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female
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anonymous
writes: Hi, I am 6 months pregnant and may need to have a c-section to deliver my baby. I am wanting other womans opinions on their experiences with both c-section and natural births. Thanks for any help you can give me. Reply to this Question
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female
reader, carebear  +, writes (3 June 2006):
 Have you had your baby yet? hope it went well the only thing I can safley say is it is worth it all in the end and this is when all the hard work starts (lol)
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female
reader, mumtotwo +, writes (31 May 2006):
Hi, I am a mum of two. My first, Thomas, was a emergency section in Basingstoke hospital. The experience was very upsetting for myself I went into natural first stage of labour on the 3rd of may and spent 3 days on a ward crammed full off women in labour in the same room as me. Didnt much like it as my partner at the time was working so couldnt visit as he wanted to keep all his maternity leave for the baby.But 3 days later my fetal readings showed baby was in distress with every contraction and so i was immediatley rushed into thearte. But i will say that although this was very upsetting they realised this and i actually got to see my son being born as they pulled the curtain down so i could see....... it was brilliant ! ! ! ! ! i recommened this as you dont really feel as if you missed natural atall.My second son, Alfie, was born a month early via c-section due to severe pre-eclampsia so although it wasnt planned this way i was consulted so i knew i was having c-section and i actually thought this was worse as i knew the pain after c-section and cocktails of drugs you need to take and the bed washes. . . and i couldnt wait to leave hospital this time ( but that could be due to having baby on isle of wight).
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female
reader, willywombat +, writes (16 March 2006):
 I would just like to add that, if this is your first birth then do not panic reading about the previous replies. It is absolutely normal to be scared but I also feel your should be fully informed about your choices. You do not say why you may need to ahve a surgical intervention, but I strngly recommend you get many opinions from your health care providers and then make your own judgement.x
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female
reader, Italie +, writes (15 March 2006):
 When my son was delivered I'd had a spinal block so couldnt sit up. I also had cannulas and tubes in the back of my right hand and in my left arm. They delivered him and placed him on my chest but I couldnt move to cuddle him or touch him. I cant say if this is the procedure for all sections or not but I didnt get to hold him for a while.
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female
reader, mystify +, writes (15 March 2006):
 i had 2 children both natural, i was allowed to hold them bothstraight after the birth, but as awful as it seems i just wanted to pass them to their daddy and curl up ina ball of pain, admittadly my birth ( iam told) seemed like and extra prolonged painful one, but i am still confused as to why the docters let me carry on for so long , in so much pain. at least with my first , i was so out of it on drugs, 5 epidurals, pethidine, tens , gas & air! im sure i should of had a cesarean, i was in labour 33 hours!
but my second i was lucky to make it to the hospital , it has midnight on a sunday my waters broke and hour later i gave birth to my baby, it was way more painful than the first and the drugs didnt have time to take effect, also the prehistoric nightime midwife made me lie on my back and was horrified at the suggestion that i may find it easier and more comfortable to change posistion
also a ntural birth dosent guarentee a faster healing , with my first i couldnt go to the toilet with out a bath for 7 weeks,
im not trying to put you off but noone prepared me for this all of this, do your research , get your own birth plan written up and do what feels right , yes both my beautiful babies were worth it (by a long shot) but both a natural and a cesarean birth are hard , some natural births can be easier, but its all individual and personal.
good luck and best wishes x
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reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2006): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThank you for your responses ladies. It is still not 100% whether I will have to have a c-section or not and I think at the end it will be my choice mainly anyway. I would not want to have a general as I would want to be a part of the experience (not just have it done to me) and I want to be able to see my baby straight away. Will they let me hold my baby immediately after like they do with natural births? I want this more than anything. Thanks again.
