I asked for a C Section and got it!

Painless? What kind of drugs did you have? :) Having to hold on to your stomach for dear life in an attempt to get up to go pee wasn't my idea of painless! While I am glad you got the delivery you wanted, I agree with your sister in law. I too missed out on natural delivery. Now I'm actually sentenced to having to have a c-section due to complications with my baby being a preemie the first time around. Again, glad it worked out for you, but definitely not something we all would like to choose!

WOW, I don't think I was pain free at all! I would have to ask the same, what kind of drugs did you get. The recovery from the c-section vs vaginal is a HUGE difference.
I understand where your sister in law is coming from. I had my first baby natural. My second was a c-section as he turned side ways while I was in labor. I had myself in a zone when I gave birth to my daughter, it was funny as the dr walked in and said, "its so calm in here I wish more deliveries where like this". It is the most amazing feeling in the world to give birth. There is something so empowering about it. Your doing it, its all up to you. And the pain, you forget as soon as your beautiful baby is placed in your arms.
I don't think there is any way to understand the dissappointment. I hated the fact I was not able to see my son for 3 hrs after he was born. I could not hold him right away. It was like something was missing. What I had with my daughter, she was right in my arms just seconds after she was born. I was the first to "cuddle" her. My son, I gave him a kiss, touched his face and he was off. I still wish to this day that I could have had a natural delivery with him as well.

I am happy for you that you experienced your child's birth in a way that was pleasing for you, and that you had a good experience while you were in the hospital. That's a good thing. However, as a nurse and as someone who has done it "the old-fashioned way", I feel like I need to comment here.

First off, if your physician and her partners were OK with this, then great. You are correct that "older" moms can be at higher risk for complications during labor and delivery, although that is not a given. Of course, there is also the fact that a scheduled c/s meant your doctor wouldn't be up in the middle of the night! I'm a little surprised your insurance was OK with it, as C/S is at least twice as expensive as a vaginal delivery.

I understand how witnessing a friend's complications can be scary. However, please realize that literally thousands of women deliver every day with only minor problems or without any problems at all.

I don't personally think that experiencing pain in and of itself makes having a baby or the memory more enjoyable. There is for some women a sense of accomplishment that comes from having a vaginal delivery, whether they took drugs, had an epidural, or did Bradley method. This in no way means that a c/s is an any less valid way to have a baby. I'm just relating what the experience is like for some women. And labor DOES hurt.....A LOT!

Plus, with a c/s, you may not have the pain of labor, but after your spinal wears off, you will have pain....just how much depends on the person and how you deal with pain personally. Plus, the recovery tends to be longer and more difficult than with a vaginal delivery.

Also, and I think we've gotten away from this realization as c/sections have become more common, but a c/s is MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY with all the risks that entails: excessive bleeding requiring transfusion, infection, wound healing complications, pneumonia, blood clots forming in the legs (DVT) and possibly breaking loose and traveling to the lungs (pulmonary embolus), injury to the bowel and bladder, and ANY surgery can result in death.

Again, I'm happy for you that you had a great and positive experience. You will cherish the memories of your child's birth forever, and that's great. I would however caution other women considering having a c/s without trying labor to really discuss it with their doctor and really take time making such an important decision that is, like I said, not without risks.

I have to be completely honest...when I was pregnant I kept saying I want a c-section and my boyfriend thought I was crazy. Well when it came time for my daughter to be born, things were going wrong and the Dr. came in and said we're going to have to do an emergency c-section. So anyways...after it was all said and done, I will chose to have a c-section next time. Yes, it was painful to learn to walk again, but you don't have all the other pains that go with a vaginal. I don't know? That's just what I think

I just delivered twins via c-section 13 days ago so the surgery is still fresh in my mind. I also delivered a 9 lb baby 19 months so I can definitely compare the two. I would choose a vaginal over a c-section 10 times over. Sure, labor sucked on the vaginal but once my daughter was born, it was pretty smooth sailing. I'm still sore from my cesarean and I honestly don't think I'm going to feel great anytime real soon. My doctor did a great job on my incision, etc but it's still surgery and the healing part hurts like heck. Now that I've done both, I would never voluntarily ask for a c-section. To each their own though.

My friends and I had this conversation awhile ago! We were discussing what was more painful, C/S or vag? I know my sister and my friends said that vag was really painful, and I could tell by the way they walked afterwards! I had a C/S with my daughter. She was born 8 weeks early, so I had no say in it. It was horrible when they made me sit up and then stand that first night! OUCH!! Has anyone else had babies both ways? Which was worse, and why? Also, has anyone had a VBAC after a previous preemie?

