Elective C-sections

[Lucretia]

I've been doing some reading, both in books and around online pregnancy and health resources, and I've found that beliefs / experiences with c-sections seem to be pretty polarized. In some circles, CHOOSING to have a c-section would probably be considered crazy talk. Of course I do understand that Caesareans are major surgery. I've also come to understand that the recovery period can be excruciatingly painful and drawn-out. I know that VBACs can be a pain to arrange with some healthcare providers (and by the same token, some won't perform elective c-sections). But I'm interested in finding out more about elective c-sections and c-sections in general. I'm not sure that natural birth is something I want to do, not because I view c-sections as a magical, painless baby delivery process, but because I'm willing to put up with the recovery as opposed to the even longer-term problems the women in my family traditionally have with vaginal births. It's something I'm going to discuss with my doctor, but I know they can only tell you so much, and I want to be sure about my decision.

Any experiences, thoughts, suggestions?

[Lucretia]

Amen. ;) I can't even watch c-sections on TV, and I pass out every time I have blood drawn. ;l (not looking forward to the needle-prodding on my upcoming ob/gyn visits) I come from a long line of little wimmen not made for childbearin'.

When are you due, saucy?

[garoux]

As you've already said, c-sections are by no means a cakewalk. A scheduled one certainly has its appeal as does induction for a natural birth. There are several mommies on here who've recently had babies who can give you their experience with c-sections. They have their risks. I took a childbirth prep class and the instructor was great about informing us about everything that happens during a c-section, what to expect as far as how soon you'll be able to see the baby afterward, etc. I personally would like to avoid a c-section, but I'm not dead set against having one. I think you do what you can to get your baby here in the way that is best for the baby. The best person to talk to about it is your doctor.

My sister had a c-section with her first because it was medically necessary. She'd been through a childbirth prep class that basically said if you have a c-section, even an emergency one, you are a bad mother and should be banished to the sixth ring of hell. She felt really awful about it but finally realized that it was the only safe way that her son could have been born. This time she is electing to have a c-section. She would have tried for a VBAC, but it's not an option for her (she was single-stitched the first time). So she knows when her baby will be born and she can plan accordingly. She knows who will watch her son during her delivery and what to expect as far as how the procedure is done. My sister-in-law did the same thing with her second baby, and they both said it helped to alleviate a lot of stress and worry and they were better able to prepare themselves for the recovery afterward.

[Lucretia]

Sauceboxxx - Supposedly mid-February, based on sonogram sizing. I haven't had a health checkup on the pregnancy yet, as I just found out about it while having a health checkup on...well, me. (I've had kidney problems for a while.) I'm going in next week, so I'll probably have more info and more to think about after that.

[Lucretia]

Yeah, I found out at about 17 weeks. I'm 19 weeks now. 5 months, then, I guess?

I'll definitely have some questions perpared. I also have two friends who just delivered this month, and one who is due in January, so lots of firsthand experiences from different age groups with this pregnancy thing. They just don't feel very talkative yet. ;l One of them had an episiotomy, which makes me cross my legs in pain just thinking about it.

[Clementine]

Yeah, I found out at about 17 weeks. I'm 19 weeks now. 5 months, then, I guess?


You didn't find out til week 17!!?!?
Did you freak the fuck out, or WHAT!?!?

Oh god. That makes me have heart palpitations just thinking about it. ;l

[Lucretia]

You didn't find out til week 17!!?!?
Did you freak the fuck out, or WHAT!?!?
I usually describe my reaction with about the same words. ;) I was on birth control (ortho tri lo) and never stopped getting my period. So apparently I don't have any fertility problems, if anyone was wondering. :p

Baby's growing fine, though, as is evidenced by his big ol' head in my sono picture the day I found out. I've been craving certain foods the past few months (the only major tip-off for pregnancy I'd had)--namely potato foods of any kind. So we've designated him the "little potatohead."

[Clementine]

I usually describe my reaction with about the same words. ;) I was on birth control (ortho tri lo) and never stopped getting my period. So apparently I don't have any fertility problems, if anyone was wondering. :p

Baby's growing fine, though, as is evidenced by his big ol' head in my sono picture the day I found out. I've been craving certain foods the past few months (the only major tip-off for pregnancy I'd had)--namely potato foods of any kind. So we've designated him the "little potatohead."

