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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

I had a planned c-section 10 weeks ago and do not regret it at all. The whole surgery took 36 minutes, baby was out in 5 minutes. I was wide awake and couldn't feel a thing. My recovery was very smooth. It wasn't excruciating, but mostly uncomfortable where the stiches were. It is a 5 inch scar...they shaved a razor with of hair and cut so that when the hair grows back, the scar is not that visible. I would say I was 90% healed after 2 weeks. I have heard horror stories about c-sections, but I had a very good experience - no infections or cramping. I know there are a lot of judgemental people out there and the stigma of opting to have a c-section is pretty bad. I wouldn't change a thing!!! I just couldn't see having a child the "natural" way - just not for me. I did a lot of research and am happy with my decision. Our son is wonderful...he was 8 pounds 15 ounces at birth - there is no way that was coming out of me the "natural" way!!! Frankly, it scared the c___p out of me more than a c-section did. Maybe its because I've had surgery before and knew what to expect out of the recovery??? Anyways, I plan on having 1 child, maybe 2. If we do have a 2nd child, I would opt for the c-section again. Good Luck to you with whatever you choose. Don't let anyone else give you a hard time about your body and your choices :)

Amy_mommy... I was asleep because of extremely low platelets that could cause my blood to not clot properly with a spinal (and cause bleeding around the spinal column). It was a relief to not deal with the spinal, but I had to have a breathing tube and when I woke up my throat was really raw and bleeding (not much, but GROSS) for days!! Anyway, I don't know if any doctors will do that routinely and if your insurance will pay for it if it's not necessary- it requires extra people. For the ones that I was awake for I felt tugging and pulling, it wasn't painful though. It felt like something slithering around in my abdomen. I didn't feel any of the cutting or st_tching- not even the pressure of it. I wrote my 3 c-section stories on here the other day. See Three Very Different C-sections- Parts I, II and III. Just as they are diiferent for each person, they can be very different even for the same person! Good luck in your decision.

No, I think they only put you to sleep in an emergency situation. Why in the hell would you want to be asleep during the birth of your child? It's such a wonderful experience and you don't want to miss it!!! they put a drape up in front of you so you can't see them cutting your belly (thank God, otherwise I would have pa__sed out...). You'll have an epidural or some type of block for the section and you can't feel a thing, just a little tugging but it's not painful at all. The hospital will keep you doped up so you won't feel any pain. I had a section after 14hrs of unprogessing labor and everything went perfect. I was able to leave the hospital a day early since I was recovering well and had no problems at home. Mentally, it didn't seem like a major surgery and I didn't treat it as such. I healed very quickly because I didn't just lay around. Some people hurt afterwards, some don't. I took my pain meds so I felt nothing.

Oh yeah, Amy-mommy... there is a BIG disadvantge to being asleep... your dh canot be in the room!

I am schedualed for a c section in 3 weeks, and I am being given general anesthesia, all because I asked and that was what I wanted. However, you do get alot a flack for this, but I wanted to share something positive that i just heard yesterday. I was at University of Penn for another reason, (one of the top universities in country), and got talking to a couple of female doctors who were on a break and asked me about the baby. When I told them I was schedualing my c section, there response was that was the smartest thing I could do!! They said that too much pressure is put on women to go naturally, and alot of times results in an emergency c section(not good) or more damage done to the mom or baby. They said with all the new information that doctors can now learn about your baby before it is born, it is better to go with a c section and that in a few years this will actually be the preffered way of delivering a baby. As it already is becoming in some areas of the country. This is not to say you are wrong if you want natural, I'm not saying that, I am just saying it was nice to hear some very knowledgable intellegent women say this. (one of them had a c section by choice, and the other said that is definately the way she would go). So, just too make some people feel better that having a c section is not being selfish or silly, infact it is a good decision if that is what you want.

i still have 2 yrs to decide......

Try to do *anything* without using your abdominal muscles. A c-section is major abdominal surgery. I would rather go through unmedicated labor again than have another c-section, cause recovering from the c-section hurt a heck of a lot worse than labor. With labor, I at least knew that it was going to end. My scar is essentially from hip bone to hip bone along my bikini line. The doctors say it's healed amazingly well...which is odd, since it's a hideous reddish/purple line. Also, my c-section was a year ago, and I haven't regained feeling on my stomach...no feeling at all for about 2 inches above and 2 inches below the scar. At least if I have to have another one, anesthesia won't be necessary. Heh, another thing that is a problem for me but probably is not for anyone else - I *had* a large freckle on my stomach... the scar bisects it... so it's all misshapen and creepy looking now. Honestly, if I were you, I would stop and really really really think, with an open mind, about all the complications you had with your v____al delivery, and try to identify what actually caused them. For me, I can honestly identify the doctors has having directly causing my c-section. I was artificially induce, then had my water artificially broken (without my prior knowledge or consent), then i had the epidural incorrectly placed, was not allowed out of bed because of the epidural, and so forced to labor on my back...end result? Baby got stuck on my pelvic bone and I had to have a c-section. Had I gone into labor on my own, had my water broken on it's own, had I not tried for pain medication, had I been allowed to change position, my labor would not have gone the way it did. For my next child, I am planning an unmedicated birth, and contemplating a homebirth.

I don't think you can VBAC at home, can you?

Amy_mommy, think hard and long about this. You heal faster with a v____al delivery and I really didn't think my bottom hurt that much compared to how my stomach felt after my c-section and feels right now. There is no such thing as having no pain after a c-section and there are not enough drugs for you to take, be alert to care for your baby and still feel no pain. It's just not true. Here I am a week later and although the pain is dying down, I still have pain. I know with a v____al delivery my stomach wouldn't feel this way and my only pain may have come from urinating because it can burn if you don't dilute with water. That's the only real pain I remember from the v____al delivery. Not to mention that I have to wait for my st_tches to finish healing and the lump in that area to go down. Standing up, walking and bending over (like the play yard) is painful too. Actually, v____al delivery is not as complicated as a c-section. So if you really don't want to deal with post-partum pain, you are making a BIG mistake opting for a c-section. IT HURTS!

Sure I can VBAC at home...unless the labor police are going to come and take me away? How's anyone to know?

I have a 5 year old daughter and I had her v____ally. I had a horrible experience and a horrible delivery. The doctor had to use a vac_m on me and then I had to get an episitomy. I really dont want to go through that again. I asked my gyno last month about getting a c-section and he said he wouldnt recommend it. Do I have a choice?? If i want a c-section...is it my option???How far before due date do you schedule it??

Jamie, what I meant to say is that you might have a hard time finding any medical support for a home VBAC. When I was deciding between a repeat C and a VBAC, one of the issues brought up was that a VBAC should always be done in a hospital that is equipped for emergency surgery. The chance for uterine rupture is low, but if it happens, the docs have to intervene surgically within minutes or else mother and baby will both most likely die.

Ksosa4021- You can't force your gyno to do a scheduled c-section on you, but you can look for another doctor. Really read up on c-sections, though, they are no picnic!

KSosa4021.....my scheduled c-section was 5 days before my due date.

Thanks guys for responding....Im almost 31 weeks & have been seriosly been considering switching doctors b/c of some issues. I think i might just stick it out with this practice I have been using only b/c its pretty late 2 be switching. I realize that getting a CSection could have its consequences... but I just figured its worth a try if possible. I understand it is a surgery... but now a days everyone is getting them. Hopefully I will get my way & get a CSection!!!! Still not 100% sure tho....i have about 9 weeks left and its taking 4ever this time!!!