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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.

Hi, I'm a 61 yr. old woman, and I've had 4 babies, 2 after I was 40. I'm now raising a granson, he is 5, had him since birth. My daughter just had a baby. She was going to have him natural, she fought to have natural, she was in labor 70 some hours, but her little gy had the cord wrapped around the top of his hed. She had to have a emergency c-section. When the baby was 10 hrs. old they took the cathether out, this is a prcaution because if it is taken out earlier there can be complications, with the bladder or kidneys. As soon as the catheter was taken out she got up. It is sore for a few days. Her incision was not stapled. It was approximately 7" across the bottom of her abdomin. She says she feels wonderful. She nurses her baby and he is doing really well. She has a husband that could take off of work to help. It is realy good if you can have someone to help for a while. I personally had my babies natural, it's no biggy, i felt good. I had one at 40 yrs. old, and went home when he was 12 hrs. old. One thing I did learn is to ask questions, about EVERYTHING. What are you gping to do?? What is that?? What will it do to me and my baby?? It isn't necessarily att_tude, but the care you get while you are carrying a baby. I wish you well, in your decision, it's never an easy one when it comes to the health of your baby. LIZ:)

thank you for your response.you are right it is never easy.I have heard mothers say that the pain after a c is bad,then there are those like your daughter,marcie,etc who are fine.Tiara who would like a section next time.I guess it is either real hard pain.,an experience like no other with a natural birth,at worst more severe than a bad c.However,at a guess,when it all goes right,women forget the horrendous pain of childbirth when the baby is born,whereas a c-section,they do not forget the pain so easily,because the baby came 1st.?

I don't think Liz said her daughter was great but even if, most mothers when polled and on pain meds say they are wonderful anyways. I think she meant she did okay, meaning what else is there to do, but walk around and take care of the baby, that's what ALL us c-section moms had to do. You made an interesting point, that the pain after a baby is perhaps harder to forget. I think I agree with that. I had a first labor that was 38 hours long with no progress and it was hyperactive labor as well, meaning my acute contractions were on TOP of each other for hours they finally convinced me to have a c-section...well as bad as the pain was with labor (I didn't have ANY meds) the pain from the c-section was MUCH WORSE, and to be honest, shocking in how it felt. I thought it would be over and it wasn't. When I wanted the catheter out they said I had to walk to the toilet and it was a huge room I was in....well it took me 30 minutes to shuffle to the barthroom but I did it 6 -8 hours after my section. My legs were someone elses, my posture was bent completely over and an uncontrollable fear of my guts falling out overcame me. The pain was unbelievable when I moved, coughed, or just tried to adjust well...anything. When my 7 pound baby laid on my incision it hurt, when the covers were too heavy it hurt, when I forgot and lifted my foot it was very painful, the point is, labor is about one day (or less for most women) and if i can do 38 hours of unusually difficult labor and I would still prefer it to a c-section, that may tell you something. Anyhow, most people who post on here have pretty much made up their minds, so just sharing my story. Good luck.

I am scheduled for a c-section next Tues. (12/20). I have a large fibroid in my birth ca___l and my little guy is looking like 9-10 lbs. (he was 8'1 at 36 wks.) I have to say that the only thing that influenced by decision was my baby's health. I am completely aware that it is going to hurt either way; however, I can (maybe not easily) deal with pain if my child is ok. My husband is a pediatric PT and sees children everyday that have had poor outcomes from complicated births; births where a c/s would have prevented these problems. This was simply not a chance I was willing to take. So, for me, the pain was never a deciding factor. I just want my child here with me safe and sound. I will deal with the complications of the c/s in whatever way I need to.

I had a bad c/s experience, not to scare anyone, i know not all people do have bad ones. I felt pain the whole time, even with an epi, however, i also labored on pitocin for 16 hours prior to the c/s mine was an emergency c/s. as i was 8cm and she was still "floating" and her head was forming from trying to get thru.... it was good though because we found out she was too big for me to pa__s, and she had the cord twice around her neck.... the pain is bad after, i wont lie, it hurts really really bad, and they try to get u up asap, they had tried 3 hrs after mine to get me out of bed and into a chair but i just couldnt do it. If i could have choosen, i would certainly have gone with natural, as the woman who had a baby a few hrs prior to mine was up that night all fine and dandy brushing her teeth....and its a shorter stay in the hosp. was there for a week, natural is usually 2 days. HOWEVER, if the baby is at risk, the pain DOES go away, and IS dealable....the babys health is FAR more important. Best of luck.....

i had a c-section and im pregnant with my second child and my doctor said i'll have another c-section. c-section pain will last up to a week but it goes away, and yes take pain killers.

