C-section after a vaginal delivery

[Jenn]

I had a vaginal delivery with Peyton and had no major complications, however with this baby, I'm leaning towards wanting a c-section and I'm wondering if anyone else ever felt this way.

I have a couple of reasons for wanting a c-section. First of all, my selfish reason is for pain. I am really dreading pushing a baby out again. I remember how incredibly painful Peyton's delivery was. Now, I know that some people have serious issues with c-sections and that it is a major surgery with recovery time but I have also heard about people having no problems recovering from having a c-section.

My second reason is scheduling issues. I honestly have no clue what we're going to do with Peyton when I go into labor. We don't really have any family nearby. Ok, that's not entirely true. Jeff's mom and brother live about 20 minutes away but his mother is about 75 and completely not capable of watching Peyton. Not to mention that I would never leave Peyton alone with her. Jeff's brother is completely untrustworthy as he's an alcoholic and does drugs so we are SOL there. If I had a scheduled c-section, then I could fly my mom up here a day or two before and Peyton could stay with her (my mom is planning on flying up as soon as the baby is born anyway). If I go into labor early on a weekday, my dad would be able to drive down here (he lives about 4 hours away) in time to pick Peyton up from school but I don't know what we'd do if this happens on a weekend. Also, 2 of my close friends are due in May and June so I can't really ask them to watch Peyton when they'll have a newborn of their own. We don't have any other friends that I would trust to watch her.

I really want to ask my dr. about this but I'm not sure how crazy I am for even thinking this. Has anyone else ever wanted to go the c-section route over having a vaginal delivery? Help!

[harmonielyn]

Im just wondering.. Wouldnt a c-section have more pain involved in recovery and such than a vaginal delivery?

[Jenn]

I don't know. I've heard some people say that their recovery from a c-section was a breeze. I guess I really wouldn't know if a the recovery would be worse for me or not until it actually happens, kwim?

[harmonielyn]

Ok so heres my opinion. Ive never had a c-section but labor and delivery were both so easy for me for my vaginal birth. Recovery was nothing, I was out and about 2 days later forgetting I had just given birth. I wouldnt chose a c-section next time around. Plus I dont think my OB would give me a c-section unless I needed it. I thought thats how alot of Drs were but your may be more open.

[Dennis]

Mary had a a c-section with Frances after delivering Joe vaginally and her recovery was much, much worse. But everyone is different. Keep in mind that you are going to have a toddler running around as well as a newborn this time.

As for having someone to watch Petyton, we had exactly the same problem. We hired one of Joe's daycare teachers to be on-call for us. This way if Mary went into labor during a weekday, she could just take him home at the end of the day. It turned out that Mary went into the hospital on a Friday evening, so she stayed over at our house with Joe until the next afternoon.

Dennis

[sheila]

We were in a similar situation with no close family members who could be trusted with Maggie alone... My dad ended up staying with us for a couple weeks around my due date, and then my mom came down after that. There were a few days we weren't covered, but it ended up not being much of an issue.

I liked the idea of having someone here for a little while before I had to go into labor so Maggie would be with someone she was used to having around when I wasn't there. Would it be possible for you to have your mom come in for a few weeks?

[kim]

jenn, a c-section is major surgery. it took me weeks to recover. for the first few days i could barely move around and painkillers were my best friend. getting out of bed, a chair, anything that involves your abdominal muscles is a slow and painful process.

i am not looking forward to my next one at all (but i have to have one, no choice).

i have heard very few people say their section was a breeze...and honestly, i don't believe people when they do say it.

[Shanna]

Jenn - Alot of times, 2nd and more babies are MUCH easier labors and easier to push out than first babies... I know that was my experience, even with twins I would definitely think that recovering from a c-section would be worse than labor and delivery, especially with an almost 2 year old... JMHO...

[Jenn]

Dennis, that's a good idea about hiring a daycare worker to be on call. There is one lady that Peyton just LOVES so maybe I'll talk to her about it and see what she says. I think she lives pretty close to me also so that's a plus.

