[san158]

I had an emergency csection with ds and am planning a vbac for this baby. However, I am curious for those of you who have experienced both types of birthing.... what are the differences in recovery time, post delivery pain, etc.

Thanks girls!

[majicmaid]

The recovery was like night and day. No comparison. I had c-sections with my first two and a vba2c with my third. With the c-section I was holding a pillow to my incision, afraid to laugh or cough. Couldn't stand up straight, hurt to walk, and took weeks to recover from. After my vaginal birth I was up and around, in my pajamas, feeling great. I did have some bad tearing but that was nothing compared to an incision.

[Neads]

Agree... vbac is tons better to recover from then c-section! After the c-section I had to wait over an hour to hold baby. All the pain meds made me drowsy and sick. It took about 8 weeks for me to feel like I could do things without pain. With my vbac, I was up walking around the room in less than 2 hours. There was some pain... but I could have handled it without pain meds if wanted to. 2 days in hospital vs. 5 was nice! And when I got home I was able to jump back doing things pretty much right off the bat.

[lhug_nar]

Totally agree! I wasn't able to hold DS2 for the first hour, I was asked not to nurse him for the first 2 (still don't get that), I wasn't "allowed" to walk around for the first 48 hours after the c-section, not to mention I had weeks upon weeks of pain from my c-section. After my VBAC with DS3, I was up, took a bath, ate, got back into my own clothes, we went home 24 hours after he was born. They were actually going to let us go home right away but they needed to do the PKU test before we could leave. I was able to do everything that I did the day before when I got home and I wasn't afraid of letting my older boys sit on my lap. VBAC vs. C-Section? Hands down VBAC is so much easier! (This is coming from someone who ended up with a 43 hour, 3 hour pushing, pitocin and forceps being used VBAC!)

[laurenmarie]

I haven't had both only a csection but i find my experience with a csection a little different than everyoneelse. I was super sore for weeks but after 12 hours the doctors were trying to get me to walk around. Aslo after the csection I had to spend an hour in the recovery room before I went to my normal room but during recovery I was given my daughter to hold and nurse.

[MrsHoot]

I don't have a vaginal birth recovery...yet (fingers crossed!) but tbh, my c section recovery was not too bad at all. It was not fun having to be lifted and cleaned while I was numb and those stupid pressure things you have to wear on your feet are the worst! My at home recovery was pretty good though. Iwas off pain pills after like 3 days ( well the Vicodin, not the ibprofun I don't think). Really hoping for a vaginal next time though...c'mon VBAC!!

[HorseGal]

VBAC hopeful here too, the thought of being around my two year old after a c/s is scary as hell. He already hurts my growing belly enough right now on accident.

[offthewallfilms]

I haven't had both to compare yet (fingers crossed)
With my C-Section, I was in the hospital for 5 days, 4 nights. I did not get up until Day 2 at least as I was in pain.
I couldn't feel my arms and legs for hours after my section. I was able to have the baby though immediately. I attempted to nurse her although my milk didn't come in for another week.
Overall, the recovery wasn't so bad.
I'm terrified of 'tearing' this time around. It just sounds so painful.