Woweee.
He's a very determined lil potatohead at that! He was like, I'll show YOU birth control! Here I come! ;l

Hope the rest of your pregnancy is easy peasy and full of foot rubs and ice cream. :)

[PotatoFace]

I've been doing some reading, both in books and around online pregnancy and health resources, and I've found that beliefs / experiences with c-sections seem to be pretty polarized. In some circles, CHOOSING to have a c-section would probably be considered crazy talk. Of course I do understand that Caesareans are major surgery. I've also come to understand that the recovery period can be excruciatingly painful and drawn-out. I know that VBACs can be a pain to arrange with some healthcare providers (and by the same token, some won't perform elective c-sections). But I'm interested in finding out more about elective c-sections and c-sections in general. I'm not sure that natural birth is something I want to do, not because I view c-sections as a magical, painless baby delivery process, but because I'm willing to put up with the recovery as opposed to the even longer-term problems the women in my family traditionally have with vaginal births. It's something I'm going to discuss with my doctor, but I know they can only tell you so much, and I want to be sure about my decision.
Any experiences, thoughts, suggestions?

i had an emergency c section and i will avoid it at all costs with my next pregnancies,

its very painful to recover from, you do not get that intimite mummy baby bonding that vaginal deliveries give you and who wants to take care of a newborn after major surgery?

[Ramba]

i had two vaginal births, and a c-section. the vaginal births were by far easier. the body is much more able to bounce back from a vaginal birth. i was out of the hospital same day with my first, and second day with my second (only because i had a slight fever from a cold.) i was in the hospital 3 days with the c-section and took a week, just to feel like i was recovering.

i also heard somewhere that once you have a c-section, it's much more difficult to have a vaginal birth the next time. i do not know if this is true, but i would go vaginal anyday, given the option. just my .02.

congrats. :)

[Rose Bud]

I've only had a vaginal birth, but I will say that my recovery was REALLY easy. I never needed pain meds during my recovery, I think the only medication I did take that they offered during recovery was the stool softener. I left the hospital feeling great. Tired, but physically my body was well on it's way to bouncing back. I tore, and the stitches were just a tiny bit uncomfortable but was hardly painful.

That being said, I'd NEVER opt for an elective c-section. Never. I understand that there are situations where emergencies pop up and they have to be done. But unless say my life or my child's life is in danger, it's not even an option.

I've heard some sources say that I SHOULD have had a c-section with my son, or at the very least intervention beyond an epidural and pitocin to have my son, because he was occiput posterior (facing my front, instead of facing my back). Nope, I delivered him vaginally, and while I did have the epidural and pitocin, there was no need for vacuum extraction or forceps. I did it on my own, with 38 minutes of pushing. Do not underestimate what the human body is capable of!

[supernova]

I'm not sure what longer term problems your family has faced, but I am fairly certain that there is a general feeling that unless lives are at stake, a c-section is a lot more risky, and I imagine there are some doctors who simply won't do elective c-sections. There's more risk for infection and hemorrage. There are more risks for respiratory problems for the baby - I thought I remember reading that certain fluids in the lungs are squeezed out during the time in the birth canal which obviously doesn't occur during a c-section. Also, if they are at all wrong with your due date, they could mistakenly plan the c-section with the baby still premature.

[Lucretia]

Don't they use suction / vacuuming after delivering a c-section baby? I thought I read something about "cleaning out fluids that would be pushed out in vaginal birth." I'll have to find out more about possible respiratory issues with Cs.

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

[entropy]

my friend who is mexican had an elective c-section. she told me that they are very popular in mexico among middle and upper class women. her doctor tried to get her to change her mind. but to no avail and she had an elective c-section because of "cultural differences".

[Rose Bud]

my friend who is mexican had an elective c-section. she told me that they are very popular in mexico among middle and upper class women. her doctor tried to get her to change her mind. but to no avail and she had an elective c-section because of "cultural differences".

I've also heard it's quite popular in China, to prevent your child from being born on "unlucky days".

[piano_girl76]

I would never elect to have a c section. I want to do it vaginally but if some unknown emergency comes up then I have no choice. I think most women want that perfect delivery where your child is laid upon your chest. Having a c section would be a disappointment to me but..Having a healthy child would of course be the most important thing.

I'm in shock that you didn't know you were preggers at 17 weeks! Wow! Did ya not notice your belly spreading everywhere? lol

[Lucretia]

I felt a little bloated, but I've only started "outwardly expanding" this past week.

