Natural Labour vs C Section
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With a risk of upsetting some males who only likes certain topics...Has anyone had natural labour following first c section? Was it smooth or there were any complications?.. I have few weeks to make my decision and I'm very anxious about it...
I only have the one child and won't be having another. I was induced due to complications in my pregnancy, induction failed and I went into natural labour 2 days later, I lost a lot of blood, they were talking about a transfusion and then they had to give me an emergency c section as my son was in a lot of distress and I had lost too much blood and was struggling to stay awake. I was delighted when they said they had to give me a c section as it had been 62 hours and I just wanted it to be over!
If they think it is safe for you to have a natural labour then go for a natural one, it is no more risky to have a natural labour after a c section, that's what I've been told anyway. You can have complications during any labour, whether it is your first or your 5th! Sorry that probably sounded scarier than I meant it to. Do what you think is best and if there are complications that's what the midwives are for.
MrsCraig omg that sounds like horror story... but my first labour was similar. Went in on 13th morning eventually had my son on early morning of 15th... the induction didnt progress as much as they wanted to baby was distressed and it ended in c section...the midwife said it's about 70% chance of natural labour after c section. But it could rupture the scar... also I had really bad miscarriage last year when I lost so much blood I nearly died....so I'm very anxious about it....
jurgita0712 compared to want we went through after he was born, the labour didn't seem that bad! I would be anxious about it too, if possible talk to the midwife about what the best option would be. Explain your worries and ask what they would advise. If it was me I would go c section again, but I'm not having another so not an issue for me!
MrsCraig well basically she said it's up to me... and obviously natural has quicker recovery time and is better for mother and baby...but because I already had one c section theres the risk of scar rupture...one day I'm leaning towards one next day to the other...
Ann1984 nothing to do with the birth. Our son was born with a very complex heart condition and had to be put o a machine to breathe for him as soon as he was born or he would have died. He needed life saving surgery at 20 hours old, he would have died without it. Then we had 9 months where we couldn't go anywhere with him, he fed little and often so never slept for more than an hour at a time, struggled to put weight on, so his 2nd life saving surgery kept getting put back and loads of other issues. Being told he could die during his operation, handing him over not knowing if I would see him again. I couldn't go through that again and I couldn't put another child through that. Plus we said from the start we only wanted one.
jurgita0712 it is such a tough decision. I would weigh up all the pros and cons for you and your family and make the decision based on that.
MrsCraig sounds similar to my friends baby...she is 3 now. Still very little for her age but she's doing well. She spent a lot of time in hospital too. Bless you. That must been very hard. But you got your little miracle and at the end of the day it was all worth it❤
jurgita0712 it was so tough! But the drs, nurses, cardiologists and surgeons were all absolutely amazing! They saved our sons life twice and I will be forever grateful. He was worth every horrible, heartbreaking moment, but I wouldn't do it again. I had a horrible pregnancy, so it was difficult from the start.
jurgita0712 Don't rely on natural being quicker recovery. My first was a straightforward labour, waters broke 4.30am they ordered my breakfast for 9am, he got stuck 12 noon, two different types of forceps, no chance of 'the flying squad' (I was in a rural maternity hosp, nearest major 50 min away), local GP who was anesthetist was on leave, a manual turn, and he was dragged out at 3pm - took me from Feb until May to recover. Second one turned to breach and that was it c-section and I was back on my feet in days. Go with what you feel comfortable with 
lilyflower wow... but your baby was ok? Well that's what they tell you that everything is supposed to be better/quicker healing with natural...but I heard horror stories of all sorts of complications...
jurgita0712 He was fine, slight bump on back of head and a squished up eye but he was the most placid baby, slept from 7.30pm until 8am at 10 weeks and had a mid-day nap until he was 26 months. No 2 stopped sleeping mid-day at 10 month and never put a full night in until she was 8 yrs. If she'd been first she would have been last, even now he sleeps lots and she doesn't.
