VBAC and Caesarean
Dec. 9th, 2010 09:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
emma_in_dreamThe advantages of a Caesarean: Well, the birth itself was entirely painless as I had zero contractions. Plus, the child was alive and well.
The disadvantages: I was totally out of it for about 14 hours - completely unconscious. Then it took a good 8-10 weeks to feel OK again.
Also, being born vaginally has advantages in kick starting some reflexes which Pearl struggled with.
The advantages of a Vaginal Birth after Caesarean: The recovery is so so so much easier. Maybe this is just me as I have had an easier time with feeding Ruby, so I am not nearly so exhausted. Last time I was feeding for about 2 out of each 3 hours; this time it's about half an hour every three hours.
Also, it was wonderful to get to hold her after she was born. Which of course many people get to experience after a Caesar but I didn't.
And it was satisfying on a personal level, and seeing her little head crown (with the little fists on the sides) was beautiful.
The disadvantages: It was astonishingly painful.
And I feel awkward when I am congratulated on it, as if it makes me a real woman.* My plans going in were the same both times - I wanted a vaginal birth if possible, but was OK with a c-section. The first time the waters broke and then no contractions. The second time the waters broke and then there were contractions. There was no merit in having a VBAC.
* It's an impossible moving goal post to be a Real Woman (TM). You have to have a vaginal birth and breast feed and be an earth mother while also being gorgeous and put together.
The disadvantages: I was totally out of it for about 14 hours - completely unconscious. Then it took a good 8-10 weeks to feel OK again.
Also, being born vaginally has advantages in kick starting some reflexes which Pearl struggled with.
The advantages of a Vaginal Birth after Caesarean: The recovery is so so so much easier. Maybe this is just me as I have had an easier time with feeding Ruby, so I am not nearly so exhausted. Last time I was feeding for about 2 out of each 3 hours; this time it's about half an hour every three hours.
Also, it was wonderful to get to hold her after she was born. Which of course many people get to experience after a Caesar but I didn't.
And it was satisfying on a personal level, and seeing her little head crown (with the little fists on the sides) was beautiful.
The disadvantages: It was astonishingly painful.
And I feel awkward when I am congratulated on it, as if it makes me a real woman.* My plans going in were the same both times - I wanted a vaginal birth if possible, but was OK with a c-section. The first time the waters broke and then no contractions. The second time the waters broke and then there were contractions. There was no merit in having a VBAC.
* It's an impossible moving goal post to be a Real Woman (TM). You have to have a vaginal birth and breast feed and be an earth mother while also being gorgeous and put together.
