I think one of the most common questions that people ask me, even at a year postpartum, is about the differences between giving birth to baby number one and baby number two. I think it is natural to wonder if things were the same or different – especially if you are about to have another baby yourself. I also have the added comparison of a vaginal delivery vs. a c – section delivery, which some people seem quite curious about.
Before beginning, I should point out that I don’t personally believe there is any easy way to give birth. No matter what way it takes place, it is hard work and it takes a toll on you. Your body just spent months building a baby and now that baby is coming into the world, and that is a big freaking deal! It is life changing in more ways than one, and even though both my experiences were great and on the tame side in terms of complications etc., I know I will never be the same.
After my c section with my little guy
How my Body Recovered
This was perhaps the biggest difference between my birth experiences. After my vaginal birth, I bounced back physically almost immediately. I couldn’t believe how “normal” I felt and even my nurses commented on how I recovered very quickly. My stomach shrank back to its pre-pregnancy size within a week or so, and I experienced no other longer lasting side effects in terms of swelling etc.
In terms of my c-section delivery, I also recovered fairly quickly in relative terms. I was told to take it easier and although I did make sure to get up and walk around as soon as I was allowed, I tried very very hard not to over do it. Getting up out of bed and out of chairs was rather tricky for a few weeks, and boy was I ever afraid of sneezing! I also could not sleep on my side comfortably until about 2 months postpartum. I had swelling in my right leg and foot (no blood clot!) for almost a month as well. In terms of my stomach, I was much more swollen after my c section and I still have a bit of a pouch that sits just above my scar that I am not exactly sure how to exercise away. All this being said, I did feel pretty great and had minor pain after having major surgery so I consider it a great success!
Side note – Stitches here…stitches there…stitches stitches everywhere…
Both of my birth experiences led to stitches. One in a more unmentionable place and one in a line across my lower tummy. Is it ever pleasant to get stitches? I wouldn’t think so – mind you I didn’t feel them being put in either time. I also treated them both the same way – I largely ignored them. I checked when I had to check to make sure everything was “okay,” but I tried not to think about them. They healed quickly in both circumstances.
Pain Management – During and After
I had an epidural for my first birth experience and a spinal for my second. So I cannot speak to how contractions would feel past the 5 cm mark – however during early/mid labour, mine ranged from uncomfortable to rather painful. For me, both the epidural and the spinal were painless other then a quick bee sting for freezing and did exactly what they were meant to do. Would I try a medical free birth experience? No thank you.
After giving birth both times I was given a combination of Tylenol 2s and Motrin to be taken on a rotating schedule. I also took stool softeners for the first week to help things…ahem…happen easier. I found that the medicines made me rather constipated and after returning home from the hospital each time, within a few days I switched to simply taking a low dose of over the counter pain relievers. This “fixed” the problem.
Breastfeeding & Bonding with Baby
Breastfeeding for me was no different with a vaginal or a c-section birth. Both of my little ones came out hungry and ready to eat and both babies were able to latch on right away. My milk came in faster after my c-section birth, but that may have to do with it being my second baby and my body already knowing “what to do.”
I have spoken quite candidly about my struggle with pos partum anxiety and possible depression with my first little one on Hellobee. I worried most of my second pregnancy about this taking place again, and then it crossed my mind when I found out I was having a unexpected c-section. I am happy to report that I did not struggle the second time as I did the first. I actually feel as though I bonded more quickly with my second little one as I enjoyed that one on one time in recovery after the surgery. After my first birth experience, I felt like everything happened so quickly after she was born and I barely got to hold her and just enjoy. I got to do this with my c-section and I treasure those memories. I also got to stay in the hospital longer which allowed me a little more “down” time without returning to everyday life, which I think really helped to start the bonding process.
Did you have different birth experiences? Did you find one better then the other?
guest
I had a c-section with my first and a VBAC with my second. I had, what I considered, a pretty easy c-section recovery experience. For the first few days, I couldn’t sit up easily, but it gradually got better and better and I was off of the prescription pain killers within a few days.
With my VBAC, what I wasn’t expecting was that I could not sit up from laying for the first 24 hours! I don’t know what I did to my abs during my 2 hours of pushing, but I kept telling the nurses that I was in as much pain as post c-section. Thankfully, after 24 hours it was like a light switch had flipped and the pain was totally gone.
cherry / 196 posts
I had a c-section the first time followed by a VBAC. I bruised my tailbone pretty seriously though during the vaginal birth, so in terms of pain and recovery, the two were about the same. That said, I’ll take a bruised tailbone over having major surgery.
guest
I appreciate you sharing this. I had a vaginal birth for my first kid and because of my placenta previa, I will most likely have a C-section for my second pregnancy. I’m very nervous about having a C-section after having such an easy birth and recovery with LO 1. I’m really hoping for an “easy going” C-section recovery!!!
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
Thank you so much for sharing this. My placenta has been a marginal previa and recently moved to low lying so there’s been lots of talk about a c-section. I had a really easy L&D with DS so hearing about the C is scaring me shitless. This is reassuring.
guest
Same story! #1 was vaginal, #2 was a stubborn breech c-section. I also bounced back incredibly quickly from vaginal and well-but-not-as-quickly from the c-section. With #1, I had an epidural and a super easy delivery/recovery. My tummy shrank back in the first week and the baby weight fell off quickly and (minus one time where I was too ambitious getting out and about a week pp) I felt great!
With #2, I can’t decide if it’s because it’s my second (I’m older, my body is different after already having a kid, etc) or if it’s because it was a c-section but it was pretty different. The first month I was scared to cough, laugh, sneeze, climb the stairs, switch positions too quickly, and so on. I was told I was doing great but it still took me 2 months to feel normal again. And the incision aftermath sucks – I also have the pouch, and I don’t enjoy the leftover numbness.
My overall take was I preferred vaginal recovery, though I must say – being able to pee in those first pp weeks without it being painful and a whole production was pretty nice!
blogger / kiwi / 588 posts
I too was in the same boat with my LOs. LO#1 was vaginal and LO#2 was a c-section. I will take vaginal over c-section any day! The whole experience was a lot less stressful going in. This also could have been because LO#2 was a scheduled c-section due to my rare form of vasa previa. But overall, the recovery was a lot quicker with the vaginal delivery than the c-section.