Best Birthing Options for mothers with IC?

[Lilu]

Hello, I'm well into my fifth of pregnancy and am giving serious consideration to which type of birth is better for a mother with IC. I'm wondering which is one is less 'battering' on the bladder and/or urinary tract - natural birth or a c-section. Has anybody been able to find research about this particular issue? Or would anyone would like to share their personal experiences?

From everything I've read, it seems that pelvic floor muscles have a lot to do with the condition (IC). Given that very few women probably escape weakening of these muscles through natural childbirth, I'm wondering if a c-esction is a better option. Any ideas? I've been doing my kegel exercises faithfully and will continue to do so, but have very little faith this will prevent the worsening of my IC that a natural childbirth might cause.

Please ,please share your thoughts.

Lilu

[jaime15]

Lilu,
Congrats on your pregnancy! How have you been feeling so far?
To answer your question....I have only one child...he came emergency c-section...so I didn't have an option...I did fine with this medical technique.
I actually had a remission for four months after he was born! Yay!
There are other ladies on here who have had vaginal births....I think what they did was ask for the cath at the very last minute...so it wouldn't be in very long and irritate the bladder..
Have you asked your ob about this or maybe the uro....hopefully more patients will pop on here and give you bits of their pregnancy story.....hugs to you...

[Ginny]

Sorry I don't have an answer for you. I looked to see if there was any info in the IC Handbook on the home page and found this.

http://www.ic-network.com/pregnancyjournal/

Ginny

[t.s.elliot]

HI Lilu

Congratulations on the baby. I am also pregnant - but only 10 weeks.
I had this same question with my Dr.'s. I have had 3 vaginal births so far and they were pretty difficult. From what they tell me a Cesarian would be even worse though. On top of having to deal with a newborn you would be in so much pain from the surgery. (I've heard horror stories about air-bubbles). I have many friends who have had both c-sections and vaginal births. It seems the first c-section is the worst but if it is your second or third it becomes MUCH easier.

[dancemomof2]

Personally I preferred the C-section, and my high risk ob recommened it also, not only because it was my third one but keeping me cath'd after words help alot, it stayed in for 24 hours to give my bladder a rest and so i did not have to get up as much. I actually went into labor early with this one and was 2 hours from the hospital. the laboring for approx 6 hours was worse then the c-section recoperation. I guess everyone is different in this area. Good Luck

[work it]

I have 3 children. My 1st was natural. no drugs or anything and 22 hours of back labor Ouch! my 2nd and 3rd came togther(twins) and I told them of front I am having a c-section because I am not pushing 2 babies out lol! I think I actually preferred the C-section. On a down not from my c- section(which was back in 1998) I just had a hernia repaired that was 12x6 in size because when the c-section healed it didn't close properly. Good luck and congratulations!