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The delivery will probably be easier- if you're looking for a less painful postpartum, a c-section ain't it! I've had three. I can say, though, that I had a long, hard labor (24 hours) with my first that ended in an emergency c-section- and a scheduled c-section is definitely a lot easier to recover from than an emergency one. But, it's a pretty painful recovery, especially the first time you try to get out of bed. For me, even pa__sing gas (which you have to do before they let you eat) was excruciating at times!! And laughing, coughing or sneezing- forget about it. It's major surgery, with all the risks. Unless you had a really horrible third degree tear or something, I'm not sure why you would want to do this- not trying to be rude- just wondering??

The delivery part of a c/s is definitely easier than v____al but afterwards the pain is worse. I was still walking around and it didn't keep me in bed but it takes about 2 weeks to fully recover. Some people have bad experiences but its like any surgury it does come with risks. I say they both have pros and cons. Vaginal birth is harder before the delivery but recovery is much quicker but there are people who have bad experiences that way too. There is no black and white when it comes to this despite what some people think. If you know your risks and still decide to have the c/s than go for it. You still have two years. Read some of the posts here and you will get a realistic view of c/s deliveries. Everyone is different. I opted for a scheduled c/s and I don't regret it at all. Like I said though everyones different..Good luck whichever you choose..

I am a first time mom and had my son three months ago by a planned c-section. It was FABULOUS. I never went into labor; didn't hurt my hoo hoo and my scar is tiny. I also had zero pain. If you take your meds as directed in the hospital and then when you get home you will not feel a thing. I would recommend that you talk to your doctor and ask for your scar to be glued on the outside instead of stiches or staples. My scar looks like someone drew a faint line with a pen and it is only 3 inches long. Also, my dr took me two weeks before my due date and I never got any stretch marks. He said the last few weeks is when the most stretch marks happen. My baby was 7 pounds 12 oz. I have heard that recovery is awful if you go through labor first, then the doctor gives you a c-section because of some problem. The only pain I ever felt was after delivery they gave me petocin and I had period cramps but I was so drugged up I just remember telling the nurse I had cramps and POOF more drugs and I was out like a light. I did not b___stfeed so I guess I had better drugs than you would get if you decided to b___stfeed. A lot of people have bad recovery stories but I am the biggest baby in the world and it was one of the easiest things I have ever done in my life. I was scared to death to have it done and really, the spinal was the worst part and that wasnt even that bad. It is like when you have a shot at the dentist. I never felt a thing after that. Once the baby was out they gave me something and I was in lala land. I would say that I sort of wish I wasnt SO drugged up for my hospital stay but I am serious; I had zero pain. I had my section at midnight and I was up, showered, walking around and in my Victoria Secret PJ's at 6am the next morning. I think it has a lot to do with your doctor and how well he does c-sections. Pick one that does A LOT and ask his nurses in the office how good he is and how the other ladies like their scar and how their recovery was.

Like Suzanne said, pick a doc with a good reputation, but I have to disagree that a good recovery depends on the doctor... I think it depends on the person how their recovery goes. Also, coming home to an older child afterwards makes it more difficult- nothing horrible- but you can't get proper rest and it'll force you to do more than you should, unless you have really good help!

No offense, but I didn't know doctors did planned c-sections at midnight, made 3 inch scars to take out nearly 8 pound babies (since mathematically it wouldn't provide the circ_mference required to get a normal sized head through much less the surgeon's hands to remove the placenta) and that unless you had medical reasons, take a baby 2 weeks early and finally, that abdominal surgery caused ZERO pain...but if so, great. To the original poster, MOST c-sections carry with them significant post-op pain (at least on my hospital's maternity unit and we are one of the top hospitals in the country) and the mothers have a goodly amount of post-partum recovery time. Birth is not a pain-free event for most women, and adding the risks of surgery (which is more "complicated" than a normal v____al delivery) isn't a panacea nor a free pa__s to painless childbirth. Do some serious research on both sides before you decide to opt for a sugical procedure.

