Mama, congratulations on your pregnancy! It’s such an exciting time, filled with anticipation and preparation for your little one’s arrival. One of the big decisions you and your provider will be navigating is how you will deliver your baby.
Is a C-section or a vaginal birth the safest option for you and your little one? There’s no right or wrong answer but I’m here to help you weigh the pros and cons and find the best option for you.
Today we’ll talk about the pros and cons of both C-sections and vaginal births so you’ll be empowered to advocate and make the decision that best fits your needs.
Read on, mama!
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Is a vaginal birth for me?
If your pregnancy is low-risk, uncomplicated, and baby is vertex (head down) there is no reason why you can’t attempt a vaginal birth. There are exceptions to every rule but generally speaking, a vaginal birth is the lower-risk option when it comes to giving birth. So, mama, unless you have a really good medical indication to need a C-section, for either you or baby, a vaginal birth is for you!
Vaginal Birth Pros
The biggest pro when it comes to having a vaginal birth is that you avoid a major surgery. C-sections are safe and performed on a routine basis but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it is still a pretty major surgery. With major surgeries come potential complications. This is not to say you will experience any of these things but you might be at an increased risk for the things listed below following a C-section:
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Excessive bleeding
Another advantage of a vaginal birth is that the recovery is typically faster. The hospital stay and recovery following an uncomplicated vaginal birth are both usually shorter than after a C-section. And if there aren’t any complications following your vaginal birth you should be able to get out the bed and move around sooner than if you had a C-section – which can also expedite your recovery process.
Vaginal Birth Cons
There’s really no way around it so I’m just going to come out and say it – labor can be grueling. I’m not just talking about physically, because it’s definitely that, I’m also talking about emotionally, mentally, and all the other ways too. I often hear people say, “A C-section is the easy way out” and that is not at all what I’m saying here. Birth, no matter how it happens, is beautiful but it’s also just hard.
Another potential risk with a vaginal birth is your risk of tearing. There are several places in and around your vagina that can tear during a vaginal birth. More than 4 out of 5 first-time mamas will experience a tear during birth. Rest assured that the more minor tears, 1st and 2nd degree, are far more common than the severe, 3rd and 4th degree, tears.
And while we are on the topic of tearing, there are things you can do to try and prevent it from happening. Don’t let the potential for tearing completely scare you off from a vaginal birth. To learn more about ways to prevent tearing during birth check out my article below. I should also say that minor tears, no matter what you do in advance to prevent them, are common, especially for first time mamas.
Related Reading: How to Prevent Tearing During Birth: 7 Tips from a Labor and Delivery Nurse
Is a C-Section for me?
A C-section is a surgical procedure in which your baby is delivered through an incision in your abdomen and uterus. Usually there is a medical indication present for a C-section to take place but I won’t say this is the case 100% of the time.
C-Section Indications
C-sections can be scheduled or unplanned. A few of the more common indications for C-sections include:
- Concerning fetal heart rate / fetal distress
- Fetal malpresentation
- Placenta previa
- Placental abruption
- Previous C-section (some eligible to VBAC)
- Certain maternal health conditions
- Certain fetal health conditions
It’s hard to prepare for an unplanned C-section because it is, well, not planned. If you are looking for more information about how to prepare for your scheduled C-section look no further than below.
Related Reading: Scheduled C-Section? What to Expect! As Told by a Labor and Delivery Nurse
C-Section Pros
The biggest pro is that for some women, a C-section is the safest mode of delivery for both mama and baby. There are certain situations where a vaginal birth simply isn’t a safe way to give birth and doing so could result in negative outcomes for mom and or baby.
Another benefit is that you don’t have to worry about tearing during delivery. Granted there are other things to be concerned with, an abdominal incision, but you can cross perineal tearing off your list with a C-section.
If your C-section is planned, for a breech baby or a placenta previa as examples, you have the convenience of knowing when you will be delivering (assuming you don’t go into labor before.) There is something to be said for that, especially for those mamas that are the ultimate planners or have other kids at home they need to make childcare arrangements for.
Finally, you avoid hours or days of labor aches and pains with a C-section. This goes for scheduled C-sections, but unfortunately, some mamas do end up experiencing hours of labor only to find out later they need an unplanned C-section. The ultimate goal is a healthy mama and healthy baby!
C-Section Cons
As discussed earlier, a C-section is a major surgery that usually involves a longer and more difficult recovery. This doesn’t hold true for every C-section recovery but generally speaking, recovering from a C-section is a lengthier process.
Having a C-section might increase the risk for certain complications in future pregnancies and births. Each time an incision is made on your uterus scar tissue forms during the healing process. Some women have a lot of scar tissue which can make getting through the uterus more difficult during subsequent C-section deliveries. While rare, a C-section can also increase your risk for uterine rupture and placenta accreta in future pregnancies and births.
Finally, as briefly mentioned earlier, surgery in general can increase your risk for infection, blood clots, and excessive bleeding.
Which is more painful?
Is a C-section or vaginal birth more painful? The answer to that question isn’t as straightforward as you might think. The quick and easy answer is that a C-section, being that it’s a major surgery, is more painful than a vaginal birth.
Women that experience a more severe, 3rd or 4th degree, laceration during birth might experience a more difficult recovery than someone that had an uncomplicated C-section delivery.
It also depends on your personal perception of pain, whether or not you choose to utilize pain medications during labor, and whether or not they are effective. Someone that experiences an unmedicated vaginal birth, whether by choice or not, might report their experience as more painful than someone who had a C-section with super effective anesthesia for pain relief.
It’s not as simple as you might think to determine whether a C-section or a vaginal birth is more painful when it comes to giving birth. Each and every birth is unique and therefore should be addressed on an individual basis.
Factors to consider when deciding
We have discussed that the decision to have a C-section or vaginal birth is not necessarily fully up to the birthing mama. There are professional organizations that help guide certain decisions for OB medical professionals and C-section indications is one of those topics.
What happens then when a patient, without a medical indication, requests a C-section birth? For some women, the thought of labor brings them such fear and anxiety they request their provider perform a C-section instead. It’s not cut and dry but according to the governing body of obstetricians, ACOG, “The decision should be weighed carefully and discussed with your OBGYN.”
In this situation it is recommended the provider fully discuss the risks and benefits of the surgery with the patient as well as pain relief options for labor. If intense fear and anxiety persists, the patient and OB provider need to work together to reach an appropriate and safe plan for delivery.
Remember, Mama
The most important thing is to make an informed decision that feels right and safe for you and your baby. There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to give birth, and every birth story is unique and beautiful. Trust your instincts, listen to your body, and work closely with your healthcare team to make the choices that feel best for you. You’ve got this, mama!
Did you know that I now offer all 3 of my birth courses as a bundle for under $100?! You no longer have to decide between the epidural and natural course, nor do you have to miss out on all that good C-section info either! To learn more about and purchase the bundle click here!
