C-section versus bad tearing from a vaginal delivery? Please read the whole question - thanks! :)?

Hey all. I'm just wondering from those who have "been there done that" which is easier to heal from - a c-section or a bad vaginal tear. With my first baby, I tore really, really bad (it took half an hour to stitch me up), I couldn't sit down for a whole month (either had to lay down, half way lay down, or stand) and it took almost a year to heal and even now (2 years later) I still have pain in the scar area at times to the point where my husband and I can't do anything so to speak. I'm just wondering what your experiences with c-sections were - most of my friends have had c-sections and they were back to normal within 2 to 4 weeks. I think that I'd rather have an abdominal incision than another really bad vaginal tear, and I'm afraid that I'll tear worse this time around (I'm 6 months pregnant with baby #2). Any experiences / advice, would definitely be welcome! Thanks in advance and God bless!

C-section was best for me ! I even chose the day of my youngest daughter's delivery - a planned C-section. Within a couple of weeks I was fine.

I have had 2 c-sections (22 and 19 years ago) and one vaginal delivery(21 years ago-23 hour painful delivery), plus I worked for 5 years as a nurse going to deliveries.

I wonder why you tore so bad? Ask your doctor, because if the delivery is done in a controlled fashion and an episotomy is done (if needed) there should be no tearing at all.

There are complications associated with c-sections, it is major surgery. Yes, I was back on my feet in 2 - 4 weeks, but I still have uncomfortable scar tissue at the incision line and occasionally it feels like I majorly pull something there which stops me in my tracks. The surgery cut through the stomach muscle (which is normal) so now I have one of those pudgey little apron-like stomaches that only a tummy-tuck will fix (another surgery). If I had to choose, I would vote for not having had my c-sections.

I had 2 emergency c-sections and 2 vaginal births.
With the c-sections, I had the belly button down cut, it took forever to heal. I couldn't sneeze, burp, pass gas or anything without alot of discomfort. With the vaginal births, I had an episotomy, only 3 stitches. With my last (thank God) I ripped so bad and ended up with 7 stitches.
I would speak to your doctor and find out why you had so much discomfort the first time and what could be done this time to help.

I had a tear much like yours.... 44 stiches...with child number one.... two successive babies came vaginally with no problems, after I explained to the doc that the birth of number one was terribly difficult... I got immediate episiotomy on both and no problems.....much luck to you!!

I can relate and maybe my experience will be helpful for you to hear. Long I know but bear with me. My 1st baby was delivered at home with no complications at all. It was a calm wonderful experience. Everything I always wanted. When I found out I was pregnant again we were so excited. I made an appointment with my previous doctor and then my hubby was laid off and we lost our health insurance. I had to do my prenatal at the local health department. I hated it. I was just a number and was given subpar prenatal care compared to my previous experience. When I went to the hospital after my water broke the staff there was okay but the doctor was rude. After my daughter was delivered and was being cleaned up a sweet nurse was stitching a small tear when my water broke again. What a shock. I had NO idea. The nurse called the doctor over and he started yelling at me for not telling him I was having twins. I was in shock about it myself. I didn't need him yelling at me. The next few hours was kind of a blurr. My second baby was breach and the doctor tried to turn him but the cord got wrapped and tangled and cut off blood flow to the baby. The doc didn't have time for a c-section so I tore very badly when he had to reach in and cut the cord and pull the baby out almost sideways. I had 117 stitches and had to stay into the hospital for 8 days. My experience got better after I didn't have that doctor any more as the nursing staff was great. I thought I would never heal from that. It took a few months to feel even close to normal. I still have tenderness and occasional pain and my twins are almost 9. BTW my twins weighed 8lbs 3oz and 8lbs 12oz.
When I got pregnant with my youngest I was excited but got nervous and scared as my due date got closer. I was able to go back to the midwives that delivered my first so that made me feel better. I found out at 34 weeks that the baby had not turned. They did a sonogram and referred me to a doctor for a c-section consult. I was sad about the need to have a c-section but after my experience with my son being breach and almost losing him I knew it was the safest way to deliver the baby. Also being able to set the date and time made it easier to schedule time off for my hubby and arrange care for my other 3 kids. The c-section went off without a hitch and my daughter was born 10lbs 12oz and only 18 inches I was relived not to have tried a vaginal delivery. I was in the hospital 3 days after delivery. I hated that 4 hours went by after my c section before they took me to a room and brought the baby. This REALLY interferred with our start to breastfeeding. We had many problems the first few weeks because of this. When I left the hospital I was sore but felt OK. 3 days later I woke up in the middle of the night with severe pain I could barely move. My hubby carried me to the car and got the kids up and rushed me back to the hospital. Turns out my uterine inscision ruptured and I was hemoraging. I had to have emergency surgery to repair the rupture. I spent a week in the hospital after that. The staff let the baby stay with me since she was breastfeeding. Although there were a few times I couldn't nuse because of the medications, but they were careful what they prescribed for me so that was helpful. I went home from the hospital on a Friday and the following Wed. my mom picked up my older children to take them to school and happened to come back after that because she said I didn't look well and she wanted to play with the baby too. When she got to my home I was uncounscous and she couldn't wake me. She called 911 and I was rushed to the hospital again. I had a 104.8 fever when I got there. Turned out I had a abdominal and uterine infection and develped staph infection. I was on IV antibiotics for 14 days and had to stay in the hospital 16 days. and because of all the disruptions in breastfeeding I developed blocked duct and mastitis as well. It was a horrible time. I have no found memories of the first 8 weeks of my baby's life. Even after my 117 stitches I would have preferred that to the experience of my last delivery. I still have pain and numbness at my inscision site and about 3 inches above and below it. My nerve endings and muscles are extremely damaged and I have A LOT if interrnal scar tissue.My youngest will be 2 in Jan.