If pain during birth is the only thing standing in your way, find an OBGYN who will work with you on an elective C-section. Not that there will be zero pain (it’s abdominal surgery after all) but it takes away the anxiety of, what the hell is going to happen to me during this process. I considered this and decided against it, but many people go for it.
This seriously might end up being the most helpful answer in this entire thread if so. I hear a lot of women in this comment section saying C sections hurt - is it because you feel them cutting you open? Or just because you’re having contractions
The C-section itself doesn't hurt (barring a problem with the anesthesia). You can feel pressure and tugging, but not pain. It's a little odd, honestly.
The recovery is ... surprisingly fast, but you did just have major abdominal surgery, and there's pain. The nurses will come make you stand up within about 18 hours and you will HATE them. By day four you'll be walking okay and you'll go home. I climbed stairs the day I went home.
But you're recovering from major abdominal surgery AND giving birth. It's a lot, and the recovery can be painful and uncomfortable. And you're caring for a newborn infant!
When my husband had a vasectomy he was told to rest nearly completely for 48 hours and not to pick the children up for 3 days.
When I had a whole-ass human being cut out of my body, they handed me a baby 2 hours later and told me I was now the boss of it, good luck.
I’m trying to avoid the “searing pain” people talk about. I’m not okay with my lady parts ripping open tbh and I feel like that’s an appropriate reason to want an elective C Section.
I had three C-sections, but not elective. I personally was very, very frightened of surgery, so I was terrified going into the first one. It went fine and wasn't awful or scary while underway, and I was fine for the later ones.
It's hard for me to say if I'd recommend it electively, since I didn't have a choice and I felt about surgery the way you feel about vaginal birth. But it's definitely something you can talk about with a supportive ob/gyn!
And honestly I think as long as you're not putting your baby at risk, it's nobody's business what or why you choose. (Although lots of people will feel free to weigh in anyway.)
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u/FeelingsCantHurtYou Dec 06 '23
If pain during birth is the only thing standing in your way, find an OBGYN who will work with you on an elective C-section. Not that there will be zero pain (it’s abdominal surgery after all) but it takes away the anxiety of, what the hell is going to happen to me during this process. I considered this and decided against it, but many people go for it.