Pregnancy Info HOME

Thanks for my message sll. I obviously had a very similar experience to you. My little one was born 12:00 and I still thought I was going home for a chicken dinner in the evening until they told me I had to be operated on and have a spinal for my stiches! Even now I find my tear a strange thing as I haven't suffered any more than I imagine I would have with a straight forward birth. Compared to earlier posts I have been SO lucky and not suffered much. This doesn't make it easier for me to opt for a c section even though it appears to be on the whole the most sensible thing to do. I think I have only read one good exerience of a 2nd vaginal birth after tear (Thank you to whoever posted that on Jan 10th). There don't seem to be too many experiences shown where people have opted for a 2nd vaginal, as most seem to have opt for the c section. I don't think there is anything wrong with C Sections, they would just be the very very last resort for me. I am not planning on more babies for a while as the whole experience has scared the hell out of me. But I know I'll have to face the decision sometime as I really want more babies. The mad thing is I still find the prospect of a c section to be the most frightening thing. I hope that whatever decision everyone makes works out well for them. It's not for anyone else to judge. I think that I will probably play it by ear if/when my time comes. I quite like the idea of monitoring the baby weight and induction. But again thats more interference than I'd like.

I think you are perfectly normal to not want a c-section. I also think you are normal to not want a difficult vaginal birth either. I think you should heal emotionally and physically from your fist birth and then have a pre-conception appointment with your OB before your next pregnancy and discuss all your worries. Best to you!

To AMIE...sorry about the mistake.

Don't worry I have been called worse and answer to most . Thanks for your kind thoughts. I think a pre conception meeting is a good idea. X

I gave birth to my daughter Oct. 4, 2003 and I had an episiotomy. My childbirth was horrible. My nurses were mean to me and my original delivedry doctor wasn't there so I was delivered by a stranger. Anyways after my daughter's birth I received a anal fissure. That is the worst pain that I have ever been through. Each time I took a bowel movement it was literally 1000 times worse than delivery itself. In August of 2004 I had surgery on my sphincter and unfortunately it was unsuccessful. Finally my doctor prescribed me nitroglycerin cream, which made my fissure better, but I'm still not completely healed. Well I'm ready to have my 2nd daughter very soon, I'm thinking this weekend, and I honestly don't know what to do. I can't have the fissure get as bad as it once was, because I couldn't even take care of my baby after I took a BM. I would be crying in pain for hours afterwards, and I would force myself to fall asleep. Unfortunately my fissure reopens even when I become constipated, so who knows what's going to happen after my 2nd baby. My daughter was 8 lbs. 4 oz. and the doctors are saying this one is probably the same size or maybe even a little bigger. I think I'm going to go for a c-section, but I'm just so afraid that something will go wrong knowing my luck. I'm just very terrified, and I see my doctor this Friday, and I think he's going to schedule my delivedry this weekend and I'm still not sure on what to do. If someone wants to email me my email is missvosgy101@yahoo.com

I can't believe you had surgery and your dr. isn't strongly encouraging a c section. Wow- that's shocking to me. I wouldn't chance that in a milion years and would chance the c section in a heartbeat. Why did you have surgery on your sphincter for fissures by the way? I have never heard of that. Good luck

It's weird because I don't think my delivery doctor knows too much about fissures, because I told him that my surgery was unsuccessful and the only thing that helped me was the nitroglycerin cream, and he asked me why would I put nitroglycerin cream on that area, but that's what my surgeon prescribed me to do. The thing is that my ob/gyn is not the one who is going to deliver me, the doctor who is going to deliver I barely met him last Friday, and he wasn't aware of my condition, but i don't think he knows to much about it. Hopefully when I see him this Friday, he'll tell me that he did a little research on it. We'll see, but I'm 98% sure that I'm having a c-section. And by the way my surgery was called a sphincteronomy I believe. It was to open up the sphincter, so that my fissure would be able to heal more easily, but no luck. Although the nitroglycerin cream was the best thing for me. Thank you for your response.

The sphincterotomy operation involves a cut to the rectal entrance - the cut is supposed to alleviate the spasm which can cause and prolong a fissure. Some doctors will just do a dilation. Both procedures can be done under a local but I would certainly advise being put to sleep. A c-section will not stop a fissure from developing unfortunately (some consider it 'the norm' after a vaginal birth)but may help with other problems. It was a colorectal surgeon that helped me - a specialist is needed. And another helpful ointment - anoheal.

I know a c-section won't stop a fissure from developing, but I don't think a c-section will develop a fissure like a vaginal birth would, because there is not so much pressure down there. I was put to sleep during my surgery, and I recommend being put to sleep too.

A friend of mine had her first baby by c-section on dec 16th and has now got a bad fissure which may require surgery. It is not necessarily the pressure that causes a fissure - she's been told that hormones slowing the bowel down, lack of physical exercise, and a diet lacking in necessary fibre (requirements are higher during and after pregnancy than 'normal' people) and water intake have contributed to the development of a fissure.

That's sad to hear, because I know how painful a fissure is. Yeah pressure is not the only thing that can cause a fissure. But since I've had a fissure, and my fissure reopens each time I get constipated, so I've gotten use to a good diet, water intake and I know the foods that make me go easily and those that don't, so I have my fissure under control now. But I'm like 98% sure that if I have a vaginal birth again, my fissure is just going to reopen like it does when I get constipated, and all my hard work and eating fiber and having the right diet and running straight to the bathroom each time I have to go, is going to be for nothing. I just don't want to risk my fissure reopening. I know a c-section itself can't cause a fissure, but if I change my diet, and even when I dont take a BM right when I need to, my fissure reappears, so I just have to keep up with my normal routine.

I had my first daughter over 5 yrs ago. I am now 18 wks with our second child. During my first delivery I recvd an episiotomy which lacerated my anal sphincter muscles. I had severe pain for about 6 months. Due to the scar tissue and damage to my sphincter I went through several different surgeries. I still have pain during intercourse and during and after #2. My doctor has also suggested that I have a c section but I am a little worried. A c section is major surgery and anything could happen that could cause more damage than the first delivery. All of the postings are very helpful. I am trying to do as much research before I make my decision. Any other links would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and good luck to all.

Well Amanda, good luck with your decision. I go in for my c-section this Sunday, so all that I'm hoping for is that the aftermath is better than it was with my first child.

When you're feeling better, let us know how your c-section went!!

I sure well let you guys all know exactly how it went, and if I think I made the right choice. It's in 7 hours, so I can't even fall asleep. Bye till I get back.

hi can some one tell me how many time can you have a cesarean section please as this one wil be mine 3 one and iam a bit worry about it

thank you