovery hasn't been as bad as you thought! Like I said to you when you were here by me, yes it's going to be sore but if you go into it knowing that it might actually not be THAT bad. Just keep taking it easy friend, it was about 10 days after that I started to feel great and that's when I over did it. Remember you're not superwoman, you're allowed to let the housework slide and put wifely duties on hold what DH wouldn't love you even more after you bore him such an adorable son Can't wait to see you too, hope it's soon!

Further than that I don't have much more to say except that yes it's a healthy baby that matters and not how he/she entered the world, no one will ask them how they were born when at that important job interview, as long as YOU are happy with your choice, just make sure it's an informed one that's all.

Oh yeah, and I'm glad I don't have to have any more kids or C-secs

Laliek I wish you a wonderful birth. Not long to go. xxx

Claire thanks for your birth story. It sounds so precious and I am pleased that you have your little boy in your arms at last. x

Claire I was really hoping you'd post actually!! So glad you did.

I believe your quite right (about the mindset and being positive before hand) it also seems to me that the majority of ladies that had bad experiences with c-sections was either the ones who had emergency or really didn't want a c-section. I still think a natural birth is great though but I've made a personal decision and decided to go the c-section route and so far I feel alot more at ease after making that choice

Thanks to all the ladies that posted - it really is great to see how everyone reacts differently and I'll definitely take a few tips here