Natural or C-section?

I am 23, and i am in my second pregnancy. i had a c-section with my first son, who was 8 1/2 lbs. my doctors want to schedule a c-section automatically for the birth of this child. i am very conflicted about whether to try a natural chilbirth this time. I'm terrified that a natural birth of a child the same size as my son will permanently change my body. At the same time, i can remember the excruciating pain after the surgery, and i dont know which is the lesser of two evils. any advice?

[little_princess134]

i had a cection for my first child who a 1lb light then ur one. for my second one they booked me in for a cection but told me i could try for naturally..in the end i went a week over and had to have the cection..my child weighed over 10lb..lol.. i am pregnant again and have been told i can have this one naturally too by my doctor so im goin to try naturally again..as easy as a cection is i felt i missed out of what it feels like to actually have a child :( its entirelly up to you but a cection can do more damage to your body as it is major surgery. x

[mol6541]

I think it is a decision that should be made between you and your dr. I had am emergency csection with my last pregnancy .... Wish I would have been awake for my daughters birth. When we found out I was pregnant again we discussed a vbac or another csection. The dr thought at the time I would be a good candidate for a vbac. Was at the dr yesterday and I am 23 wks. They think I should go ahead and have a csection. I have gestational diabetes so baby can be big. My daughter was 7 lbs 14 ozs.

You have to do what is best for you and baby.  We are hoping with this little boy that his delivery will be less tramatic then my daughters birth

[Clysta]

Vaginal delivery is what the female body was made to do. 8 1/2 pounds is easily done, and women naturally can birth a baby that's 10 pounds. C-sections are a major surgery and there are many risks involved including a longer recovery. Having children changes your body no matter the route you choose. My own daughter was 6 pounds 12 ounces and there's a definite change but I'd never choose to have a c-section. I was completely healed in two weeks and moving the day I had her. Was your first an elective or medically needed?

[RockRose]

Clysta,  before C-sections women routinely died in childbirth,  and I would have died delivering my 7 pound 3 ounce boy.  It's not true that everyone can deliver a healthy 8.5 pound child.  When my child was finally delivered,  the impressions on his skull from pressing against my pelvis left a perfect ring - I could have delivered probably a 3 pounder or less.

Luvu,  having had 3 c sections,  I can say each one is different somehow.  I two that were a breeze,  one that the recovery was very difficult.

You need to talk to your doctor close to your due date to determine the size of your baby,  and review any notes there are from the earlier delivery,  i.e.,  whether you pushed a significant amount of time and couldn't deliver vs. couldn't get dilated to 10 cm.

Best wishes.

[MommyHJCCMM]

I had an emergency c-section for my first pregnancy. My dr. convinced me to have an elective c-section for my second. I did.
With my first one, I developed an infection and was in the hospital for over a week. It took me almost 3 weeks before I could do anything by myself or even carry my baby.
With the second one, I was up walking around the same day and was discharged the second day. I was home, by myself with 2 little ones. I didn't have any pain meds (besides reg tylenol).If it is secheduled, it is an easier recovery.
With my third (7 years after my second), I tried for a V-BAC...ended up having an emergency c-section. I had a very difficult recovery. With my 4th, 5th and 6th I had secheduled c-sections and much easier recovery periods.
Now, expecting #7 and #8 I will be having a secheduled c-section.

Good Luck!

[luvu129]

thanks every one for your advice and experience. it really helps to know that there are so many people making the same hard choice. i try to talk to my husband about it.... but he is a man, so he isn't much help. my first c-section was not done by my choice. i have been in full labor with strong regular concraction, but i never got past 3cm. after the c-section, my son's head was indented in a ring around the top, the doctor said it was because he was too big to fit through my pelvic bones, and i couldn't dialte because he wasn't descending. this being the case, does it seem like i should just go ahead with the c-section this time?

[RockRose]

luvu,  it sounds like you and I have the same cursed narrow pelvises!!  

If that's the case,  there is no way to get a healthy baby through there,  you're going to wind up with a C section anyway.

Best wishes.   This one may go more smoothly for you than the last.