Genuine Question - Natural or C-Section & Why??

[Samantha2]

What type of labour/delivery did you have?

1st - induction, laboured 14 hours - emergency c/section
2nd - planned vbac turned into planned c/section (medical reasons)

Was it what you planned? If not, why?

No, not at all. I wanted my babies naturally. I felt like I wasted so many peoples time and effort - particularly my own after labouring for 14 hours. I was so exhausted as it was a hard, full on labour from the start ( as was my DD) so neither of us got off to the best start.

The other major thing that got me down was after birth, I guess mainly the first few days. To hear my babies cry and know I couldn't jump up to grab them. To not be able to snuggle in bed with them as it was too uncomfortable for me to get into those positions. That was very hard - both times.

Did you/do you want to - do things differently in subsequent labours/deliveries? Why?

Yes, very differently. I would avoid induction at all cost, and the least amount of intervention I could.


Why did you choose to have a c-section?

I never felt I had a choice in either of my c/sections. The only two things in my childrens lives I honestly regret.

Why was a VBAC important to you?

I wanted to give my kids the best start at the beginning of their lives and for ME a c/section wasn't the way I wanted to start.

I also felt very pressured, though I don't know where from, to have a natural birth. I wonder if those who wanted a VBAC also felt this pressure?

The only pressure I have felt is from myself. I feel very much a failure as a woman and a mother that I couldn't do what supposedly we are supposed to do best.

To have carried a baby inside and nourish and protect it for 9 long months, to have them taken away from you at birth is a very hard thing to come to terms with. I don't think I will ever lose the feelings of emptiness both heart and arms once my children have been born. The pangs of jealousy when I read someones birth story haven't gotten any easier for me over the last 4 years.

So the pressure is all from within myself.

[Samantha2]

Originally Posted by manda83

Thankyou all so much for sharing your stories. I really do appreciate it. It certainly gives me alot to think about. I kinda feel that I was taken advantage of abit because I didn't educate myself more on different options during labour. I just went with anything that was suggested, thinking it was the best. If I get to experience birth again I will be doing things a hell of alot differently!


Keep sharing ladies!

Manda, I also think that even the most educated and strong women have problems feeling pressured in labour. When you are in so much pain, exhausted and sometimes scared it pays to have a good advocate there with you to help voice your opinions.

[LovetheChaos]

What type of labour/delivery did you have?
DS1: Natural after my waters broke, home the next morning
DD1: Natural after my waters broke, home after 4 hours.
DS2: Emergency CS after my waters broke and uneccessary intervention
DD2: Emergency CS after my waters broke and no progress.

Was it what you planned? If not, why?
DS and DD1 I wanted a natural delivery
DS2 I wanted natural but they tried to induce me after my waters had broken, my body and bub didn't like it and the result was an emergency c/s under general anaesthetic
DD2: My waters broke same as all my others but nothing happened, they wanted to try and induce me I refused i laboured on and off for over 24 hours with no progress, bubs heartrate dropped so I opted for another c/s they still treated it as an emergency though.

Did you/do you want to - do things differently in subsequent labours/deliveries? Why?
I wanted my third labour to be like my first two but it wasnt to be, then I tried to VBAC my DD2 but her safety was more important so I opted for the c/s. If I was to have another bub I would book in for a C/S from the get go. The birth of my DD2 was wonderful.

Why did you choose to have a c-section?

I sort of chose the c/s for my last bub, I could have kept trying for the vbac but i was exhausted and bub's hard dropped so low I was terrified I would lose her, it turned out that it was the best thing I could have done, it was the most wonderful experience and DH and I will cherish it forever. It was found that I had adhesions from the first c/s which made my bladder stick to my uterus which could have been one of the reasons I couldn't do the vbac.

Why was a VBAC important to you?

I really did want to try for a vbac with dd2 because I find it a beautiful natural experience, that you can jump up and do what needs to be done straight after!!

I also felt very pressured, though I don't know where from, to have a natural birth. I wonder if those who wanted a VBAC also felt this pressure?

I only felt that pressure from myself. Most people were shocked that I wanted to VBAC!!

Good luck xx

[TropicalMummy]

With DD, I was induced at 38 weeks because of pre eclampsia, but after 3 days of trying, induction failed, and she was in distress, my BP was sky high, so I was sent for an emergency C/S

With DS, I had an elective C/S for medical reasons. I have a condition that could affect me badly if something happened...and after talking to people (GP, OB, Neurosurgeon) I decided that the C/S was the best thing for me.