Amy_mommy, go to http://pregnancy.about.com/od/cesareansection/ss/cesarean_10.htm. For info on what a cesarean looks like view the c-section pictures, especially the 4th or 5th pic that is t_tled "uternine repair". I don't think too many tears or episiotomies look like this and this c-section was without complicatons apparently.

Suzanne: i'm suprised it didn't hurt at all? why did u plan to have a c-section, if u don't mind me as? sahmof3: i am planning to have c-section because i really don't want to deal with the pain down there....i have huge hemmhoid as of NOW, and each time, i pa__s a stool, it hurts like hell!!!!!!!!

I had two c-sections, and no offense, I would not use a hemorroid as your criteria for choosing a c-section. I got hemorroids from the pregnancy, having nothing to do with labor or delivery, as I never went into labor.

Here is my story - My first c was unplanned, as they realized that my daughter was breech at my 40 week appointment and they were unable to turn her. My 2nd c was planned, mostly because I was told I was not a good VBAC candidate due to the large size of my 1st baby (10 pounds). My water broke a week before my scheduled c-section, so I had to go in the middle of the night, and the on-call doc from my OB's practice did my section. My first section was as some of these folks describe - easy, minimal pain, quick healing, teeny tiny scar. That is why I had no reservations about the 2nd c-section. My second section was not as smooth. My incision did not heal properly and ended up being open for 7 weeks post partum. I ended up with an impacted bowel for a few days after the surgery, unable to strain at all because my surgical incision would gush blood when I did. Just about the time they were ready to put a glove on and disimapact my bowel manually (lovely, huh?), I was able to get things moving. But the recovery from that 2nd section was a nightmare. I could almost cry right now thinking about it. We were pretty set on having only 2 kids anyway, but after that section, I KNEW for 100% that I never wanted to have another baby. DH got a vasectomy within a few months of my son's birth.

Hi there, I have had labour as well as 3 sections. If those are the only reasons you have stated as to why you think you should have a section I really think you need to look at things again. I totally agree with Chem. Surgery has its risks and for the sake of a sore bottom and hemorroid that sounds crazy to me. C-sections do come with pain which definately takes longer to heal from then a v____al birth in general. You also have greater risks of infection etc with surgery. I would only elect for the section if it is a medical must not a "just because". I also got hemmorroids just from pregnancy, nothing to do with type of birth. Good luck.

I was scheduled for Thursday at 7am but I went to the dr on Monday and he said my fluid was too high and I was measuring 43 weeks so he wanted to do it that day. They were booked so I waited at the hospital until they could take me to the OR which was at midnight. The only pain I felt was a few hours after when they gave me pitocin to shrink my uterous I guess. My incision never hurt or even itched. My ab muscles never hurt either. My scar is tiny - I don't know how he got the baby out but maybe he stretched the skin or something. And actually, I was 2 1/2 weeks early when he did the c-section. It depends on your doctor. Some will take you early and some won't. My dr does mostly c-sections.

I had an emergency c-section after a long labour and indications that my baby would not fit out of my pelvis. My first thought after the surgery was that I could definetly have a baby this way again. I only took regular strength Tylenol in the hospital. I was totally off the Tylenol 3 days after coming home from the hospital. A couple weeks later, felt like I could run a marathon (but of course, didn't). I have lots of friends that delivered v____ally that seemed to have a more difficult delivery than I had.

Sorry, I meant more difficult recovery than I had.

how long was the whole c-section procudeure in the OR room?

My first was out quickly- in under 5 minutes, then about 25 minutes of st_tching. The second one was 1/2 hour, then 1/2 hour of st_tching. Don't know about the third- I was asleep!

sahmof3: how come u were asleep? can i choose to be asleep when they are performing a surgery? i don't want to be wide awake........did u feel anything when they st_tch u up? thanks