[dormilona]

17 weeks isn't that strange not to show. i didn't show until 21 weeks. i was chunky but didn't look pregnant. all of a sudden i just popped out.

[piano_girl76]

Wow, I could totally feel the hardness and pressure before 12 weeks. We are alll so different though so it's just neat.

[jenniferblaufrau]

I was on birth control (ortho tri lo) and never stopped getting my period.
Omg, this is a nightmare of mine. :p

[Sekhmet's Fire]

I had 2 c-sections for both my children. I had no choice. For my son, I had lost my water for more than 12 hours and never dilated more than 2cm in 20 hours., it was getting dangerous for him so I had to go into emergency c-section. For my daughter, things were looking pretty much the same as the dilatation was doing the same thing it did for my son and so I went for the c-section.

I recovered well from both operations. The pain disappeared after about a month and started working out after 6 months. As for the bonding part. My husband was present for both birth and he was the first to bond with our children in both cases (meaning he held them first whilst I was in the recovery room). I had no problem bonding with my children as well.

[frangipanigrrl]

I'm not preggo or planning on becoming so anytime soon, but if I was I'd prefer a scheduled c-section. I'd also prefer to be unconscious during the operation if I could. My partner feels the same way, so if we are ever expecting, this will be the sort of deal we're looking for.

We're in Canada and it seems that people who want to schedule c-sections have to go from doc to doc until they find one agreeable. My close friend had her first child last March and one of the maternity nurses told her that when she had each of her two kids she had to go a few hours away to a doc who would do the scheduled c-section. You gotta do what you gotta do I suppose.

My mom had me 30 years ago through c-section and she was put out for it. She was pleased with doing it that way so maybe I take after her in that way!

I know I'm in the minority though, as most women I know definitely want to do the vaginal birth.

[PotatoFace]

I'm not preggo or planning on becoming so anytime soon, but if I was I'd prefer a scheduled c-section. I'd also prefer to be unconscious during the operation if I could. My partner feels the same way, so if we are ever expecting, this will be the sort of deal we're looking for.
We're in Canada and it seems that people who want to schedule c-sections have to go from doc to doc until they find one agreeable. My close friend had her first child last March and one of the maternity nurses told her that when she had each of her two kids she had to go a few hours away to a doc who would do the scheduled c-section. You gotta do what you gotta do I suppose.
My mom had me 30 years ago through c-section and she was put out for it. She was pleased with doing it that way so maybe I take after her in that way!
I know I'm in the minority though, as most women I know definitely want to do the vaginal birth.


i had a c section with being knocked out. let me tell you, it sucked ass big time.

the c section is painful recovery. and the knock out drugs get passed through to you baby.

[katz]

You didn't find out til week 17!!?!?
Did you freak the fuck out, or WHAT!?!?

Oh god. That makes me have heart palpitations just thinking about it. ;l
2 of my good friends BOTH found out at 7 months and just shy of 8 that they were pregnant. the first one i was like ok freak montel show material accident, second one was like WTF WITH YOU PEOPLE *L*

they both put on weight, but generally just looked the same (they're a bit heavier but not much), the second they peed on the stick though, holy shit. Big old baby bellies popped.


and for me, I was born emergency c-section. i wasn't coming out at all so they opted to do that, turned out i was choking to death from the cord wrapped around my neck. for myself, i am personally saying natural birth, however i'm no where being pregnant yet (we hope to start planning and trying after the first of the year), so things can change in the time of pregnancy to birthing hour. if it turns that i need drugs, fine, if it turns that i need that c-section, well then what other choice do i have?

[stupidANDcontagious]

Irresponsible and stupid. BUT, her body, her child, her choice. (No matter how ill informed it may be).

[Lucretia]

Why is it irresponsible?

[stupidANDcontagious]

By electing to have a c-section when a vaginal birth is medically possible the mother is acting irresponsibly.

Compared to a vaginal delivery:

Women run 5 to 7 times the risk of death with c-sections.
Twice as many women require rehospitalization after a c-section.
Reproductive consequences include increased infertility, miscarriage and placenta previa.
Babies born after elective c-sections are: more than four times likely to develop life threatening persistent pulmonary hypertension.
They are 50% more likely to have low Apgar scores.
5 times more likely to require assistance with breathing. Babies delivered by elective cesarean have an increased risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), a life-threatening condition and other respiratory problems that may require NICU care.
Neonatal respiratory distress is a major complication of elective Cesarean section. Awaiting the onset of labor appears to be beneficial in preventing neonatal RDS for term neonates delivered by elective Cesarean section.
5 times more likely to be admitted to intermediate or intensive care.
For mothers, there is an increased risk of infection, hemorrhage, damage to abdominal and urinary tract organs, and complications from anesthesia/narcotics.


