If you are going to base your parenting decisions on what your friends think, you aren't going to be able to keep anyone happy. Speak to your husband and ob and you will fid the answer there.

What is with all the new posters in here? It is strange.

Back to the op, as many have said, perhaps do a little more research. The risk of pelvic floor damage is probably only as high as many of the other undesired risks associated with both forms of birth. I don't think it is enough of a reason to avoid a VB. VB does seem scary for a first time mother, because you hear such awful stories. Don't listen to the bad ones though, listen to the good ones, of which there are actually many more.

I have experienced both types of birth and I can agree that I most definitely bonded better with my VB baby than I did with my CS. There is no 2 ways about it. I still loved him, but the love was not so deep and so instant.

Cathode, I have also been told by more than one obstetrician that multiple CS are not ideal and certainly not encouraged.

Many hospitals don't encourage VBAC either, so even though the OP may not want a VB now, she may at some point in the future, it would be terrible for this choice to be taken away from her due to making this first decision so thoughtlessly.

Hey, I'm all for the slice and dice but you'd be pretty daft not to get that multiple c/sections carry more risk.

I can't believe someone would use Wikepedia for their VB vs C/S research. These are the same people who insist they have done their research properly.

How amazing that people are so quick to judge. I experienced my first born as an emergency ceasarian and on second pregnancy which I am due to give birth to in 2 weeks I considered natural birth again, but on thinking through my options I decided to revert back to a c-section.
I guess it's just not for everyone and a lot of women feel that it is natures course to experience child birth naturally, but if you ask me I am so glad that I never had to experience it. However, I did experience labour pains through inducment by drip for 6 hours and it was shocking. I couldn't move through most of that time. I'm just glad that my baby panicked, because I was rolled into the theatre ward, given an epidural and it was the most blissful, easiest and happiest way of delivering my baby boy.
I too did not have problems with breast feedling or bonding and I was the least cluckiest during pregnancy and my whole life previously, so go figure. (I was completely smitten with my baby - instant devotional bond)
People will tell you things and its all academic really. You can believe either way, and it all comes down to experience. I was completely all for natural birth, but now that I have experienced a c-section and have had multiple friends give birth naturally I would recommend ceasarian, afterall there are so many problems you could face with natural birth. However in saying that, I haven't recommended it to anyone because of the stigma attached, which I found appalling, but that's life.
My sister in-law endured over 30 hours of labour and had multiple internal stitches and was on suppositories for 6 months. She could not sit without hurting for 3 months and could not have sex for a year.
I had no pain whatsoever. It was fantstic. The only thing I expereinced was slight tenderness when I pushed on the 10cm wound and slight constipation which apparently is common for any type of birth. This lasted for perhaps one month, no more but it was never painful and was only noticeable if I applied the pressure to it.
A lot of myths surround ceasarian and quite frankly many were produced to put women off from electing them, but things can go wrong either way. The other thing to consider is, once you do have one ceasarian you can choose to have natural birth on second birth. if they tell you otherwise, its becasue they want everyone to try natural birth and they only say that you can't do it naturally on subsequent births to put you off ceasrian.
Good luck with your birth and don't worry about what other people say. Too many people judge without knowing all of the facts. If you ask me, giving birth naturally is medieval and I am so glad that western medics intervened to teach me this. In the 1800s 50% of women died through giving birth naturally. That's why we live in a western society, to make birthing experiences as pleasant as can be.
I commend those women who do it naturally, but don't knock ceasarians when you haven't experienced them. And for those who have experienced both and still knock it, that just proves your experience not everyone elses as it's not always horses for courses. Good luck with your choice and if you do go through with it I hope it is a painless experience like mine afterall the end result is bliss with baby, birth and your body afterwards.
Rachel

You shouldn't base your decisions on what other people think. It's your baby, your choice. People will always be quick to judge your decisions on anything that you do, whether it be the way you have your birth or how you raise your child.

I had an emergency c-section for medical reasons, and i feel no less a "woman" for doing so. I always hoped for a VB, but it isnt the end of the world. I had an excellent recovery, it didnt effect milk production and i was also lucky enough to bounce straight back with my body after. The way i see it, if your OB doesn't have a problem with it then you should be able to have it the way you want.

There are pros and cons for both. So as long as you weigh all of them together to make your final decision, thats all that matters. If damage to your pelvic floor is all that you are worried about, then there are pelvic floor exercises that you can do to build up strength before and after. As long as they are done properly and regularly, they can help a lot!

Good luck with the birth of your beautiful baby.

Hi Not Posh

I had a natural 'vb' and was terrified of a c-section!!

As long as you assess totally what each kind of birth entails (medically, risk assessment, physically etc) then you should do what is right for you. And not everyone who has a natural birth suffers pelvic floor issues in the same way as not everyone who has a cs recovers quickly/slowly/has a flabby tummy etc etc

With regards to bonding this is my experience but it is by no means proof.

My mother gave birth to me via cs, then my sister 5 years later by natural birth then my bro 16 months later via cs. She only managed to breastfed my sister. Needless to say (in my opinion) that she always had a better relationship with my sister. HOWEVER, I do believe there are other ways you can form a bonding relationship with your baby even though you had a cs. Skin to skin contact, breastfeeding, bathing together, plenty of loving eye contact and general amount of time cuddling after birth can help establish a good bond.

Just make sure you really swot up on the cs AND the natural birth process and how BOTH affect the way you bond and how your body reacts to the non-natural birth so you can deal with it. You'll need to do this, not only to make an informed decision but also to get your mates off your back - which, btw, you ought to start getting used to as the unwanted advice never end and only get worse! Now's the time to arm yourself with polite responses!

Good luck!

.

It's your choice, everyone has their own (probably biased in some way) opinion.

My only advice would be to watch a birth video (Business of Being Born is quite good, although relates more to USA) and see the difference between a natural, say water birth and a C-Section. Then you can make an educated decision. I cried watching both, but for different reasons. Joy at the water birth and horror at the operation.

It's a major operation and can affect many things that could otherwise be avoided (won't go into it). Just read as much as you can and make an educated choice - that's the best (and least) we can do as parents.

Also - maybe read this (it is long, sorry!) : https://www.birthinternational.com/articles...-cant-see-water

I agree with Scorpio78. Speaking from experience as the mother of 2 c/sections. After my first I got a staph infection in the wound. Was then given major antibiotics which in turn went to bub through breast milk. She suffers from eczema.

My 2nd c/section, I was also given antibiotics to prevent infection. Baby developed severe eczema and diagnosed with major severe food allergies to milk, eggs, nuts, wheat, rice, corn, chicken, soy, fish, etc

I know the antibiotics didn't help, but I believe if I had a natural birth both of my kids would have better health. Not to mention the emotional tumoil I encountered. I found it hard to accept that I wasn't able to deliver naturally. Natural VB is exactly that - natural! It is what women are designed for.

I just want to add it is your choice. Don't underestimate how strong you are. There are two people who will be affected by your decision.... you and your baby. Putting your baby's needs ahead of your own is the beginning of motherhood. Having a healthy baby is your goal. You will make the right informed decision for you. Once you make your decision - stick to it. Put all your energy into visualising a safe beautiful entry into the world of your baby. All the best