I have Zero regrets. My babies were born healthy and happy. They thrived. I had no problems bonding with them and I had no problems breastfeeding them at all.

[DeeJay]

What type of labour/delivery did you have?

1st - planned c-section at 39 weeks
2nd - planned c-section at 38 weeks


Was it what you planned? If not, why?

I went into the pregnancy thinking I'd most likely have a VB all going smoothly, but I had no real plan apart from go with my instinct and take on the advice I was given - but in the back of my mind I had a feeling that I'd not have easy pregnancies - and I was right. It became apparently when DD stuck transverse fairly early on and didn't move for about 12-13 weeks that a c-section was probable and I had absolutely no drama's with that - whatever was safest for the baby was fine with me. 2nd baby the OB gave me the option all going well to try for a VBAC, I wasn't keen and as it turned out another sideways baby so another c-section.


Did you/do you want to - do things differently in subsequent labours/deliveries? Why?

nope... I liked that I knew what I was in for, the pain for me both times was minimal and I had no desire to attempt a VB given my pregnancy concerns and history.

[b]I am VERY interested in those that CHOSE to have c-sections

wasn't really a choice at the end of the day so really can't answer that, but I did make the call early on that I wasn't going to try a VBAC with No 2. I'd been my sister's birth partner earlier in the year where she pushed for a VBAC (her 4th child) after having the first 2 natural and the 3rd by c-section - anyway, the 4th was a 19 hour labour (full-on) and the baby nearly didn't make it, the birth ended in an emergency c-section, and thankfully her DS is fine - but that really frightened me. I know it was one person, one experience but that was enough for me.


Why did you choose to have a c-section?

under advise, I have dodgey insides and the fact that I could carry a child (or two) was a miracle so when it was obvious I needed a c-section I had no regrets - it was the ONLY way my babies would be born safely.


Why was a VBAC important to you?

It wasn't at all important - I gave birth to my babies even though they came out of the sunroof -I had no longing for it, and the means by which they entered the world to me is such a small part that I don't even think about it

[cheekypuss]

What type of labour/delivery did you have?
Elective c/s for non medical reasons

Was it what you planned? If not, why?
It wasn't something I planned as such, it just became the only option left for me.

Did you/do you want to - do things differently in subsequent labours/deliveries? Why?
I have no regrets about my c/s. I guess I was extremely lucky as I was up walking around as if nothing had happened the next day, little to no pain, and was able to pick up DD whenever I wanted. I recovered extremely fast and I think that is why maybe I have no regrets.

With this pregnancy, I am swinging the other way completely, and am preparing myself for a vbac. The same way I felt I needed a c/s, is how I need this vbac.
Unbelievably, I have the same peole who have done nothing but criticise my choice of an elective c/s, are criticsing me for choosing a vbac.
Apparently I should just have another c/s, so Ihave gone from being a "sook", and "just getting out of it the easy way", to "not deserving a vbac because I chose a c/s last time" and "not having any idea of what I am in for".

Why did you choose to have a c-section?
At around 20 weeks, I started having somereal fears about my ability to have a vaginal birth. It seemed everywhere I looked, there was someone waiting to tell me a horror story about how their baby got stuck/they tore from front to back/ they ended up needing a c/s anyway and have never recovered from it since.
Then I had other people who wouldn't talk tome at all about childbirth, with smug smiles they said it was something I HAD to experience for myself.
By about 30 weeks, I was actually having panic attacks about the thought of giving birth naturally.
I researched elective c/s for non medical reasons, and went into my OB appointment armed and ready to do battle to get the c/s I needed to have. Apparently I was that well armed with knowledge and research, plus I wasn't afraid to ask a million questions, they said yes by the end of the appointment.

Why was a VBAC important to you?

A vbac will be important to me this time as I feel this will be my last child, and I do felt like I have missed out on something by having a vaginal birth.
I'm not scared of pain, I'm not stupid enough to think that with one giant push out comes a baby after a few minutes of tummy cramps.
It's just a feeling of something I have to accomplish in my life.
I am using a student doula to help me get my vbac, and I will be researching the a$$ out of this subject aswell.

Hope this has helped you a little.

[samiam]

Unbelievably, I have the same peole who have done nothing but criticise my choice of an elective c/s, are criticsing me for choosing a vbac.
Apparently I should just have another c/s, so Ihave gone from being a "sook", and "just getting out of it the easy way", to "not deserving a vbac because I chose a c/s last time" and "not having any idea of what I am in for".

unbelievable. What on earth gives other people the right to even say that to you???????

