5/5. After three of my own I'd be ashamed if I got less. *lol*

5/5--I had three c-sections,too!

I actually have seen where Docs schedule a c-section because they will be away...

They do, but the question was that it's not a USUAL reason. I thought the same thing until I broke it down. It's also more likely that they schedule an induction, but that increases your chances of a c-section.

5/5 too.

After giving birth vaginally several times, I had an emergency c-section because of a cord prolapse.

You are smart to prepare yourself for the possibility. The recovery was ROUGH compared to my other deliveries.

100%! I had 2 c-sections, and found that my recovery was not bad at all. I mean, I was able to walk about the next day, whereas a lot of women I know who had tearing weren't able to get around comfortably for some time! I think that there are risks associated with both types of delivery, and of course surgery can always have complications, but your recovery will depend upon you and your doctor. It's different for everyone.

I had cake walk recoveries with all three. The first especially surprised the doctors since I was well into a vaginal birth when the emergency hit, so I had a double recovery. I didn't even take any narcotics with the seconds two once the spinal wore off, just Motrin until I was released. With the first, I stopped narcotics after 24 hours.

I had a c-section with my first (and will have the same with the second in February or March), and recovery was awful. I was under general anesthesia, so I didn't get any pain meds. I woke up from surgery with zero pain block, and it was hard to get the pain under control at that point. And, there is nothing better than writhing around in pain and rolling in and out of consciousness with your AH's entire family standing over you in the recovery room.

Hopefully, I'll get a spinal block with this next one and won't have to endure those particular sensations again.

5/5 and no kids!

Whoo hoo, got them all right! I don't have any kids yet and I still thought it was super easy.

I think it's also important to mention the role of midwives in reducing the insane rate of cesareans in this country. Most midwives have less than a 10% cesarean rate, lower rate of episiotomy, longer and more in depth prenatal appointments with little to no wait, and documented better outcomes.

Many midwives will do vbac's too, which is better than many OB's. A great website for details about vbac is vbacfacts. com and ican-online.org.

Best wishes to you on your impending birth!

many people don't have a choice as far as c-sections are concerned.. midwives are great, but may not be the right choice for everyone.

See, that's the thing, women DO have choices, but they feel like they don't. Nobody can make choices for you unless you let them. I agree that midwives are not the best choice for everyone, but if we all start out with someone used to dealing with high risk patients, we are all going to become high risk to that care provider. And, unfortunately, that's what OB's are--high risk care providers.

If the only tool you have is an axe, everything becomes a tree. Same thing with a scalpel.

i think this is just a difference of views.. yes, many women often have choices and may not know what they are, etc. but some don't, or some feel more comfortable in the care of an OB for whatever reasons.. while there are OB's out there that treat women as a group, and not case by case, there are many who don't. if a woman senses that and isn't comfortable, they should look into other options, {including other OB's}. It's not one way vs. the other, it's about what's best for the woman and her baby in all aspects. I think it's important to let women know their choices, but not sway them into thinking midwives, and "natural" birth are the only way...

PhatE, I totally agree with you. We all need to go with what works for us and our families after carefully considering all options. Deep down in our Mama-guts we know if we are using the right care provider or not. It simply saddens me to know that so many women that I know personally ignore that feeling because they are doing what they perceive they are supposed to, and that is be a good girl and listen to their OB. I used to be that woman.

And, just so you know, many women deliver in hospitals with CNM (certified nurse midwives) attending and utilize epidurals. Midwife does not automatically equal home birth or drug free.

Thanks for the great conversation.

I do know that about midwives, I just don't think they are always the best choice, or the only ones that can provide that kind of care and support.

I don't think Mama was saying that no woman can have a c-section. But the fact is, many doctors do end up essentially causing c-sections or doing them too soon. It's not the woman's fault, she didn't cause it. They're not always the best choice, just like an OB isn't always the best choice. I also don't think anyone suggested that they're the only ones who can provide the care and support that help avoid a c-section.

I couldn't have avoided my c-sections, but I still wish I'd had a midwife to help me through the whole experience. Our insurance doesn't cover them and we can't afford to pay out of pocket.

Sorry, my first sentence isn't worded right. I meant that I don't think Mama was saying that all women can avoid c-sections as long as they have a midwife.

Right,right.
As usual, I'm with Greggie.

Many c-sections are inevitable,but not 1 out of 3, probably.

If not for modern medicine and the c-section my oldest (4yrs) would have been still born. The jury is out on my 2nd, but there would certainly have been some damage. w/#3 they no longer gave me a choice--best birthing experience, but not easiest recovery.

That said

If can help it
please
HAVE AN ADVOCATE with you when you give birth!

be it a friend, a connection in the hospital or a doula (if you have the means, please get one!)
it may make all the difference.

5/5 and I've only been around my sister who had a C-Section and I didn't know anything about it. I just picked what sounded right.

5/5 woo hoo! I should know these answers...my mom had 3 C-sections and I have researched them for the future. Of course, I will try to have a natural birth but I have to also consider a c-section as a possibility. My mom had her first C-section with me, the oldest child, because I was ten days late, failed induction of labor, and macrosomia, I think (I was a big baby - 10lbs, 4oz). Then she had two more C-sections with my sisters because I suppose she felt more comfortable with that then VBAC. From what I heard, her recovery from the C-sections weren't too terrible, she was sore for a few days I think but thats about it.

Watch out for the tape. I'd never had an allergic reaction of any kind before. The surgical tape (non-latex I believe) left welts and blisters all around the incision. That was pain I could've done without.

I had the same thing, although the first time was from my gall bladder removal. I was fine with the first two c-sections, then had the gall bladder removal and developed a horrible allergy to the tape. And managed to forget about it, so I didn't warn them with the c-section. My doctor is this totally calm, cool, never shocked guy but his jaw dropped when he removed my dressings. *lol* Then my histamines went into overdrive and I developed reactions to everything - deodorant, lotion, shampoo, etc.

Surgeries often cause temporary allergies. It's not common for it to stick around like mine did, but it's not unheard of either.

5/5 and have had no c sections

5/5!
We have a c-section (my first c-section, but not first birth) scheduled on 5/29 due to placenta previa. Since we found out we would need a c-section I've been reading and researching everything I can.