Vaginal delivery or C-section?

[MelindaP]

Hi everyone!

I have been awayfrom the boards for awhile. My IC seems to be doing "ok". Some days are better than others. Mostly I still have this constant annoying irritation in my urethra, but I can still function! I have noticed more bladder discomfort that I never had before though now these past 2 weeks. I am 23 weeks, so I gather the baby is most likely causing this discomfort. I found out I am having a girl! As of last Thursday she weighed already 1lb, 4oz!

But here is my question, am I better off with a vaginal delivery or C-section? I had a fairly easy vaginal delivery with my son, but that was before IC. I am afraid of the pushing on my bladder & my urethra being squashed (as this is my main complaint) when the baby comes out. But I have heard from other that abdominal surgery (ie c-sections) can make the condition worse. My OB said he actually cuts the connective tissue from the bladder to the uterus for a c-section, to get the baby out, than sews the connective tissue back to the bladder afterwards. That scared the heck out of me!!! I am wondering if I would be better off dealing with the intial pain of a vaginal delivery vs worsening pain from your bladder as a result of a c-section.

Anyone who has been through either types of delivery, your experience would greatly help!

Thankyou!!

Melinda :)

[patricia1]

Hi Melinda congrats on the girl. How sweet. I cant say whether or not which one would be easier on your IC, but I can tell you what happen to me. I believe the C-section birth of my son is what start my IC. I think I was predestined to have it and the trauma of the surgery started it. My c-section was a planned one, but because when I got my epidural they hit the wrong spot when they were testing how numb I was they found out I was temp. parlayzed from the neck down. So they had to rush me in and get my son out. This was the first abdominal surgery I had and also the first time I had a cath put in. Needless to say 6 weeks later my symptoms started. Talk to your dr and together with your hubby dec what is best for you and the baby. Remember with the c-section you have a cath inserted which really irrates the IC bladder. Best of luck and again congrats on the baby girl.

[fireflicker285]

My OB is recommending just a normal vag. delivery for me. I have severe IC and also a cystocele. (bladder hanging down). She said studies show that vag. delivery does not itself worsen these conditions. I agree. This is my third, and last. All vag. delivery. I remember feeling so good after my daughter was born and was glad I didnt' have c-section.

Emergencies do come up, but if you have the choice and your health is good usually they will urge you to deliver vaginally, even with IC.

I am currently 29 and a half weeks.

Sooooo ready to deliver already!!!

Good luck to you and congrats. on the little girl. I am having a boy.

Take care,

[KeeKee]

Hey Melinda!

As I said in my PM to you a few days ago.....whoohoo and congratulations on the girl news! I'm so happy for you! Are you doing a nursery theme?

As far as a c-section versus vaginal delivery....I've not experienced either with IC. (I had a vaginal delivery with my son way prior to IC.) But logically, it seems to me that a vaginal delivery would be less traumatic overall on the body. It also seems to me there are less things that can irritate the bladder with a vaginal delivery. Obviously, there are circumstances when a c-section is necessary, but I'm thinking if it were me I'd go the vaginal route if there's a choice.

Keep us all posted on your progress!

[anniepie1976]

Hi Melinda! I am 31 weeks pregnant and I am going the vaginal delivery route (unless of course a c-section is absolutely necessary). I see a Physical Therapist for pelvic floor dyfunction and she believes that vaginal delivery is good for the IC. Most Icers have very tight pelvic muscles which cause more pressure to the bladder. The vaginal delivery loosens these muscles down there and should help with some healing process. Also, if you do find that you are in a lot of pain or discomfort from the IC (as I am) you could see if your ob/gyn could induce labor for you early. Mine is going to at 39 weeks to relieve me as soon as possible. I guess any earlier you would need an amnio which is risky and they dont like to do unless absolutely necessary. Good luck! Ann

[creatingkarma]

I've had both vaginal & c-section. Even though I had major complications delivering vaginally, I would still chose it over a c-section. Best of luck to you & your baby girl!

[Marlana]

I have had 3 c-sections. I would definitley not reccomend it unless absolutely necessary. I had to be cathed for a day or so and that was just horrible. It was terrible on my bladder and I believe that the c-sections helped in forming whatever is going on with my bladder. It is very hard on the body and takes quite a while to heal from. Congrats on the girl. I have 2 of them and my boy. They are all great kids..

Marlana

[work it]

I am 31 weeks along and in the beginning I wanted a C-sec. I have had it both ways. Now I am leaning towards the natural way just for the simple reason that I have IC. Also last year I had a hernia repair of the entire size of my stomach becaus of the c-sec that I had 7 years ago. It never healed properly.

I really believe its what you and your dr feels is best for you. Best of luck in your decision.

