Im 20 weeks pregnant with my third child. My first labor went very smoothly, it was painful but I didn't scream or cry but my second labor was the most horrible thing I have ever experienced. I was in labor for 38 hours and the entire time (including when he was coming out) his spine was to my spine, I was screaming and crying, I can't explain the experience. Anyway this time I think I want a c section, I'm just wondering what other women prefer and what their experiences were like.

Does your doctor agree to a c-section?

Where I live you don't get a c-section unless it's warranted, and just because you had a hard delivery, doesn't mean you warrant a c-section.

I've had only vaginal births, up and about hours after. I have many friends that had a c-section, not able to even stand for 4 days after, and not even able to hold their babies on their own for months after. They would have chosen the vaginal birth if it had been an option.

I'd discus this with your doctor, see if it's an option for you, and ask about the pros and cons of this surgery.

As Alty said, you may not have a choice. One consideration if you decide, or need, to have another vaginal birth, is to watch your choices of positions. You may have already done so with the last birth, but if baby is posterior (back to back), try to find comfort in positions other than lying or reclining in bed. Did you have options for position changes? Some can actually help encourage baby to rotate, or at least they can help to relieve some of the back pain.

I know women who have had both... pros and cons either way, but with all things being considered, vaginal birth would be "better" for you and for baby unless a caesarean birth were medically warranted.


Again, check to see if you have an option and discuss your concerns with your doctor/midwife.

As a labor and delivery nurse, I have to agree with both of the above.

The probable reason you had such a bad back labor was because the baby was OP (occipital posterior). This means that the back of the baby's head was against your tailbone and the baby was face up in your belly. This happens and there is nothing that can be done medically to change that aside from what Doula mentioned above. Just because this happened in the last delivery does not mean it will happen with this pregnancy/delivery.

Most doctors are reluctant to do an elective primary cesarean section because it presents dangers to both mother and baby. This is major abdominal surgery that would require quite a lengthy recovery period, as well as prolonged pain.

As well, to the baby, there are risks with this procedure as the amniotic fluid is not squeezed out of the lungs as it would be with a vaginal delivery. This can cause possible complications with the baby that may or may not require some serious interventions such as a transfer to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

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I'm just wondering what other women prefer

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Typically, preference is not an option as the doctor is more concerned in the health and wellbeing of both patients, mother and child.