^^^Right, but there has to be a medical justification for a c-section ethically (not addressing VBAC), and, you would think, from an insurance perspective.
Maybe some of these friends have had a medical indication for a first birth scheduled c-section, but the reason they gave me was that they just didn’t want to go through a vaginal birth.
Sign me up for the strongest pain relief meds possible and a c-section if things ain’t stretching the way things are 'posed be. I done heard stories and there is no way I’m going through child birth naturally. My mom has told me contractions are how many factors worse than cramps. I’ve had cramps that have made me puke and pass out. [Default response.](Oh Hell No #VINE - YouTube)
One of the YouTube families I watch had their baby at home. Her entire pregnancy she stayed active and was doing yoga during labor. Baby came out with no problems and she did a rocking job. Next day or two she’s walking about and it doesn’t even seem like she had a baby! Just amazing.
I had a scheduled C section for the second one because of my first C section. Back then it was paid for if you already had a C. I found my first recovery was very easy, so I opted for another C because I didn’t want to go through labor again and then had to have another C. It was also easier for the planning purpose.
I had a VBAC, but since I had three days of hard labor, a high forceps delivery & episiotomy and my daughter aspirated meconium, I would have preferred another section.( I have a uterine malformation that does not produce efficent contractions)
Insurance usually didn’t balk at paying for second c-sections after a first. For some reason, mine was very strict about it. They quoted statistics saying 65% of first c-section women can go on to have VBAC successfully. And yes, it was immensely disappointing/frustrating to have to go through another 16 hours of hell, only to end up with a second surgery.
I found it strange what I remembered and didn’t remember from childbirth class. I had back labor, and somehow in the 3 a.m. fog, I remembered the position (although a nurse who found me sprawled over a chair kindly helped me up and showed me how to adjust the head of the bed). But an epidural didn’t even enter my head until the doctor ordered it. BTW they gave it to me because I was having an irresistible urge to push at 8 cm, not because of pain.
DH did hours of counterpressure for the back labor, which was wonderful. But when he dared to complain about his sore wrists the next day – well, he’s never complained about it again. 
FWIW, I wanted an epidural as soon as it was allowed!! But, I wanted to try to avoid the episiotomy with DS #1, and the Dr knew this in advance, so he recommended some vitamin E oil and whatever else was suggested back then (I forget). Well, bad decision. I tore, and this required all sorts of additional suturing that would have been much less if I’d let him snip instead of my tearing. I sat is stiz bath and on donut rings for a long time after that kiddo’s birth. Needless to say, with DS#2 I let them do the episiotomy, no questions asked!
@jym626, OUCH.
Yes, ouch is right!! Trying to avoid the episiotomy by softening the tissue with vitamin oils and what have you was as natural as I wanted to go (something also with papaya but I forget what that was-- indigestion maybe??) was as “natural” as I wanted to try back then and it was a DUMB decision. Sitting in those sitz baths with sutures after delivering a kid was no fun!
^My case was just the opposite, jym. Dr did the Episiotomy with S and the pain from that was about the worst thing about the recovery. D popped out too suddenly, resulted in a small tear, stitches and healing were minimal. Maybe better to try to avoid it with the SECOND + child rather than the first. Not a fan of automatically doing it, though.
“it was immensely disappointing/frustrating to have to go through another 16 hours of hell, only to end up with a second surgery.”
@Nrdsb4 , I’m so sorry that happened to you. That was definitely a fear of mine in attempting the VBAC- a long labor ending in surgery anyway. (I never went into labor with my first-they went straight to C-section after I passed my due date). I was in labor for 18 1/2 hours, second stage very prolonged and they definitely were making waves about doing another C-section. The doctor said he could try a vacuum extraction as something had to happen soon. He did and luckily it worked. Large episiotomy but a piece of cake compared to surgery.
My first child was born by C-section after hours of labor. D was in breech position–no epidural during labor. No one knew she was breech beforehand. First time anyone knew was when a resident checked on me and said–“I think that isn’t a head–looks like a butt.”
Second kid was breech too, and my OB was going to turn her around, but before he was scheduled to do the procedure, D2 decided to show up. This time, no labor–they took me right to surgery. In both cases H was allowed in the OR and was with me the entire time.
I often wonder what would have happened with an unexpected breech birth if I hadn’t been in the hospital? Probably wouldn’t happen today because technology, like ultrasound equipment, is so much better than it was 33 years ago.
Ouch, sylvan! My 2 are several years apart in age, so have to think that trying to avoid the episiotomy the second time might have resulted in the same outcome. I don’t remember being anywhere near as uncomfortable from the few stitches I had with the episiotomy compared to the tear and stitches. But both are no fun. Why do we try to push a bowling ball out through something the size of the bathtub drain pipe.
S1 was in such a rush to come out that, even without pushing, he kept coming. Needless to say, I had a small tear, which was uncomfortable while it was healing. I had an episiotomy, but still got torn. This ended being a good foretelling of S1’s personality who was the kid who was always in a rush to to reach the next developmental milestone.
S2 was almost born in the car on the way to the hospital. Fortunately, no highways involved in getting to the hospital so no delays getting there. One of the hospital administrators whisked me up to maternity when I doubled over in the lobby during a contraction. During my time in the hospital, I kept hearing stories from the nurses about babies born in the ER or on the hospital lawn. Glad I made it to a hospital bed. I had an episiotomy, with no additional tearing. Healing was easier that time.
Wow shellfell, you are quite efficient at giving birth!
Once my water broke, babies came quickly.
3 kids, all early, 20 mins pushing with the first, literally 3 pushes for the next two and they were out. Funny story, with my second, my OB couldnt believe I wasnt having contractions because the baby was so far down he could feel the head. He told me to go home and have “relations” and that would start my labor. The rest is history…
OK… those of you who are talking about pain… did no one here have their infant’s head crack their tailbone as they were coming out?
That.was.pain.
For.months.
Oh geez, now we’re really scaring everyone!
pops popcorn
When I tell Mr. R that I’m never having children and he asks why, I am going to just send this thread to him.
(I am TOTALLY kidding, once again. Kind of. Sort of. Maybe…)
Due to some physical limitations, I’d be shocked if I wasn’t given the option of a c-section. I’ll spare details on that one but I think I’d choose the c-section in a heartbeat. I told this to a coworker when we were talking about births (she had just given birth to her son) and she wondered whether I was worried about the c-section scar. I told her that I have so many other prominent scars on my stomach from surgeries that I’d be surprised if anyone ever even noticed a c-section scar