I have had both a v____al and a c-section. I plan to have a third someday soon so I will also need to decide which type of delivery to have. To be honest, I don't know! Both experiences I would say were positive but not without pain. Labor pain is probably the worst pain I ever experienced in my life but it was shortlived once the epidural took effect. I liked the c-section because it was planned (I was breech) and I have a 3 year old at home that needed care so that could be arranged prior. My recovery took longer with the c and the pain was not too bad since I kept up with the medications. If I had to make a decision right now about whether to go v____ally or c next time...I think C. I like the fact that I can plan it but I certainly hope I can get the same help from family and friends the first 4 weeks! :)

I had both and neither is a blast. I felt the c-section pain was worse and much longer lasting. I had a child to care for at home and with a v____al I got the pain mostly BEFORE I had to care for the baby, much better than getting it AFTER when the baby needs your whether you feel well or not.

2 csections and they were wonderful ide do one every year if my husband wanted more children. no pain at all 4 days in the hospital on morphine and perkasetts being waited on hand and foot, no labor no breaking of the water all scheduled, great meals at all times of the night. i went home and felt nothing no pain at all i washed floors walked up and down stairs it was great like a free vacation.

Even the STAUNCHEST SUPPORTERS of elective c-sections don't claim that. Please, mothers considering c-sections, DO NOT BELIEVE THE LAST POSTER, it isn't like that in your wildest dreams. I work in a hospital and I have YET TO EVER see or hear of a woman who had no pain whatsovever and went home and washed floors right away. This is a fake story meant to stir up stuff.

this is to tam,I agree with the last post,what a lot of dribble you talk.You may not have had much pain,but the thing that gets me is when you said you went home and washed floors,for a start that is not important,so you would not want to risk opening up your wound for the sake of a floor!!!! I had both,and the pain of childbirth,was sdo great,more painful than I ever imagined that I would never want that birth ever again, a section for me was the best.

I agree with Marcie and Yeah Right...I don't care how lucky you were in your c-section recovery....that was just not the least bit believable. The original poster doesn't want controversy and lies...just some opinions. Wash floors...we all washed floors eventually...unlike Marcie, I did not prefer my c-section, but at least we don't fib about our experiences.

exactly susan,what is the point of lying?It is so obvious lies as well...washing floors,my God!People want advice,shared experiences,that is why I am here,people mayhear my story many times,but if someone only hears it once and it helps,great!

I am not sure whether or not you had your baby yet, but I have a 22 month old who was delivered thru c-sec. I was 7 days late when I was induced with gel. It brought on hard contractions about 1 min apart, which were bearable. I found the tiredness seemed to kick in more then the pain, so I opted for an epi to get some rest(which by the way, I received when I was only 2 cm.) I am not sure why everyone else seems to have to wait until they are 4 cm dialated. I could've received one at 1cm, but every hospital has different rules I guess. Anyway, the epi only took on the left side, but certainly provided relief. I only reached 7cm, so they decided to do a c-section, deciding my pelvis was narrow. I had to have another epidural for the section bc the first one didnt take, but unfortunately as I was being st_tched i began to feel it. THE SECOND EPI HADNT TAKEN EITHER! So, by the time the surgery was over they had me pumped with so many pain killers that I didnt know if I was coming or going. If given the choice I would opt for v____al, but that just wasnt in the cards for me.And so my baby boy was delivered 10 days overdue by the time the whole process was complete.That was my experience and every woman has a different one. The recovery was hard for me, but I hear the second time around may not be as hard bc I will have a spinal and will not be experiencing labor for 26 hours prior to the operation. Ultimately, it is your decision, but keep in mind that there are epidurals and they certainly relieve pain whether or not they take completely,and you dont have to deal with pain killers after the birth and are free to pick up your 10 POUND baby in the carseat with no prob!...haha!

to the original poster,are you still about?What did you decide? I epect you are long gone now,but the topic is a good one.I did not have any problems with my "c"