First time pregnancy - elective c-section or natural birth

Yech, having delivered naturally twice and one c-section, I would opt for natural every time. After natural, I was up and about almost immediately - and back to walking with my baby and losing the baby weight within a week. After c-section, I could barely hold my babies, couldn't really walk by myself even to the loo, it was horrible. Why anyone would opt to have their stomache cut open, all those muscles sliced - is beyond me.

I would suggest you go for a natural delivery with a planned epidural. Have some classes before or hire a doula so you are well prepared. I think fear of the unknown is a big factor in first time deliveries. Personally, I have had 2 planned c/sections for medical reasons. While I do not wish to feel the pain of a long labour, let me tell you that a c/section post op is not a walk in the park!!! After my first baby, the pain was manageable and I only needed 1 injection for pain. But then I started having sciatic pain which lasted 6 weeks - it was agonizing and very difficult to walk. My 2nd c/ section was terrible. I had a reaction to the medications they gave me, resulting in crushing chest pain, I felt like I was going to die. Then I haemorraged, Hb was 7. I had severe post-op pain and was bruised from my navel to the top of my thighs. Then a few of the staples pulled through the incision..... It really was a mess. I needed regular pain relief for a long time and to be honest, it affected the bonding with my 2nd baby. So while I have nothing against either way of delivering, I think it is more sensible to try to have a natural delivery first, then if it does not work out, have a c/section. Unfortunately, you are going to feel some pain, whether it is during delivery or after. There is no escaping it I'm afraid. I also know of a few women who have had infected c/section wounds. So both have their risks, but your recovery time is quicker with a normal delivery. You can't even exercise for the first 3 months after a c/section. Also consider how many children you want to have. Remember that when your 2nd comes along, your 1st still demands to be picked up, held, jumps on you etc. Good luck with your decision.

I had a scheduled c-section due to my baby's position, it was technically an "elective" as i could have tried for a labour (it wasn't as clear-cut as a breech where very very few Drs will support you trying for a natural) but there would have been risks for my baby with trying and a very high chance it would have ended in a c-section anyway so I made the call to go straight to a c-section.. If not due to medical reasons then electives are generally because women don't want to go through the pain of a labour. I've only had a c-section not a vaginal birth so can't compare but I would say that a "good" section can have a faster recovery than a "bad" birth, so its always a gamble. My c-section was very straight forward, and i had no pain for 24 hours, then some pain for a few days, then very little pain by the time I was home. I could bend down and do loads of washing, cook, walk upstairs etc all without discomfort by the time I was home from hospital (4 days post birth). I did have some pain when coughing or laughing for a few weeks though and you are not allowed to lift anything heavy for 6 weeks incase you do damage to your internal stitches, I would compare it to the pain of having a sprained ankle, but for about twice as long. From talking to people, the intensity of pain of a c-section is generally less than a vaginal birth, but the downside is that many women have the natural birth experience and then very little pain afterwards, whereas with a c-section you have to put up with a level of pain for a longer time. If you were only going to have one baby ever, then painwise an elective might make sense to you, but if you plan on having a few children then there are other things to think about. Some Drs are not supportive of you having a natural birth after a previous c-section, and a c-section for second, third children has additional issues. I am hoping for a natural birth this time around purely because I now have a 2 year old to look after and therefore can't avoid the heavy lifting, I'll need to sqat, bend, wrestle, chase, carry and cuddle from the day I get back from hospital and having just had a c-section would definitely make this difficult. Sometimes a c-section is safer for the baby, but in a normal uncomplicated pregnancy, its actually riskier, and also many middle eastern hospitals have old fashioned policies which mean that mothers and babies are separated after the birth, which has been shown to reduce the odds of breastfeeding going well. So tempting as it might seem, probably not the best idea to go for an elective c-section.

Hi Proudmama, I saw from your earlier post you were with Dr. Britt at City? I am also seeing her - did the epidural hurt when they gave it to you, and sorry to ask but did the stitches heal up ok? Just my sister in law had an awful drama with her stitches, they had to be re-done a few times and she was in so much pain... Sorry for the personal question - hope you are not offended For the epidural, not really. the pain was just for a second:) the anesthesiologist was really good. I had no problems afterwards, and I managed to pee 2 hours later:) my stitches healed up fine. They gave me some voltaren which i took for a few days then stopped. Dr. Britt saved me from a potential c-section and stitched me up so neatly:) love her..I had a stressful pregnancy and delivery and she was so good to me, so cannot stop praising her!

I had natural birth with my two children, and thanks to the care I received, I only had a few stitches each time, and mind you, my last one was 4 kilo baby! I had an amazing doctor who delivered my baby safely with only a few stitches:)) I cannot say anything about C-section, but i do know that you heal faster with natural delivery ( I was driving 2 days after delivery:)) C-section however is an operation..As for delivery pain, you can always have an epidural ( it is a god send) I had my first without an epidural and gush that was painful!!

Hi Masafi Mum, This is also my first baby and heard some scary labour stories but also heard lovely stories too. I'm hoping to choose a natural birth if everything goes to plan and if I'm in so much pain and can't handle it then I'll do the epidural injection.