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female
reader, teraze +, writes (14 March 2006):
hello iam a mum of four the first three were completely natural each time i swore id have pain relief but always left it to late but afterwards iam glad i didnt as the pain had gone as soon as the baby arrived,unfortunately due to placenta previa i needed a section with my fourth baby i was booked in for a planed section but went into lobour early so i had an emergency section ,i opted to be put to sleep but i do believe if id been awake the pain relief afterwards would have been much better due to having an epidural as it was cos i was asleep i didnt have any pain relief and woke up in agony ,but it was short lived because by the next day i was able to walk and come home
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2006): i have had two children, both times i went through the labour and had to have an emergency section, the first time i had to be put out as i had been having pains for over 24 hours and i could not take anymore, the second i opted to stay awake, it was very scary but worth the experience, i wish i had stayed awake for my daughter. The c-section is not as bad as i had imagined, the worst is you cannot do much for a few weeks.
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female
reader, Italie +, writes (14 March 2006):
HI. I had my son by elective c-section as I'm Diabetic and he was breach. I was relieved at the time because I knew it was going to be at 9 o'clock in the morning and I could be organised. I dont like the thought of going to the shops and ending up in labour!
I'd say it was definitely not an easy option. I have never been in an operating theatre before and it quite scared me how clinical it all was. I was in quite a lot of pain for around 2 months after and it was hard as I really wanted to be rolling about on the floor with my new baby but could barely stand up. Then there was the nuisance of not being able to drive for 6 weeks (insurance restriction).
I know there is a lot of pain involved in natural births but the pain goes when the baby arrives. With a C-section the pain just starts when the baby arrives.
I also dont like the thought that I'll never experience the feeling of natural childbirth which is fundamentally why we are all here.
I had problems bonding with my son. In ante-natal classes they really emphasised the natural birth and immediate skin contact as a major factor in bonding. Obviously I cant say definitively that the section played a part in that but I have my suspicions.
No two people have the same experience and if your hospital is anything like mine they will only offer a c-section if it's really necessary anyway (sections cost the NHS a LOT more than natural birth) in which case you should take their advice. No point in being stubborn about which way you want to do it if it increases any risks.
I hope it all goes well for you either way.
xx
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female
reader, willywombat +, writes (14 March 2006):
I had a difficult pregnancy and had placenta praevia grade 2. As a result I had to have a c-section. But because I have worked as a theatre nurse I chose to have it under general anaesthetic which is an option but only if you are prepared to push for it. I was, and this is total honesty, to scared to have a spinal because of an experience I have witnessed in the past which has stayed with me. BUT, and this isnt a reason for you not to have one....very spinal I have seen since has gone really well.
Because my son had some unepected complications he was transfered to a local specialist kids hospital to have an op at 1 day old. I was recovering in the other. But I got myself up and walking (albeit v slowly!) less than 24 hours after the operation as I was determined to get to see him.
Anyhow, to cut a long story short, I have spoken to many friends who have had both vaginal delivery and c-section births and most say they would opt for the vaginal over a c-sec anytime. But they all had emergency ones. I on the other hand had a plannned c-section and it went extremely well. Yes there was pain afterwards but this is to be expected as it is major abdominal surgery, but it isnt anyhting that cannot be controlled. And with a new baby you will be amazed how quickly you will get better and not feel it!
Just do not expect to much of yourself after you ahve a c-section cos it takes a while to get back to normal. But if it is planned as opposed to emergency you will recover more quickly as your body has not had the trauma of labour to go thru first.
Good luck. x
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female
reader, smeedle +, writes (14 March 2006):
 If you need a c-section then it is because this is what is best for you and your baby.
My sister recently had a baby by c-section after 36 hours in labour and sheer exhastion, unfortunatly she had to have an emergency c-section due to the shape of her pelvis the baby just would not come out.
She was a little sore but she still managed to breast feed and recovered well, she is planning another child and is not worried that she will have to have another c-section.
I had my baby naturally, but due to toximia I had to be induced, the labour was long and I had an epidural which as addison commented makes it longer but relatively pain free.
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female
reader, addison +, writes (14 March 2006):
 I have had two children, both by natural birth. One with and one without drugs. I can tell you honestly, it does hurt without drugs, but it was quick. The pain doesnt last long and is so worth it. The one i had an epidural and gas with actually lengthened the labour but was relatively pain free. I wouldnt give up the chance for a natural birth if I had a choice. The one without drugs was great. After she was born there was no pain, no wounds..my god..i got up and walked around the room!!
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