Sheila, I can't have my mom come stay before the baby because she's coming after the baby and can only take off about 2 weeks. I'd rather her time be spent here after the baby is born. I might end up asking my dad to come down and stay with us for a week or two but he can be a pain sometimes about leaving his house. My other option would be to have my grandmother stay with us for a couple of weeks before my due date but I think she'd be bored out of her mind since Peyton would more than likely be at school during the day. I'm not even sure if she would do it.

I know that a c-section is major surgery and that makes me nervous, too, but honestly I'm more worried about Peyton being taken care of while I'm in labor than my recovery. I know, it sounds silly now, and I'm probably not thinking straight with all these hormones running through my body. I'm just so worried about nobody being around to watch my little girl and I'm freaking out about it.

[harmonielyn]

Maybe if the teacher is ok with the idea of being on call for you it might work out.

[Dennis]

Jenn, the other advantage of using a daycare teacher is that if you go into the hospital during the day, she can just take Peyton home. We also did a test run with her about 2 months before Mary's due date so she would be familiar with the house and know where everything is since there was a chance we wouldn't be there when she came. It really worked out great - a bit pricey, but well worth the money.

Dennis

[Jenn]

Thanks Harmonie! Hopefully something works out.

Dennis, do you mind if I ask how much you paid your daycare teacher? I'm just wondering what I should even think about offering to mine if we do go this route.

[Kate]

Jenn, Have you talked to your doctor about inducing labor? My doctor mentioned it to me, saying that it is a lot easier for the patients to have a scheduled induction, that way your mom could fly in the day before you are induced. Plus, recovering from an induction isn't as bad as recovering from a c-section.

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by Jenn

Dennis, do you mind if I ask how much you paid your daycare teacher? I'm just wondering what I should even think about offering to mine if we do go this route.

We gave her $200. She was on call for about 6 weeks and then she watched Joe from about 8 p.m. (he was asleep when she came) until about 3 p.m. the next afternoon.

Dennis

[harmonielyn]

Originally Posted by Kate

Jenn, Have you talked to your doctor about inducing labor? My doctor mentioned it to me, saying that it is a lot easier for the patients to have a scheduled induction, that way your mom could fly in the day before you are induced. Plus, recovering from an induction isn't as bad as recovering from a c-section.

I was induced and had a vaginal delivery. Things went smooth for me.

[SarahK]

I can totally understand being worried about who will take care of Peyton when you go into labor...but having a c-section will make that tougher in the long run--especially after you come home from the hospital.

My c-section was horrible and so was the recovery. I lost twice the amount of blood that you're supposed to lose and spiked scarily high temperatures after the operation. I was kept in the hospital for four days after the operation and should have stayed even longer. Walking was really painful for weeks afterward.

I'm already worried about having to have a c-section for the next baby--I'll be away from Katie for so long and then I won't be back to normal after I return home.

[Karri]

I've had two c-sections and honestly, recovery wasnt bad for me. By the time I was discharged, I was perfectly mobile. Though lifting was another story. Try explaining to your 2 yr old that you cant pick them up....its doesnt go over all that well!!!

Honestly, I wouldnt do an elective c-section. I dont think there are a lot of doctors (outside of hollywood) who will let you do an elective c-section if you have no medical reason to do so.

[Christina]

I have both a c-section (1st time) and a vaginal delivery (2nd time). For me, recovery was much easier with the vaginal delivery.

[FluffyPeanut]

I wouldn't recommend a sceduled c-section. I had a c-section with Vincent and even though I recovered fairly quickly (I felt pretty much back to normal within a week after surgery), I am going for a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) this time! My recovery from my c-section was very painful during my hospital stay (I was there for 4 days). Pain meds were my friend! Not to mention the risks of complications from a c-section, which is MAJOR surgery, are far greater than with a vaginal birth! The odds of dying from a c-section are four times greater (1 in 4000 births vs. 1 in 10,000 for vaginal). So, unless the surgery is absolutely necessary (for the mothers sake and/or the baby's sake), I wouldn't opt for one!

[harmonielyn]

Thats another thing. Dont you have to stay longer for a c-section than a vaginal birth?