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kate - my scar is about 4-5 inches - and it's shrinking every day (I had my C 4 weeks ago) - most doctors do the low transverse "bikini" cut. I had st_tches, not staples, and highly recommend them. the pressure during the surgery is annoying and uncomfortable, but not painful or unbearable at all. and it's really not for more than a few minutes since it doesn't take long for the baby to come out. my incision has healed perfectly and i really don't think it's common to have gaps in the scar or anything! i know it happens to some people, as do infections, but not everyone. also, as for the baby shows - they are SO dramatic! i was so scared after watching those shows every day and when you do have it, all the doctors and nurses are so calm, you can't help but be also. i had a great experience, - just remember that the doctors and nurses know what they are doing and trust them! good luck! oh, i think you sweat a lot after both kinds of deliveries - you lose your water weight (hey, i was excited to sweat out weight!) :)

thank you very much for your response.By the sounds of it you had a good experience.I came on here for information,I am sure that as c-sections are very commen now,that if you had a good one,why would people come on these threads?I mean the majoriyt of women perhaps would get on with it,whereas those who had a bad experience would like to inform others....it really does appeal to me more,yes,major surgery,than the thought of being in labour and pushing a water melon size out,and trying to get it all to stretch,maybe natural,but no-one said its easy!

Hi...........I had one c-sect and then one VBAC. Both have their plusses and drawbacks. The natural was about 12 hours and it was managed fairly well with an epidural. There was only about an hour where I thought I was in too much pain...but only an hour! Compared to how long I was in acute pain after my c-section, it was "easier" to deal with the labor pain. If you are in "agony" someone is not doing their job...I insisted that the pain would be kept manageable and the nurses were wonderful about doing so. My baby was face up when I had the most pain, so in keeping with my pain level requirement, they unhooked me from the monittors and let me walk, sway my hips, bounce on the labor ball and then roll and switch positions in bed. All that activity helped my daughter rotate to face down and most importantly occupied me during the transition phase. I actually enjoyed being in labor, it felt more like an actual birth than waiting in a room for an operation, having to stay in recovery and having to have such heavy duty drugs to make the post-op pain less. Good luck.

I had my C-section a 1 1/2 weeks ago and mine went very well. The pain is unbearable when the drugs wear off. I had a v____al birth a year ago and it was considered a very hard labor, but I would choose that over this pain any day.

I've actually never given birth v____ally or had a c-section, but right now my little stinker is breech. I may have to have a c-section if she won't turn and they can't turn her. So, I've been thinking and reading a lot about c-sections. I never thought I would be confront with this. I do know that the pain a__sociated with v____al births seems to be a western concept. I've read accounts by John Lawson, a 17th century explorer that the native women (USA) just literally pop babies out. After popping a baby out they would get up and run around (literally). I also heard from my yoga instructor that women who live in the amazon have similiar experiences. She recommended that I get the video to see it for myself. If you are anticipating excruciating pain than you'll most likely get it. Not to say there isn't pain a__sociated with a v____al birth, but how you perceive the pain before you go in is something to consider! I personally, do not want a c-section, but on the other hand I don't want them turning the baby. I'm afraid that her umbilical cord will wrap around her neck or they might cause brain damage!

its funny that you say "pain is a western concept" especially when you have yet to give birth yourself. Sure, women handle pain differently and culturally, it may be different. But, to those who have, either by c section or v____al I can tell you that it hurts like hell bo matter where you are!!! I didn't percieve excruc. pain-my body said "this is it-lets do it" and it hurt, but you take it in stride. When I was in labor, the woman next door to me was screaming her head off, while I just couldn't mutter a sound because I was focused on having the next contraction and breathing. His heart stopped and they had to take me c section. Please don't a__sume. Their are women in africa that are in pain for days pushing, and their babies die from being in the womb too long. And some women form fistulas (sp?) between their bladder and v____al from pushing and pushing. They leak urine for the rest of their lives through their v____a and smell and are banned from their tribes. Many women all over the world have pain and problems with child birth. Please don't a__sume until you do it for yourself.

I never a__sumed anything. I stated that I had never given birth. Then I went on to explain accounts of women in other cultures that have had birth before me. I even gave the name of a gentleman who can give you a primary historical account of watching birth. Re read my paragraph.... I used the word, "seems"... and then I back it up with factual information.

does that mean that they had no pain? I read it, and there are many wmen who get up after they give birth. But to say that pain is a western concept is just rediculous-thats all.

I think pregnant women should exhaust all efforts of natural child birth before contemplating a c-section, drugs and other interventions, such as episiotomies. One intervention always seems to lead to another, and they all adversely affect your baby, whether it be a lack of latching for b___stfeeding, or taking in an adult dosage of drugs through the placenta, making your baby drowsy. There are natural ways to help babies turn while in utero, such as exercises and walking, in addition to belly lifts. Likewise, your mind is very powerful; if you think child birth will be miserable and painful, you are sealing your own destiny. Check out hypnobithing as a positive way to incorporate natural childbirth. It is so sad to me that our society instills fear in pregnant women when child bearing is the most natural human event. Do your homework before caving into scare tactics and choose what is healthy and best for your body and baby. Good luck.

and the award for most old fashioned point of view goes to.............Lauren!!

That was catty, yours is not the only opinion of value. Civilized debate recognizes ALL points of view with a modic_m of respect.

And the award for "just cut 'em up, it's only WOMEN'S bodies" goes to.......Drumroll.

I wouldn't do the surgery route if given the choice. Natural labor has some pain, but you know it is going to be over one way or another in about a day. With the c-sections you think Great! at first because they give you enough medicine and then....well then they don't and you have to walk and bend and cough and THEN it hits you that you had a surgical cut in your tummy. Then you go home and there are no nurses or nurseries to help you and even the best help at home doesn't compare to the nurses and the hospital. I was rather shocked at the length of time I had pain with the c-section, much longer than a week or two, plus I was really exhausted from the recovering from a pregnancy AND an operation. Good luck, but I would go with labor pain, less actual time IN pain.

I had natural child birth.My labor had to be induced due to high blood pressure.I also had to be on anti biotics and a special medecine for my blood pressure. I could not get up and walk. The anesthisialogist tried eight times to do an epideral and it did'nt work they also tried another pain med but it didn't work either. i finaly understand what they were talking about in the pregnancy movies about the ring of fire. If I have another baby I am going to opt to have a c section due to the pain I went through in my first labor. I hope this helps.

Yes, that sounds nasty, but Tiara, how LONG did you have the "ring of fire" not for days, I am pretty sure. I have done both and I would opt for the day long pains of labor and delivery any time over the days and days and days of c-section pain.

There is pain both ways, but the healing is much faster for natural. Csection is very painfull afterword. It makes it hard to care for your baby. Read the book Silent Knife.