I have not had a C-sec, I had 5 vag deliveries. I did however have a tubal after my last baby, and that hurt way worse than the labor did. My sister had 2 c-sections, and her recovery was more painful and longer than mine. I know 4 moms who chose v-bac, 2 of those women had to have a c-sec after hours of labor. In one case the incision site was paper thin and starting to tear, she would have bled out if they had not done an emergency c-sect. This was after 20 hours of hard labor. It was also her 6th child. She is pretty sure she is done now ;)

First off, congrats on your new little one! :) I definitely agree with some of you that I'd prefer a vaginal birth, though. Of course, this is me who's had 3 of them and no c-sxs. I think it's painful of course, but I think the recovery is much better. Sections are major surgeries!! Obviously there are risks both ways, but our bodies were meant to be able to produce and nourish our children. Plus, I like not having the scar! Or at least, not in addition to my many stretch marks! :)

mama to DS 7/00, DS 6/04, & DS 12/07

Well, beautygirl, I am going to go against the crowd here and say...I had a c-section (though not a planned one) and the recovery was a breeze for me, too. Maybe it was because my mom was here to help, or maybe I have a high pain tolerance. I told them to take me off the IV drugs (morphine, I think???) because they weren't doing any good, and they gave me Darvocet (sp?), which helped more. It was more painful, for me, when they came in and pushed on my stomach, than the recovery was at home. Even breast engorgement, after trying to nurse for two weeks and quitting cold turkey, was WAY more painful than the c-section. Since I have had two abdominal surgeries (I now have an inverted cross on my belly), I will likely have another one if we have another baby someday. As for not being able to hold her right away....her daddy got to hold her, from the time she was evaluated until we got up to our room and they took her to the nursery for her bath and everything. And he got to be in there and videotaped the whole thing for me. If I couldn't hold her, at least he could. As far as not experiencing a natural birth, yes, I am SLIGHTLY disappointed about not ever knowing what that would be like, but in the end, I have a beautiful baby girl, regardless of how she came into the world. I, too, was worried about a vaginal birth....the pain, the episiotomy, taking care of "that" area after coming home....the worst part of my recovery was walking up the stairs the day we came home, and I only had to do it once. Of course, there are risks to having surgery. But there are risks with vaginal births, as well. My baby never would have come out "naturally", so I am thankful that c-sections are routine these days. Anyway, that's just my experience and my two cents. Congratulations on your baby! 1st time mommy to our "princess"

Im so glad they let you do what you wanted to do during the birth of your baby!
Thier are risks no matter how you do it.
But as for the pain level well I had a c-section the first time ( my son had some complacations ) and a v-bac the secand time.
The c-cection of corse was pain free but the epdural they give you to numb your body was PAINFULL I cryed during that. Then the recovery was painfull as well I think thier were a few weeks of pain form what I remember. You cant stand up strait and to sit and stand is really bad then the fear of ripping open your stiches agghh.
The v-bac was also painfull. Again that epdural is a pain Hubby said that was the most pain he had seen me in. Then the labor pain after pain then I had to have that slit (baby got stuck ) so recovery was painfull on that to. I sat on ice for probebly a week lol it was bruised and swollen I never thought it was going to look the same (but fear not ladies it does lol ).
I also remember with the c-section coming out off that spine numb thing I was shaking for what seemed like hours! I was crying and could not warm up.
If I would have to pick one for the most pain it would be the c-section for me.
If I ever had to pick a way to do it again I would say out the hooha any old day lol

I have a fear of having a c-section. I had my daughter vaginally and while it hurt until I got my epidural, the labor and delivery after that was pain free. I went as far as I could for pain wise and tried the drugs, which made me sick so got the epidural then. I didn't feel any pain after that! I am pregnant again and hoping for the same as the first time.

Obviously with any childbirth there are risks and complications. But I think the important and beautiful thing is that you had the birth experience you wanted. Too many women do not. How horrible to remember the birth of your child as traumatic? Regardless of your reasons, having the birth you want is a true blessing that not all of us are able to have. :)
I had two drug-free vaginal births. My first was more painful and took longer to recover. And I passed out afterwards, so no one would let me walk or take a shower without assistance for 24 hours afterwards. I also bled for weeks afterwards. My second was 9 lbs 14 oz, took longer, and was probably a bit more painful during labor, but the recovery was a cinch. Bleeding stopped after a couple days, I didn't pass out lol, and I was up and about very quickly. BUT...I think my best memory with both was that I got the births that I wanted. My doctor and nurses respected all of my wishes. My husband was by my side to advocate for me if they started to suggest something I didn't want and I was too out of it to correct them. It was all about as pleasant as natural childbirth can be. hehe.
Point is, kudos to you for knowing what you wanted, not being afraid to ask for it, and I'm so glad you got what you wanted and had a great experience with it!

