caesarean or vaginal birth?

[mountainboo]

I would be really interested to know the thoughts and views of anyone from mothers to mothers to be or fathers, or anyone who is interested. I have read some conflicting articles about the pro's and con's of both and the rights and the worngs of both. I have 5 months to go until my first baby is born but I will undoubtedly be thinking of the birth in the near future.
Deep down I know I would rather a Caesarean birth as I know it will be relatively pain free, but both mrmountainboo and I feel that I should go through with the pain and have a vaginal birth. Anyway, let me know what you all think?

[B00]

Wardy, lol. When you're in mid labour you don't care about what's fashionable or even how you look. Birth itself is very primative, messy, gory and everything else gross- the end product does make up for it though.

I know you'll more than likely hate to hear this, but quite frankly the whole of the England rugby team could be doing a naked congo round your bad and you wouldn't notice or even care.

[4getmenot]

no no-one is a failure but thats how i'd feel. 9 months of all that stuff I'd want to be split and bleeding and in pain but thinking I bl00dy did it.

[andrea81]

Well i'm having my own dilemma about this and I'm interested in the answers too!

I had an emergency C-Section under General Anathetic due to Pre-Eclampsia, things went a bit pear shaped after they enduced me! So I have no recolection of any kind of birth as I was knocked out! The recovery was pretty grim as I was taking pain relief and felt very spaced out!

I am 7 weeks pregnant now and having a terrible time worrying if I should have a C-Section and be done with it, or try for a Vaginal. I know If I had my wish, things would go fine with no complications and I would give birth Vaginaly, but Midwife is sceptical and want me to concider C-Section!

C-Sections are by no means pain free (even though I was knocked out), It's the recover! Don't forget it's a major opporation, my mother has a similar war wound after her hystorectomy!

Good luck honey x x x x

[daffy654]

All 3 of my kids were delivered vaginally. My first labour was a bit strange as I had pre-eclampsia that elevated to eclampsia so had an epidural(to lower my blood pressure,not for pain relief) and forceps,I was not allowed to push as when I tried my blood pressure shot through the roof. I was also on a valium drip and was intensively nursed throughout(midwife never left the room). My second labour I did the whole first stage (2 hours) on the normal ward as all the labour wards were full,I got to the labour suite at midnight where they broke my waters,two pushes later my baby was out :-). My 3rd labour was normal,about 7 hours in total. I would never consider a C-section unless either the baby or myself were in some sort of danger.
Good luck with whatever you choose though mountainboo.

[jrobinson200]

hi what exactly is an epidural?

[redcrx]

AN epidural is a anesthetic (sp) thats put directly into the back (spinal column?) via a drip to prevent pain signals being sent to the brain.

[redcrx]

sorry into the space next to the spinal cord.

[andrea81]

Red that creeps me out thinking about it like that, I really want a Vaginal birth.... Ahhhhhhhh! don't think I could cope with that!.... Ahhhhhhhhhh!

[redcrx]

what really put me off an epidural, apart from the fact that needles scare the hell out of me was that you need to be able to sit very still for about 15 mins whilst they place the epidural. Movement could cause complications.

Try sitting still for 15 mins when your body is trying to expel a basketball!!!!!!

[daffy654]

I had to lie on my side for my epidural,the anaesthetist(sp?) told me to tuck my knees up under my chin ...........try doing that when 9 months pregnant.lol

[redcrx]

i cant do that at 13 weeks pregnant pmsl

[andrea81]

15 minutes, none chance, no way! I'm going to be a nighmare!

lol Red

[Psychick]

red it isnt that bad lol When they did mine I was having contractions quite close, about every 5 minutes I think. When I said I had a contraction coming, the anethsitist just stopped til it was over. Saying that though, they did take 7 attempts! lol

[redcrx]

lol psychick, well done you. I dont intend on finding out though if i can help it.

Im hoping for another quick (albeit late) birth as before. Just hope this one doesnt decide to get stuck like the last

[Ice-Maiden]

Congratulations mountainboo! May I just add that I'm also an advocate of natural births unless there are medical reasons against them. My sister-in-law had two caesarians, and ended up in quite a lot of pain afterwards, because of trapped wind. You also don't go to sleep and wake up with everything nicely over. Even if the anaesthetic works properly, I understand you still feel the sensations of the baby being taken out of you. With modern pain relief if you need it, natural births don't have to be traumatic. I'm also a firm believer in taking raspberry leaf tea during later pregnancy. It works.

[suzy64]

both of mine were vaginal births, one took 22 and a half hours, bless her! the other 10 hours...I had an epidural with both...I have no pain threshold! they threatened me with caesarean with the 1st and shaved me ready...took me to theatre and had one last try with forceps...I pushed for england!!! and out she came, the 2nd one did most of the work himself while I sat in a rocking chair! And I'd still do it again :o)

[JonnyBoy12]

Are you asking women only or can men answer too? I am a 35 year old male , who has never obviously given birth, (strange that) but can sympathise with those who do. The first thing that comes into my head here is the welfare of the baby, Sorry mountainboo, I spared a thought for you later. I remember hearing somewhere that a babie's immune system is greatly and initially boosted by passing through the vagina into the the big wide world. In a recent study of the immune system all the weaker immune systems were from ceasarian births. Think about it, a baby has been nine months in the womb, and then it is thrust into a whole sea of bacteria, (metaphorically speaking) so if you value the opinion of strangers, then I would bite the bullet, and go for the S.V.D. (Spontaneous Vaginal Discharge) in other words a normal birth.

Besides you don't get a masssive scar with the normal way.

[redcrx]

delivery jonnyboy, not discharge lol

although you did remind me that apprently the process of moving down the birth canal does help baby to expel some of the fluid on its lungs and in its mouth making breathing that little bit easier at first.

[JonnyBoy12]

Sorry meant to say Delivery must have been thinking of the other discharge of the vagina. Did not know we had any qualified Midwives here. I was a Student Nurse many years ago, and the first placement I was on was Maternity, and I know I had problems with all the terminology. I wonder if we have any Doctors who can shed any light on this boost on the immune system from a normal birth.

[mountainboo]

Wow, excellent responeses from everybody, thanks. I'm definately going with au-naturel if I can. Mr Mountainboo and I watched a couple of births on dvd and I happend to glance over at him and, what a picture, he looked completely terrified. He wants to be there for the birth, as does my mum (but thats another story), but he said he doesn't know if he can see me in that amount of pain, acting like a demonically possessed person. My sister-in-law was a bit like that during the birth or her first and the following day I saw her sister (who was at the birth) and she looked utterly traumatised!
I would love a home birth but its not really practical for me as we have a big dog at home and live in a semi, so the neighbour would be able to hear everything.