[Sherry5]

I am glad this topic has started again, as I have decided to go with a c-section. Just as Patricia feels like her c-section touched off her IC, I feel like my natural delivery from hell touched off mine. With my first child I was in labor for 26 hours, pushed for three hours, and had a vacuum on my daughters head for an hour. It was horrible, and i was absolutely disfigured. Doctors and nurses said the Doc should have taken her c-section hours ago. I had OB nurses look at me "down there" and say they had never seen anything like it. After that my problems started gradually. With my third child, his heart rate plummeted and I had to wait a couple of hours fully dilated before they let me start pushing. The extra pressure caused me a lot of problems.

When I got pregnant again unexpectedly, I said to myself, "I am not doing it again." Just walking into a hospital makes me physically sick, thinking about my horrible experiences. I have had a few laparoscopic surgeries, and have always healed well. I know a c- section is more invasive, but people have them all the time and are just fine.

I guess the reason I am talking about this is because I haven't fully made up my mind. Maybe a c-section would be worse for my bladder. Two of my three deliveries were hell on my bladder, among other things, but a c-section is unknown.

I need more information. One of you said you have had a c-section and a difficult vaginal birth, and would still choose a vaginal birth. If you could elaborate on that I would appreciate it. Why would you prefer a vaginal birth?

I am 26 weeks right now, and have been in remission. It has been so nice, I dread going back to my old ways. i just don't want to make it worse. Any suggestions?

[vm]

My IC symptoms hit me full on a month after my second c-section. I had no symptoms prior to that time. Abdominal surgeries do seem to trigger IC in some of us.

I really don't know which type of delivery is better oince you already have IC. Seems like a vaginal delivery would be, but I don't really know.....

[creatingkarma]

After Sherry5's reply I got to thinking well, maybe not. I mean, if everything went smoothly & normal, yeah, that's the way to go. However, you can never guarantee those types of things. When I had my 1st child it was quick - 5 hours from first pain until delivery, but I ripped all the way, lost my sphincter, etc. Like you said, totally disfigured. The doctor tried to just sew me back up like a regular cut of the cooch (can't remember what they call those). Anyways, 3 weeks later, it all came unsewed. Unfortunately, my medicaid was gone since the baby was here & no doctor would fix me without thousands of dollars up front. I went a year & 1/2 like this. My vagina & anus were basically one big hole. I finally got some insurance & had reconstructive surgery. They pulled muscles down from my pelvis to have something to sew together. It was hell & I still have many problems because of it. So, in this case - no I wouldn't go for vaginal. But I didn't feel too bad for those 3 weeks before everything ripped back open. I was going out for dinner within a week after giving birth.

Then I had a c-section with my next child. I had to because the dr's said there would be nothing left to sew the next time. I had a really hard time getting over it, but it was much better than the reconstructive surgery. I've also had a laproscopic hysterectomy & it was nothing compared to a c-section. Please don't think that a c-section is like a lap. I had 3 small cuts with my hyster & they really didn't bother me at all. One big cut is much more painful that 10 small ones, in my opinion. Yes, women have c-sections all the time & are fine, but there are risks as with any surgery. I've known women who were ready to get up & go the next day after having one, but it took me many weeks & having that cath is no fun.

I have no opinion on how either affect the bladder. Neither one brought IC on for me. I've had bladder problems since I was 3, but wasn't diagnosed with it until after my c-section. That was only because of lack of knowledge. I do know that the c-section caused adhesions to grow to my bladder, which definitely didn't help it any.

I'm guess I'm just saying that normal healing time is 1-2 weeks for vaginal & 6-8 for c-section. That is, if you're "normal". I recommend neither.

[work it]

oh my goodness karma how awful, I can't even imangine the pain and suffering you went through for a year before you were able to get the surgery to repair from your delivery.

I really wish there was an easier way to give birth lol not looking forward to the vaginal way and really don't want another c-sec.

[fireflicker285]

I too wish there was an easier way. As neither way is particularly easy..... I tore extremely badly with my first vag. delivery. I was able to be sewn up but have suffered since with scar tissue and tenderness in my female regions. I tore right back and into my anus but it was intac. Very painful. I took about 5 months to feel halfway normal and about a year to feel normal. As I said though, I have problems still from tearing so bad. My girl was an uncomplicated delivery. I didnt' tear much at all. Just a little. So you never know. I am very nervous about this delivery. Having it vaginally but nervous as hell. I am a small woman and don't have much room for baby to come through.

I will be very glad when it is over......

[Sherry5]

I recommend neither.

All right Karma, that's it. The baby will just have to stay in. ;)

I'm really only half kidding. I don't want to go through either one. I've already had to have surgery to remove adhesions, not to mention some huge ovarian cysts and endometriosis.

Two of my best friends had c-sections and were up and around the next day. One was teaching aerobics two weeks later. In fact, four of the five people I know well who had c-sections were perfectly fine. It's just one that scares me. I just wish I knew how I would react.

Those of you that had c-sections, did you go into labor first and then get an emergency c-section? I have heard that is much harder on the body than a scheduled c- section.

Still don't know what to do.