[MissM86]

Hi everyone,

I have been thinking about my vaginal birth of my DD and the recovery - she was an 8 hour labour, 9pd baby and I had an episiotomy due to risk of tearing (Dr's words). The stitches came out (the outside stitches, I think the internal ones were ok) about two days later and couldn't be re-stitched so I had to simply let an open wound heal naturally. I had baaaaad haemorrhoids and anal fissure, a 500ml blood loss after birth and generally felt pretty crap. I couldnt drive for 2-3 weeks due to pain and swelling from the episiotomy.

So, I am wondering, for ladies who have had both a vaginal birth with episiotomy and so forth (particularly a drawn out recovery) and a Caesarean, what was better/worse in terms of recovery, pain etc?

I am considering an elective c-section next time

Thank you for sharing.

This post has been edited by MissM86: 05/11/2012, 07:32 PM

[Relish*]

I've had both and the VB for me was much worse. Though that was more than likely due to the 28 hour labour beforehand!

ETA - I never had haemorrhoids or a fissure either, but I wonder if also since DS was second baby I wasn't an overwhelmed first time mum either. That would've helped. I also couldn't drive for at least three weeks with both, was still in pain for several weeks.

This post has been edited by *Relish*: 05/11/2012, 07:41 PM

[adl]

I only have had a c-s , considered elective even though for medical reasons ..was not an emergency...the recovery was great...really you are tender for a few weeks but up and about same day... My scar was tender but that's me... You have to be careful bending and picking up... Only allowed to carry bubs at first...

Depending on your insurer and recovery no driving for 3 weeks... I am not good with pain so was rather surprised at how relatively good it all was and the quick recovery compared to what you have described....
I have no other issues...

[4boysandme]

I had an episiotomy twice & both times hardly noticed it in the days following, other than some mild stinging. However I also had a broken tailbone for my second and that was the reason I had an elective Caesar for my third birth. It was the right decision. Recovery was much much harder than the natural birth / epistiomoty but not even close to the tailbone.

[Erma Gerd]

I had a non-elective CS first, and even after 20 hours of labour, the recovery was a breeze. I was up and showering within 4 or 5 hours, walking the dogs and doing the shopping a few days later.

Second birth was a shorter labour for a VBAC with an episiotomy. I had some issues afterwards with wound healing etc, and was rather sore and sorry for 2-3 weeks.

So for me, the CS was much easier physically. My second baby was also fairly drowsy and a bit wiped out (probably from some opiate analgesia given a bit late in labour), so she didn't take to breastfeeding with the same gusto as my first (CS) baby, who was bright and alert and looking for a feed even as we were wheeled into recovery. Having said that, I would almost certainly go for another VBAC if I were having a 3rd. But that's probably because I had a disappointing VBAC experience and would like another shot at it...

[liveworkplay]

I've had both. My vag birth was 28 hr labour (posterior position) with episiotomy, failed vacuum and subsequent forceps delivery. My c/s was elective (breech presentation). I went on to have another very quick, drug free vag birth with slight natural tearing. There was no way I would have voluntarily had another c/s. My c/s recover was very straight forward but the vag recoveries were so much easier and quicker, even the first "traumatic" one.

[AvadaKedavra]

Even without an episiotomy, your perineum will be sore.

I've not had a Caesar, but I've done them... And I'd take my vaginal births with episiotomies any day! (Both mine had mild shoulder dystocia so as far as I'm concerned the episiotomies were justified!)

[strawberry blond...]

It took me 2 1/2 years to finally stop feeling pain from my natural birth. I have also had an emergency section and an elective. I would pick a section over a VBAC any day of the week! Both recoveries of my sections were a breeze.

[New Sparkles]

Hi there!!

My 1st birth was a Vaginal one with an episotomy which got infected in the week after, which meant I was sore, feverish and on oral ab's with an extended recovery down there and have scar tissue which is enough for Drs to comment on when I get examined for the pap smears ....the actual birth was pretty standard i think, 16 hour labour, 2 hours of pushing and the episotomy and he was 8 p 7 oz. with a 36 cm head. He was posterior but "turned at the end"

My 2nd birth was the polar opposite.. I was 7cm dilated when I got to the delivery suite, I dilated much quicker, but then labour slowed down, she turned posterior, had heart rate declerations and I ended up with a failed forceps, emergency cesear delivery where she was born feet first cause her head was so wedged in my pelvis and she was resuscitated succesfully. Interestingly, her birth stats were smaller at 7p 1 oz, head of 34 cm.

That birth had blood loss, my Hb was under 80, and I had urinary problems but I felt fantastic after the birth so much that I went home on day 3.

I can compare the two and if I had the choice of giving birth again, I would certainly choose the vaginal birth. Honestly, in my experience the recovery times for my 1st delivery was about 3 weeks, and for the 2nd one, it took me a good 3 months to get over, my scarline would be sore and get "puffy" if I did too much, and Im not talking alot! I was on iron tabs for a long time, and a year later my Hb had just got back to an acceptable level, but I still needed to take the Iron tabs. If I had to do that cesear scenario again, i wish I had gone with the blood transfusion to get that sorted out instead of it taking a year.

THe 1st birth scared me alot, I had alot of anxiety about giving birth the 2nd time, but when i was in labour with my 2nd, I was ok. If i could give birth for a third i would not be scared, I know it would be ok. good luck with your decision.

[tbarker]

Hi

I have had both and I have booked in for a ceaser for my third baby. I recovered a whole lot better from my ceaser than I did with my vaginal birth. I had a 9lb 10 oz bub, with a episiotomy and also had a third degree tear, retained placenta which meant I had to have all stitches removed and redone after they had removed the placenta a week after being stitched. Very painful. I couldn't sit comfortably for weeks which meant I couldn't drive. My second was born via ceaser as I was having difficulties again and he could not get delivered via forceps as he had brow presentation. It was so much better and my recovery time was 3 weeks versus 6 months. It was a very easy choice for baby no. 3. I had too many stitches to count (doctors words...not mine!) and I know where I would prefer them. I was so embarrassed as I had to take a cushion to sit with me wherever I went to make it more comfortable for me to sit down.

I spent every spare moment in a salt bath to ease pain and keep clean for months. I also had significant blood loss requiring transfusion which meant I was on significant amounts of anti biotics to stop infections and was rushed to hospital hemreoging with blood clots because of retained placenta. Overall an extremely bad experience I would not put on anyone. I had no complications post ceaser at all and found it a lot easier to keep wound clean, a lot less painful and I was able to sit post delivery !

Good luck.

Tb