[Open] Poll: C-sections and vaginal births

[Green Orchid]

I wanted to make a poll to see what kind of births you have experienced, c-sections or vaginal. Feel free to share the why's and the how's!

Poll coming.

 

[Thankful4HIM]

2 natural vaginal births

 

[RedTulipMom]

1 vaginal birth with epidural.. (though it stopped working way before i had the baby ...argghh)

 

[PegasusOnFire]

Emergency C-section after attempting a vaginal birth.

This baby will be an elective c-section, if I don't go into labor before hand.

 

[LovesEnduringPromise]

Havent had children yet. But what would most of you recommend? I would rather do C-section...but I heard its killer after b/c of the soreness etc....what are pros and cons of each??

 

[PegasusOnFire]

most insurance companies want you to attempt a vaginal delivery with your first child.

I had no problems with my c-section hurting or healing. But as for which is better, that would depend on your body. A vaginal birth is better for the baby as it pushes everything out of baby's lungs and such, but some women just don't have the right body type to have a vaginal birth.

Not sure about if I can have one, didn't get the chance with the first one, and this one the doctors have told me she is to large to atempt vaginal.

 

[LovesEnduringPromise]

What body type to you have to have?

 

[GolfingMom]

Emergency after vaginal attempt w/ no drugs with my first
Elective C with my second.

 

[karla]

4 natural vaginal childbirths - I wouldn't want to do it any other way

 

[RoseofLima]

It has me with a c-section for some reason

But

I had one vaginal birth w/ an epidural and all it's accompaniments- pitocin, vacuum extractor..........

And 6 vaginal births with no medication at all. (except homeopathics)

 

[RoseofLima]

What body type to you have to have?

Basically if you don't have a crushed pelvis (from an accident of some sort) or a very android pelvis-- if baby is in a good position you should be able to have a vaginal birth. Baby's size has very little to do with birth--it's ALL about baby's position. If you are upright while laboring and pushing you increase the diameter of your pubic outlet by 20%, as well as optimize gravity to properly position baby.

 

[jgonz]

1 vaginal w/epidural (my first. Hated the epidural.)
8 vaginal natural births (and 1 was a home water birth)

(Oh, and before someone starts counting, I Have had 9 children... 1 is with the L-rd. )

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

I've had 2 natural vaginal births. 1st was very easy approx. 10 hrs long with a 8lbs 4oz 20 inch girl. 2nd was barely 3 hrs start to finish and was very hard and resulted in a 9lbs 12oz 21.75 inch boy.

Havent had children yet. But what would most of you recommend? I would rather do C-section...but I heard its killer after b/c of the soreness etc....what are pros and cons of each??

Unless it's a life or death emergency a vaginal delivery is almost always better for the baby especially for their breathing.

 

[Redstiletto]

Which ever way is going to be the least painful!

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

Which ever way is going to be the least painful!

I've never had a c-section so I can't compare the two but I would imagine that a vaginal delivery would be less painful on the whole. I had pretty much no pain with in a few minutes after delivery so although I had the labor pain I would imagine that would be relatively short compared to a c-section recovery. Of course each birthing experience is different so it's hard to say for sure.

 

[KillerV]

Vaginal (w/ epidural) I must say I could kiss whoever invented that.
This one will probably be the same...

 

[Green Orchid]

For all those who've had natural vaginal births, any words of wisdom for a first timer who wants to do the same?

 

[RoseofLima]

My advice is to educate yourself about the stages of labor and their common psychogical and physical sensations...like often when you are thinking "I don't wanna do this anymore...I don't think I can do this"...and the contractions are back to back--you are in transition--and most people aren't in transition for more than 15 minutes.

Try to look at each contraction on its own- they are usually only 90 seconds at their longest- and you can endure nearly anything for 90 seconds.

Be upright- stay out of the hospital as long as possible--stay out of the bed once you get there. Ask if they can get their test strip with you standing or on hands and knees or sitting. Refuse vaginal exams unless you want them--ask if they can check your dilation on hands and knees. LOL did I mention do NOT lay down.

Don't worry about breathing- rather focus on relaxing and breathing down into the pain. Keep your shoulders relaxed, keep your mouth soft and open. Make noises that are like Oooohhh and aggghhhhhh (notice how your mouth is whenb you make those sounds?)--do not make noises like EEEeeehh(again notice your mouth). By breathing down into the pain and staying relaxed in your face and shoulders- that will help you not pull up and back away from the pain--but rather to allow you to open up.

Check out www.spinningbabies.com and do everything you can possibly do to get baby in optimal position before birth.

Stay hydrated- drink to thirst, eat if you are hungry. Refuse an IV (get a hep lock if you are concerned or need to compromise). Insist after the test strip on intermitten fetal monitoring rather than continuous monitiring.

Use gravity in 2nd stage-- pushing is an involuntary action. Do NOT hold your breath and count to 10...rather push with the contractions. Stand up to push- hang on to your hubby's shoulders. That is normally going to be the fastest pushing poisition--but on your knees is also good. Do NOT lay on your back to push. Do NOT put your feet in stirrups to push.

ABove all I would recommend if you can afford it- hire a doula!!

 

[jgonz]

For all those who've had natural vaginal births, any words of wisdom for a first timer who wants to do the same?

Get the book Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon. Fabulous. Take a Bradley class, if you can.

Read as many natural birth and homebirth stories as you can. Reading all the natural ones helps get into your head that you CAN do this (which is opposite of most mainstream society movies and tv shows).

Hire a doula. www.dona.org

Educate yourself... A Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer will get you thinking about birthing in a hospital.

Consider a birthing center vs a hospital. Midwives are Wonderful! and definately supporters of natural birth.

 

[RoseofLima]

Also wanted to add that it's going to hurt- it's going to hurt a lot, it's going to be very hard work....AND despite those things you can do it!

The pain and hard work are exactly what you are supposed to be feeling- it means your body is doing its job birthing your baby. And it will end...often throughout my labor I think to myself "By this time tomorrow, I'll have met my baby!"