C section or natural birth?
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Guess it depends on a person but my recovery wasn’t 3 weeks. It’s the hardest for the first week, especially getting up if you’re sitting down but I wouldn’t say you can’t do anything at all. It’s the first couple days that it’s toughest. By the time your husband’s paternity leave is over you would be able to do most things
I'd say a csection as then you know exactly what's going to happen and can plan for afterwards l, if you go natural fingers crossed everything could go wonderful and straight forward but from talking with other mums general view is a csection is easier to recover from than an episiotomy or any other tear, just from the information given if I was in your shoes I'd go for a planned csection x
I've also been offered a c section and I'm going to go for it. My first was a vaginal birth but I ended up with pretty intense interventions with forceps which made my recovery really hard (to the point that I needed surgery later to fix it). I think just having the predictability of what's ahead of me even though I know it will be a tough recovery is worth it. It took me ages to realise last time how hard my recovery was it was only when I spoke to friends who'd had a planned c section that I realised I'd found it tougher than a lot of them. So just basically that vaginal isn't a guarantee of easier recovery really but it's totally up to you!
I haven’t had a c section before and not really planning on either unless and emergency. Either way with 2 other kids if you can get some help when your husband is away you are most likely going to need it. A c section for you might be the way forward if both previous births have been terrible and one already ended in a c section.
I'm in the same situation! Last birth was traumatic so been offered a c section this time round. The thought of having my belly sliced open really scares me & the scar makes me cringe.! I am so worried if I opt for a c section my belly will never go back to normal (vein I know) also the recovery scares me! Are you allowed to try naturally? I think that's the route I am going to take. Also my recovery with a natural birth was no walk in the park. I was cut open and could hardly sit down for a week. So I think both have pros and cons x
i haven’t had both so feel free to discount all this. I’m sorry you’re stressed. It’s a really difficult decision. But with your experience I’d opt for a C-section, myself. Did your daughter have shoulder dystocia? If so the chance of it happening again in this pregnancy is much higher. Also is it possible for you to get some other help while your husband is away? Even if you have a vaginal birth it doesn’t mean that you’ll necessarily be in full health, and if you go for vaginal and end up with an emergency c you’re going to be in the same position. It might help you feel calmer to have a plan in place for each outcome? Best of luck for making the decision!