lilyflower omg... you know what sounds like my son
when he was 9months he started being awake until 2am every night. But he wanted to be close. Tried everything. Didnt help. Then he would sleep until 5am be awake for few hours and like that all day...he dropped second nap before 18m and few months later stopped napping all together. Then he would go sleep maybe around 8pm but still wake up at 4-5am...All the "experts" were telling me to put him to sleep at 6pm. I tried...he slept for an hour or two and then be awake until 10pm or later! He's 7y now...falls asleep at 9pm ish gets up at 5-5:30 Am mostly..I hear about kids who sleep in until 9-10am now they had no school...just not my kid
I have had two of each. First pregnancy was long, waters broke on a Friday night and she came in this world on the Sunday. It was similar to the Only fools and horses episode. Second came out within 2 hours. Third was 9lb 8oz and too big to come out naturally and fourth was small and had no fluid so had to come out quickly with a C section. Having a C section involves more risks as you are having surgery. Afterwards you are left with a scar. Mine has never healed after 19 years!
eyeballkerry my c section scar felt very tender for probably up to 2 years...then it got better but I still can feel it at times... and then the unsightly roll of skin overhanging the scarI suppose elective c section would give me a piece of mind.. but really I'm worried that in any case it might end up in c section...last time I thought I might die... I had breakfast then my water broke and I was put on a drip couldn't eat or drink only water until next morning at 4am I had emergency c section...
jurgita0712 I was told after my second C section not to get pregnant again as they do not recommend three C section. I think that was not exactly true as women have had more than 2. But maybe just advising me.
eyeballkerry one of my friends said that you can have 3 c sections... but yes maybe it was individual for your case.
I had 2 water births and 2 normal, water by far was the easiest I love giving birth if was all straight forward like I have had. But some people have had terrible times. My labour is spontaneous as what's written in my notes whice I have and from fully dilited to baby out it took 19 seconds. I would rather give birth then visit the dentist
Ann1984 I wanted water birth...but because I was getting induced I couldn't do it. I was stuck on the bed with a drip and occasional sip of water and a trip to bathroom...and it ended up in csection anyway...
eyeballkerry you could use your bath if wonted home birth best experience I have ever had
I've had 3 children 2 natural birth the middle one was emergency c section there was a short gap between c section and last child he came out very quickly the drugs hadn't even kicked in
I have had 4 c sections with a big gap between 2nd and 3rd and one consultant said I could try for natural and another said no. A planned c section is very much different to an emergency or a crash one of which I’ve had both. The planned were great for us as you just walk down and it’s all calm and controlled and pain fully managed. I was back home in 24 hours with both the planned too.
my first sounds like yours, I was on the bed with a drip to speed things up and nothing was happening couldn’t get up and the pethadene they gave me made me sick and baby had meconium so was taken to theatre and he had to go to scbu for low blood sugar.
It’s really up to you but if you have a child at home already, the planned was a lot easier for us as we knew dates and times . good luck 
emmabeckz after you had so many c sections how is your tummy? Did it all heal fine? And do they make incision in the same place or different every time? My hubby probably is more keen to c section... and last time was very stressful...
jurgita0712 they said I was lucky as a lot of time’s your internal organs can stick to scar tissue but I’ve been fine. The last one I had 2 years ago (planned) they had this little machine they put in my dressing with a battery powered vacuum pump to keep the dressing dry and air tight it was great. I’ve healed fine but took high dose arnica tablets for 4 days after with the last two and that’s meant to help healing too. They use the same incision as long as the scar isn’t too thick or raised. mine have all healed fine
When I'd been in labour for 9 hours they said I needed c section as baby heart rate dropped with every contraction the cord was round his neck. That was definitely most stressful birth. The first midwife kept telling anyone who would listen she was working Friday night so she wouldn't drink
Imnotcheap it seems to be very common for babies to have cord round their necks.. same happened to me. Emergency c section after I lost the count of hours
emmabeckz were you breastfeeding? I got arnica cream for bumps and bruises for my son
thank you that's interesting to know. Did your tummy go down? Mine still stayed a bit poking out and I got flab of skin overhanging on my csection scar..
jurgita0712 Yes I breastfed but the last one was born with a tongue tie which was making it very difficult for him to latch on and they were reluctant to sort it out (That's another story) so had it done 2 days after privately and all great! Arnica tablets are great to help healing - look it up. Might of been placebo affect but I felt they helped me heal definitely. After my last section I got a lump on one side which the said was dead blood cells cannot remember the name of them but they break down and reabsorb into your body took about 8 weeks but was fine. You can also get something called a belly band which is meant to help your tummy go back down after a section helps support your tummy etc. Didn't bother me but maybe something you can look into anyway
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