By electing to undergo major abdominal surgery when there is no medical reason to do so, you might* forfeit the experience of bonding with your baby immediately after birth. You might not be able to have direct skin to skin contact or put baby to breast right away. Babies are meant to come out of vaginas. That's how we're made. The process of exiting through the birth canal is beneficial for the baby for multiple reasons. One being all the liquid retained in baby's lungs is expelled naturally. It doesn't need to be sucked out by a nurse.

It stuns me that women choose to have c-sections. I can't fathom the mentality of discovering you're pregnant, deciding to keep the fetus, then deciding childbirth is too scary/painful/hard and forgoing even an attempt at labor and delivery and opting for a slice and staple. Sure the actual cesarean delivery may be painless, but the recovery is anything but. Pain management and healing may interfere with breastfeeding, you can't drive, lift objects (maybe even your baby), or do normal activities for weeks and weeks. When you become pregnant it's not about you anymore, it's about you AND baby. While you might feel more at ease by electing to have a c-section and being knocked out, there are consequences (as seen above) for baby. Without going into labor, there is no way to know if the baby is ready to be born. Ultrasounds and due dates tell you nothing, they are rough estimates and there is huge room for error. Suppose you schedule your birth (even that phrase is disturbing) for Friday, which is when you are allegedly term. What if you had waited just a week, or a few more days. You could've gone into labor on your own, letting nature take its course. There is much development you could be depriving baby of by scheduling its entrance into the world.

Dr. William Sears on elective c-sections: "I've assisted on nearly 500 cesarean sections and it IS major surgery that should be reserved for emergency situations in which the life or health of either mother or baby would be jeopardized by the usual vaginal delivery. C-sections, while life-saving in many circumstances, should not be taken lightly. There's some evidence that the hormones during labor and delivery are beneficial for mother and baby. After surgery a mother's energy is diverted into healing her wounds rather than mothering her baby."

I am absolutely confident in my opinions on c-sections as I've had one and it SUCKED. Thankfully I'll be rocking a VBAC in a few weeks. ;G

Additionally, Lucretia, I admit I didn't read your entire post, I just read "elective c-sections" and posted quickly before. Obviously your midwife or OB will be able to determine your ability of vaginal delivery after taking family history and such, but the percentage of women who truly can NOT birth vaginally is so very low. Also, natural doesn't mean squatting in a field with no pain relief in sight. There are pain management methods available for vaginal deliveries. I didn't mean to offend you with my sharp reply earlier, but I have very strong feelings about c-sections. I've been researching them for years (after my own experience), and want women to be informed. Like I said, her body, her baby, her choice. But I REALLY hope she makes the choice after much research and debate, and not as a swift reaction to fear of vaginal birth.


*It differs from doctor to doctor, but some won't let you hold your baby and let the cord stop pulsing on its own while you put baby to breast. They whisk baby away while you are left in a cold operating room.

[PotatoFace]

thank you julie for posting that julie.

many women dont feel they lost out on the immediate bonding with their sections. and maybe they didn't, but i know from my section that it wasnt like giving birth at all. my was a true emergency, but i still feel robbed.

it haunts me daily.

i look at my baby and think about how i wasnt the first to hold her.

it kills me.

and to think that people want to do this

[dormilona]

*temporary off topic*
so when are we starting julie's thread?

*back on topic*
thank you, thank you, thank you. i think "irresponsible" completely sums it up.

[Lucretia]

Additionally, Lucretia, I admit I didn't read your entire post, I just read "elective c-sections" and posted quickly before.
I posted this thread to gather some info on the subject (thanks for your post, btw) -- not because I'm scared of natural / vaginal birth, or pain, or anything of that sort. Not at all -- my friend just had her first baby, vaginally and with an epidural, and she felt no pain at all. I was actually quite amazed at how at ease she was afterwards in describing everything, and anyone can see how different the situation would be if she were instead recovering from being cut open and sewn back together. C-sections definitely scare me more, if I had to use the word "scare." I'm just not sure that I agree that electing to have a c-section is "irresponsible."