I hope very much that you achieve your VBAC.

[taranbubs]

What type of labour/delivery did you have?
Natural labour until emerg c section
VBAC

Was it what you planned? If not, why? The c section was not planned.. after 17 hours of labour she was deemed stuck... and a section was needed. The VBAC was very much planned. I worked bloody hard during his pregnancy to give myself the best chance.

Did you/do you want to - do things differently in subsequent labours/deliveries? Why?
I would love DS labour and birth all over again for this bubba. Why? Because it was perfect to me. Would I do DD differently.. my lord yes.. but I was young I trusted the doctors and didn't read enough. And thats exactly what I did do differently with DS. I was a wealth of knowledge and knew my body well.

Every limit that put on me during my pregnacy with DS I met it easily. I had to go into labour myself.. done.. I had to have him in perfect position.. done. I had to give birth under 6 hours.. nearly done I was 6 hours and 30 mins.. I had to have monitoring.. it wasn't that bad.. I did it all and easily.

Why was a VBAC important to you? Because to me it meant .. if I could have a VBAC I could give birth anywhere, it meant I was meant to be a mother via nature. It meant I could be there for my DD straight after having DS. It meant I had a better chance at b/feeding. It meant I had a birth story that wasn't filled with danger and scary moments. It meant my body was strong and built to give not only my children life.. but carrying them through to earth side.

I also felt very pressured, though I don't know where from, to have a natural birth. I wonder if those who wanted a VBAC also felt this pressure? Yes, from myself. I found my care providers were actually tottaly cool no matter what I choose. Some were 'go for a vbac you can do it' and others were 'it doesnt matter how it happens'. But to me.. it was everything.

The feeling of the VBAC is the most empowering and amazing thing I have ever felt. The high and the feeling that yes.. I am made to be his mother.. was and still is overwhelming. The look on my husband face when he said 'you did it!' and the way I got to be there for the small things that you miss out on during a c section were incredible. When someone asks 'did you have a natural birth with them' I can say yes for one and no for another. If I ended with a c section with DS I would've stopped and had no more children. It was sooo important to me to heal from DD birth which was scary and filled with stress and the only way I knew how to feel healed.. was to feel empowered.

I found it too easy to just say 'yes give me a c section' when I wanted a VBAC I had everyone telling me 'its dangerous' 'it wont work' 'maybe your body just cant give birth'..
When I WALKED down to see everyone with my baby.. I was gleaming with pride and a slight 'f%^& you' under my breathe.. there was never a moment during my birth I thought I couldnt do this.

Now pregnant with number 3.. I am so thankful everything went perfect with DS as it has opened up so many doors for this birth. DS was over 4 kilos... and DD was not. So as i watch doctors spew over this bubbas weight.. I can happily say ' Ive done it before move over doc.. I am going to do it again'

Good luck with your choice

[sansha]

Originally Posted by kristybarr

Ahhh, ok... Thought she was having a dig at public hospy's!! My bad!

No prob - I was just mentioning that I was able to easily choose CS as I was private, and it isn't as simple for those who go public. Most women I know who've gone public (not looking for a requested c-section though) were very pleased with their experience.

Regarding private hospitals, I will say I wasn't thrilled with the new Frances Perry.

[zeeeb]

What type of labour/delivery did you have? i had both my girls by c/s first because zoe was breech, 2nd because i chose to try for a vbac, had 24 hours of pre-labour and threw in the towel and asked them to cut me open, i should have never bothered with a vbac. (that's just me personally, everyone is different)

Was it what you planned? If not, why? neither were planned c/s

Did you/do you want to - do things differently in subsequent labours/deliveries? Why? i didn't feel bad about the c/s with zoe, it was a great experience. but i was curious about trying a real labour so decided on a vbac, shouldn't have bothered in hindsight, but i didn't know that til i got there, so i don't regret anything.



Also in hindsight, while i was waiting for my 2nd c/s i took a peek in my records from my first c/s and the information they didn't provide me at the time was that the cord was wrapped tightly around zoe's neck, so if i had have tried to be a hero and go natural instead of listening to the dr's and having the c/s, things could have turned out bad. all they told me is that she need a bit of oxygen so they are taking her to special care for a while (about an hour). so phew, that it all turned out rosy, 2 healthy perfect happy babies, minimal stress and minimal discomfort / recovery.