I have had 3 c-sections and when I had my 3rd it was the best one that I had at 36 years old, but when I had my other ones, 20 and 16 years ago, so I think a lot may have changed since then. I did not have much pain at all with my c-section itself but I had some really bad pain with hemroids!! That pain was so bad! Otherwise, the pain meds that they give you now work pretty good.
~What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy.

yeah hook me up with those drugs if i need another c-section!
i had twins so i knew it was a good possibility for a c-section.
i had a list of pros and cons for both and i honestly couldn't decide which would be wrose.
the only conclusion i came to was i didn't want ti deliver one and then have to have a section for the other and need both!
it was weird being like "i'm going to go have my babies tomorrow".
and the main thing i like about natural birth is the element of surprise and then i will know when i'm in labor in any future pregnancies.
and i liked that, naturally, you know that your baby is totally ready!
i cried after my c-section because i was scared they weren't ready yet (i know physically they were but i guess i mean emotionally or whatever).

anywho.. yay for getting the c-section you wanted!

i was haunched over like an old lady taking baby steps for about a week :(. and i cried a few times because my hubby would make me laugh hard and it felt like my stitches were tearing (on the uterus and on the tummy).

yeowtch.

http://www.sanfordhealth.org/CradleRoll/BabyList.cfm?CradleRollParentId=22614

I have not had a c-section, but I have had major abdominal surgery (emergency surgery, so I have a nice big scar running down the center of my stomach). I remember that the healing time for that was a long, painful process. I had a 9 lb baby vaginally just over 5 months ago, and although labor was painful, the recovery was much smoother (pain controlled with tylenol & motrin).

Everyone has their own opinion, but mine is that there are entirely too many c-sections taking place because women are concerned about the temporary pain of labor and vaginal delivery, or in some cases, convenience for the doctor. For me, I just think that surgery poses too many risks to make that decision lightly (I have a hard time believing that doctors wish all women would do this). I am glad that your baby was born healthy (congratulations!) and that you are okay with your decision, but it is definately not a decision to be taken lightly.

I also had a cs w/o labor since baby was measuring big (ended up being 9lbs 12 oz) and wouldn't move down. My Dr said I could try and labor, but I knew I wanted a cs rather than forceps or vacuum. And honestly I think I kinda wanted one anyway. I had the same experience, got to hold my daughter right away (husband held her while they stiched me up) and was up walking around within 4 hours. I was a little uncomfortable, but I wouldn't say I was in pain. They offered me the chance to vbac with my son but I had such a good experience I wanted a cs again. Thank goodness I decided on that cuz he ended up being 10 lbs.

I like what the previous poster said - that what matters is that you got the birth you wanted. I've been on other boards where people get nasty if someone has a different opinion than them and cs versus vaginal really gets them riled up - almost as bad as breastfeeding versus formula feeding. :)Here's to all the classy women on this board who understand that people can have different opinions and ideas without feeling threatened themselves.

Also - one of the other posters had said she was shaking after the cs - I had heard that the shaking happens because of the sudden drop in hormones - not anything to do with the cs. Does anyone know for sure on this?

WOW, I opened up a can of worms, didn't I? Seriously, it was interesting reading all the responses to my post and I appreciate the difference in opinions.

I did forget to mention that my water broke 6 hours before my scheduled C-section so I did get to "experience" labor for a while (apparently what I thought were Braxton Hicks for the past week were the real thing.) When I got to the hospital the nurse said, "You are over half way there so why not have it vaginally."

I'm like..."Noooooooo!"

OK, call me a wimp. I do not have a high pain tolerance anyway and after watching my friend (who I was quite sure would not live through that night) screaming as the doctor was up to his elbows inside her...well, that did it for me. To say it was horror is putting it mildly. The doctor was ripping out chunks from inside her and slapping them onto what looked like a cookie sheet (no exaggeration.) Then I fainted flat on the floor and the nurses had to take me by the arms and drag me into the hall. My girlfriend will never forget that night for more reasons than her delivery! She opted for a C-section for her next one!

To be honest, I had my mind made up the day I found I was pregnant so I doubt anyone could have changed my stubborn mind at the time. The main point I guess is that the doctors listened to me and I got what I wanted....not that I am so easy to disuade anyway :)

Anyway, thanks for all the comments. I do appreciate the mom's differing opinions and the acceptance of my own.