I also do realize that every pregnancy, delivery, experience etc is different. This is why I wanted to know everyone's thoughts and experiences with c-sections -- elective or not. I knew a lot of the facts about c-sections and recovery, I just wasn't aware that it was this much a controversial topic on its own.

ETA: My friend's baby had to be suctioned after birth, as well (nose and mouth, no meconium or anything, they just did it). It was born naturally.

[Clementine]

thank you julie for posting that julie.

many women dont feel they lost out on the immediate bonding with their sections. and maybe they didn't, but i know from my section that it wasnt like giving birth at all. my was a true emergency, but i still feel robbed.

it haunts me daily.

i look at my baby and think about how i wasnt the first to hold her.

it kills me.

and to think that people want to do this

I'm so sorry you had such a horrible experience.
Just keep in mind that planned cesareans aren't like your experience. It's now even possilbe to be able to be the first to hold your baby in your arms, with help of course.
People would never want to experience what you did, StupidGirl. True emergency c-sections, as yours was, is completely different that a planned one.
I hope you are able to heal from this soon.

[Clementine]

I also do realize that every pregnancy, delivery, experience etc is different. This is why I wanted to know everyone's thoughts and experiences with c-sections -- elective or not. I knew a lot of the facts about c-sections and recovery, I just wasn't aware that it was this much a controversial topic on its own.


Your first sentence sums up my own opinions very well.
Because of my own personal experience, I have made a conscious effort not to make blanket statements about any woman's child birth choices.

Because I have chosen not to go the VBAC route with any future children I may have, I will never say that an elective cesarean is a wrong choice. That would be incredibly hypocritical of me.

Before my emergency cesarean, I had the perfect, all natural, water birth planned. I'm not haunted by the cesarean itself, nor the recovery, though it was incredibly painful. It's the emergency part that was fucking traumatic.

Anyway, it's my decision and my body. My child that I am forever responsible for, beginning at conception. My decision is based on an incredible amount of research on the subject, and combining that with knowing myself and my husband very well. My only real problem with elective cesreans is if a woman makes that decision out of ignorance. There is no excuse not to thoroughly research something as important as birthing methods.

My own reasoning for having future cesareans is that I feel I am at high risk for uterine rupture because it took more than six months for my incision to heal. I can't even imagine the scar tissue I must have. This is something I will discuss with my doctor, and I may actually be able to get a look at the scar tissue pre-pregnancy. (This is if and when we decide to even have more children!) If you're not famliar with uterine rupture, here (http://www.vbac.com/uterine.html) is an article about it. VBAC.com (http://www.vbac.com/index.html) is also an excellent resource for women who'd like to have a vaginal birth after cesarean.

Uterine ruptures are very rare, less than 1%, in cases such as mine where I have a low transverse scar . But I have researched and discussed this at length with my husband, and it's just not something I want to attempt at this point in my life. Some may say I've made this decision out of fear because I was traumatized by my previous experience, and that is true. But it's still very real, and it's my decision about how to deal with that fear. I do not feel I missed out on anything by having my baby by cesarean. I had a good experience in the hospital with a great mid-wife and doctor, and my baby was with his father while I was in recovery. I was the first person to touch his face, and it was my voice that calmed him when he cried as he was taken out of my womb.

I can't imagine laboring again for 13 hours only to be whisked away for an emergency cesarean, whereby I may not even be conscious during the birth. I am not emotionally ready to handle the worry that I would experience if I attempted a VBAC, and at the same time be focused on labor and delivery.

I wish all women well on the decisions they make, and I hope everything works out as planned, and that at the end of the day, both mother and child are happy and healthy. I think VBACS are fantastic. I think they're safe, logical, and a natural choice for many mothers. Just not me, at this time.

[Rose Bud]

Your first sentence sums up my own opinions very well.
Because of my own personal experience, I have made a conscious effort not to make blanket statements about any woman's child birth choices.

Because I have chosen not to go the VBAC route with any future children I may have, I will never say that an elective cesarean is a wrong choice. That would be incredibly hypocritical of me.

Before my emergency cesarean, I had the perfect, all natural, water birth planned. I'm not haunted by the cesarean itself, nor the recovery, though it was incredibly painful. It's the emergency part that was fucking traumatic.

Anyway, it's my decision and my body. My child that I am forever responsible for, beginning at conception. My decision is based on an incredible amount of research on the subject, and combining that with knowing myself and my husband very well. My only real problem with elective cesreans is if a woman makes that decision out of ignorance. There is no excuse not to thoroughly research something as important as birthing methods.

