VB or Caesarean

[IamHero]

I know I posted a thread a few week back about my situation so sorry if I'm over posting but I need advice.

In brief, I preg with 4th Bub, I had VB with all, episotomies with 1st & 2nd and due to bad midwife 4th degree tear with 3rd. The surgeon who repaired my tear said next time a CS would probably be better, as if I tear again I could end up with a heap of Problems, the main one being anal incontinence (TMI ). My bubs have got bigger as they went, 3.54kg, 3.91kg & 4.4kg. So this time who knows how big it will be.

At my hospital check in.I ask the midwife what she though, she said it's entirely up to me, My GP had also said this to me. Basically they can't guarantee if I will tear again or not. No one seems to give me a straight answer. I'm not against CS I would prefer not to have one as I know the recovery will take longer & I have three other small one to look after.

My question to you is what would you do in my situation, Have a VB & take a risk or have a CS & a least know that there will be no problems later on.

[mumof5sarah]

I would definatly go VB. I have had 5 VB, and although I have never had a tear I still believe a tear would be better than having major surgery. There are things that can be done during labor to lessen your chances of tearing. eg perianal massage, pushing bubs out slowly!!Mind you I would have problems there:( all of mine came in 2-3 pushes!!!

[jennababe]

cant u have another scan later in pregnancy and they can give u an estimate of how big the baby is?.. the question you have to ask yourself..how did you feel after your labours? was it hard to look after and get up to your babies? did u feel ok after taking a few pain killers? were you scared emotionally after the births?..

if you were to have another episotomy with this birth, would that mean you avoid the chance of anal incontinence? as having an episotomy is different then if u were to tear...

if i were you i would try to avoid having a c/s.. alot of women want them, thinking its the easy way out... but my friend recently had one.. and shes misserable.. having a really hard time recovering.. and not getting to enjoy her little one like she wants to.. also when i was in the hospital the lady next door to me had a c/s and i heared that buzzer going off all night.. apparently with alot of women there so sore and uncomfortable that they cant even get up to tend to there little one..

i wish you all the best with your decision.. but i think you really need to base the decison on how u will feel after the bub has been delivered.. c/s or natural birth, which one will leave u feeling better after the delivery.. i know id rather be a bit sore down there.. instead of having a major surgery and being cut open!!!!

all the best

xx

[SassyMummy]

I agree with what your midwife and GP have said - it's up to you!

I know it really doesn't help you make your decision, but when you think about it...both VB and C-section have their own risks involved...it's up to you which risks you prefer the odds of (and which risks you could possibly cope with easier).

I would say go for a VB...but that's because I hated that I had a c-section, AND I've never experience a mere contraction...let alone VB and tears...

Both will come with pain...whether it be pain vaginally, or abdominal pain. Still, I guess having a c-section would make it easier to sit down than having a tear...but when you get up after having a c-section...well, not only can you not really move, but you're in immense burning pain just by standing. AND it's pretty hard to use your abdominal muscles without wanting to cry (like laughing or coughing or sneezing or doing a number 2...etc etc).

I'm sure you already know the pros and cons of VB...having been there already.

Perhaps take a look in the c-section areas of the forum and ask some of the c-section Mums what it's like to have one...that way you can get an idea and then make your own mind up.

[sugar n spice]

Hi, i have had a vbac with an episotomy and a c section with my second i am having a c section this time round due to my history and i much prefer it this way after experiencing both id have to say for me i recovered easily and quickly with a ceaser. yes the first day or two were hard but to be able to sit and not in pain and not have salt baths frequently because of stitches etc was a big pro. Go with what you feel is right though as there are fors and againsts all the time, I wish you all the best:hugs:

[mum23girls]

I am curious, do you think you breathed properly with all the births in the past?? The reason I ask, is that with my 1st (being unexperienced and all) I don't think I breathed properly and panted etc. when told to stop ending in a 4th degree tear and about half an hrs worth of stitching. My second I only got a little tear and minor stiches, but with the third, it was so different. I breathed properly and did as I was told (mind you the midwife was lurvely!) and I was up and about showering myself straight after the birth and sitting on the floor a day later.

In the end it is utimately your decision, if you really want a VD, would they consider inducing you a bit earlier if size was the determining factor?

[IamHero]

Thanks you for your responses.

Jennababe - After all my birth I was up & about in a matter of hrs, After the 4th degree tear I was still up & about the next morning ( about 8 hrs after the surgery ) I insisted they take out the catheter as I wanted a shower. I had no pains or discomfort with any. Last time the surgeon came down two days after because he wouldn't believe it when the midwife told him I was up & about walking all over the place, had no swelling & I wanted to go home. He couldn't believe how well I was healing.

Mum23Girls. - My labour was a nightmare, I went to A birthing centre, had a horrible midwife I had never met before, she sat there throughout the entire labour just looking at me, offered no support or encourage & when I told her I wanted to push she said "Go ahead " she didn't even check if I was fully dilated or not. I do remember thinking I'm pushing too hard, I literally felt like I was going to burst open, but she never said anything.

They never gave me a reason why I tore so much, Although 1 midwife (who was an Angel ) couldn't believe it happened, she said she had seen much larger babies delivered over the years, & the old 4th Degree tears she saw were usually from Asian Women as they are so small & tend to have big babies. I put it down to neglect.