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I wholeheartedly agree with Margaret and cdoglover!!! I had the same horrible c-sections, and after a verrrrry long labor with contractions off the chart I would still take that over the c/s, the blood transfusions, the messed up pelvic region, bladder probs, bowel probs and years of suffering. I'm a medical professional and the renowned OB's and Gyn's I work with are finally listening to those of us a few years out of c's who have many female complaints. These complaints are the usual suspects that many poor v____al moms have PLUS internal scarring that causes hernias, bowel obstructions, endometriosis in the abdomen, pelvic organ dysfunction, colon dysfunction, and pelvic varicosities (pelvic/groin varicose veins). The list is longer than that...sorry to scare anyone who has no choice on the c's (like me and others) but the truth is some in the Med field wish they hadn't freely used/offered/suggested c/s as a viable alternative to birth when it was being done as a purely elective or non-medical reason. I usually get jumped on, but it doesn't bother me, I know what happens to many women, recognizing and including the good c/s experiences.

ertel1978...I had to have a c/s because the docs said my pelvis is not made for a vag delivery. They discovered this while I was in labor. My water broke which is what made the docs start pitocin on me to get labor started, my contractions slowed vs getting closer together. When your water breaks, the docs want the baby out in 18-24 hrs or the baby is at risk for an infection. To answer your ?s more directly: I had an epidural, you will probably have a spinal, I will next time. I was planning a vag delivery which is why I had an epidural. My c/s was not an emergency. I got my epi at 1:30am, redosed at 7am and then again at 10am, right before going to the OR. He was born at 10:48am. My baby was over 10lbs which set my uterus up for uterine atony...it could not clamp down which is why I bled so much. That is why after you have your baby, the nurses constantly are feeling your belly, they want your uterus to be firm, not boggy. Hemorrhaging is not all that common but if it happens once, you tend to be at risk for future deliveries. I bled for the whole day and night after delivering. My nurses should have caught it. If I was more "with it", I would've called my docs myself. I knew I was bleeding too much but could not verbalize it, too out of it. I'm a RN, as you read, on the postpartum floor. I understand that you are nervous, I will be the next time around. I'm sure everything will be fine for you. Why did you have a c/s the first time? Since you had a general, was it an emergency? After going thru the pain I went thru, I would have been glad to have a general. For next time, it would be great to have one but my docs just do not do that because I would request it. I talked to anesthesia the day after I delivered and told them how scared I already am for next time. They a__sured me it will be better. It will be scheduled and I will have a spinal.

cdoglover...well, I guess I'm one of those people that most people on this board are frowning upon b/c my c/s was elective. 4 hours prior to my c/s I found out that my baby had died in utero at 38.5 weeks. I was hysterical and not in my right mind. I refused to be induced and begged my doctor to just deliver her by c/s and get it over with. I regret my decison now b/c of having to have another c/s this time since my doc./ hosp./ ins. doesn't allow vbac. At the time I did what I thought was right and no one could talk me out of it. My first baby weighed 9.12 and I delivered her v____ally and actually did hemorrhage (1000 cc blood loss according to my med. recs.) but didn't need blood. My daughter born by c/s weighed 9.4. My recs. from the c/s said I lost 700 cc of blood (no hemorrhage). I was put under general anesthesia b/c of my mental state. The c/s went fine. I had no recovery complications and here I am now exactly one year later (daughter stillborn 10-17-05) and am scheduled to deliver by c/s 11-03-06. I am terrified not only for the well being of my baby but for my well being during the surgery. I have this terrible fear that something is going to go wrong during the procedure even though my doc. a__sures me that all will be fine and I have no reason to worry as I am in excellent health and there were no complications with my c/s one year ago. I just have myself so worked up about this upcoming surgery that I can't enjoy this pregnancy or prepare for our new baby. From your experience being a postpartum nurse, under what circ_mstances could something catastrophic happen during a c/s? Am I worrying myself sick for no reason?

ertel1978...I am SOOO sorry for your loss...that is so sad...what a tragedy...my heart goes out to you...hugs to you. You should not cla__sify yourself as Danielle and Mellie. You are not seeking a doc for an elective c/s. Had I been in your situation, I probably would have begged for a c/s also. I would not have been in my right mind either. How could anyone? I do not know my EBL (estimated blood loss) at delivery b/c it was never written down. I do know that I bled probably a couple thousand cc's after. Hell, my one clot alone was prob 1000cc - I swear it was larger than my son's head - my nurses said it was the largest they have seen - me too. Do you think you are more worried about the c/s or another loss? Maybe you think it is the c/s that has you worried but you may really be afraid you will have a repeat of last yr. I know I would be freaked out. I bet everything will be fine. The unfortunate thing about pregnancy is you have no control - it sucks. I am not back in the OR with patients as I am not a labor nurse. The chances of something horrible happening are slim. I have worked on the floor for 5 yrs and it is a rare occurence something goes wrong. Trust me, my next time around I will be freaking out and probably not enjoying my pregnancy as I will be terrified of another c/s. I wish I could calm your fears. If you ever want to email me...cdoglover@hotmail.com. I will be thinking about you come Nov. You will have to let me know how things go.

NO NO NO, ertel1978, you are definately NOT someone who flippantly asked for a c-section! You clearly had medical and profound psychological needs for your sections. My deepest sympathies to you for your loss...there are no words. I imagine many would have done the same thing. Your situation is nothing like those choosing c-section under the myth they are "easier" or less painful, etc. Bless your heart and may you have a joyous birth and a healthy baby.

Hi to all. My husband is a doctor and we have had this discussion many times as doctors are allowing their patients to choose which type of birth they prefer. In reading the medical journal, you will see that the risks are the same ON BOTH SIDES. It truly should be about personal preference in this situation. Child birth is serious on both sides. So keep in mind that the complications, when researched can be indistinguishable regardless if what you choose.

Hi to all. My husband is a doctor and we have had this discussion many times as doctors are allowing their patients to choose which type of birth they prefer. In reading the medical journal, you will see that the risks are the same ON BOTH SIDES. It truly should be about personal preference in this situation. Child birth is serious on both sides. So keep in mind that the complications, when researched can be indistinguishable regardless of what you choose.