My own reasoning for having future cesareans is that I feel I am at high risk for uterine rupture because it took more than six months for my incision to heal. I can't even imagine the scar tissue I must have. This is something I will discuss with my doctor, and I may actually be able to get a look at the scar tissue pre-pregnancy. (This is if and when we decide to even have more children!) If you're not famliar with uterine rupture, here (http://www.vbac.com/uterine.html) is an article about it. VBAC.com (http://www.vbac.com/index.html) is also an excellent resource for women who'd like to have a vaginal birth after cesarean.

Uterine ruptures are very rare, less than 1%, in cases such as mine where I have a low transverse scar . But I have researched and discussed this at length with my husband, and it's just not something I want to attempt at this point in my life. Some may say I've made this decision out of fear because I was traumatized by my previous experience, and that is true. But it's still very real, and it's my decision about how to deal with that fear. I do not feel I missed out on anything by having my baby by cesarean. I had a good experience in the hospital with a great mid-wife and doctor, and my baby was with his father while I was in recovery. I was the first person to touch his face, and it was my voice that calmed him when he cried as he was taken out of my womb.

I can't imagine laboring again for 13 hours only to be whisked away for an emergency cesarean, whereby I may not even be conscious during the birth. I am not emotionally ready to handle the worry that I would experience if I attempted a VBAC, and at the same time be focused on labor and delivery.

I wish all women well on the decisions they make, and I hope everything works out as planned, and that at the end of the day, both mother and child are happy and healthy. I think VBACS are fantastic. I think they're safe, logical, and a natural choice for many mothers. Just not me, at this time.

But see, you've made a researched, informed, and well-thought out decision for yourself based on your circumstances. That's great. Just some women don't do all the thought and research and don't make an informed decision. I'm pretty strongly against elective c-sections too, but much like Julie was saying--your childbirth, your choice, just at least be informed about it, you know?

[Clementine]

But see, you've made a researched, informed, and well-thought out decision for yourself based on your circumstances. That's great. Just some women don't do all the thought and research and don't make an informed decision. I'm pretty strongly against elective c-sections too, but much like Julie was saying--your childbirth, your choice, just at least be informed about it, you know?

Absolutely.

[PotatoFace]

funny thing my ob said at my 6w check up.
"i know its not the birth you wanted, but when she's 16 and not appreciating you, you can actually give her a horrific story of how you almost died to bring her into the world."

i looked at him and was like "omg dr mcneil that is horrid."
we kind of looked at each other and laughed.

i can just imagine that converstation

"but mum you're not being fair!"
"dont talk to me about being fair young lady! i almost died in childbirth with you!"
"mum that is so medievil of you to say"

[supernova]

it haunts me daily.


Oh, K. Give yourself some time. Really. If you want to PM and talk labor stories, I'd be happy to.

[caren34]

I had 3 natural birth's then had a planned c-section , when i came to have my 5th child i was induced but he got destressed so had a emcerency c-section , what a cock up it was they cut me and instead of the cut being straight its goes up at one side , then they left the plantetia in me and i had to go back 20 days later to have it removed , on my 6 th baby i had to have a planned c-section it was better than the 5th baby but it was enough to put me off and got clipped , i'd have a natural birth 10 x over rather than a c-section not only is it painful but the bond is harder to get with a c-section baby

[LavenderSession]

Well, I had to have an emergency c-section. There were a number of reasons I ended up with one. The main one was that the baby was in distress. VBAC won't be an option for me because when they went in to pull Lil Miss out, she shot her arm out and it ripped my uterus down, giving me a T shaped slit.

The recovery didn't bother me much. It was the first poop after that surgery that I swear to God was worse than childbirth. But other than that, I was good.

My sister, on the other hand, had a really hard time. But I think it has more to do with the care she received than the actual c-section. Her incision became so infected that when she stood up, a puddle of puss fell to the floor. This was when she was still in the hospital. She ended up having to have a drainer attached to her for like 8 weeks and a nurse came to her home every other day to clean it, drain it, and dress it again. It was pretty harsh.

I will say this about the incision: it's tender long after it's healed and now, when I have periods, it aches. I don't think a c-section should be something that is chosen by a patient, but I also think that c-sections are given for a good reason and you should listen to what the doctor tells you is best for your body at that time. I would never, ever choose the welfare of my baby over something like a vaginal delivery. As long as the baby is healthy, I don't care.