My Third Pregnancy at 33: Why I Chose a C-Section Over a VBAC

Hello everyone who's made it to my review!

I'm here to share my experience with a Cesarean section, which I had in September 2025.

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it – I was scared of going through another vaginal delivery after my first two experiences.

My Story.

I got the amazing news in January 2025 that I was pregnant – again.

This was my third pregnancy, so I knew the drill by now.

I'd been through two vaginal deliveries before, and let me tell you, they were both a real challenge.

My first delivery resulted in a 3rd-degree tear, and my second delivery resulted in a 2nd-degree tear.

Both times, I was in a lot of pain, and it took me a while to recover.

So, when I found out I was pregnant again, I started thinking about my options.

I knew I had to make a decision about how I wanted to deliver my baby.

I decided to go to Gemotest lab to get a blood test for HCG.

HCG test resultsI wasn't surprised when the test confirmed my pregnancy – I knew I was pregnant before I even took the test!

By 28 weeks, I was experiencing severe back pain in my pelvis, and it was clear that I wouldn't be able to give birth naturally.

My ultrasound revealed that my symphysis pubis was dysfunctional, and the distance between my pelvic bones was only 10mm.

It was a real wake-up call – I knew I needed to find a doctor who would agree to a C-section.

I had to decide whether to take the risk and try to convince the doctors to do the C-section under the OMS or pay for the contract in advance for a cesarean.

I decided not to take the risk, so I opted for a paid C-section at the regional maternity hospital in the Leningrad region.

I talked to the head of the hospital, and I told her everything that had happened before my third pregnancy, what I'm afraid of, and what I don't want to risk.

She listened to my arguments, but said that if I came to the hospital without a contract, they wouldn't take my concerns seriously – they'd send me home to wait for contractions and put me on bed rest.

The Contract.

After signing the contract, I felt more at ease.

The doctor was in touch with me, and I sent her every analysis, every appointment with the local gynecologist.

Everything was going smoothly until the baby decided to be born a little early...

They do C-sections at 39 weeks in that hospital, and at 37 weeks, I was barely surviving – my stomach dropped suddenly, and the baby was putting pressure on my pelvis.

I endured this state for a week, and a day before I was 38 weeks pregnant, I went to the hospital with my things.

I was traveling alone, my husband was at work.

I barely made it on the taxi – it felt like I was giving birth in the car, although I wasn't having contractions, just an unbearable pressure in my pelvis.

In the hospital, I met the head of the maternity ward, who said I wouldn't be going home – I wanted to stay.

They left me, but as I later found out from my husband, the head of the maternity ward (who was also my doctor) reassured him that she'd send me home the next day.

That night, I started leaking pink-colored water.

I wrote to my doctor, who was on duty.

She replied that another doctor would come to examine me on the chair.

The examination didn't show anything out of the ordinary.

They sent me to sleep.

In the morning, I was feeling pain all over my body!

I wrote it off to the uncomfortable bed.

I was annoyed, but I tried to just bear it and wait.

They called me for a CTG.

According to it, I was having contractions.

I started panicking – maybe the pain all over my body wasn't just from the bed, but from contractions.

I wrote to my doctor, and here's an additional stress: she had already gone home from her shift!

She said she'd send the head of the maternity ward to examine me.

I realized that I had missed the night contractions, endured them in the morning, and by the daytime, they became noticeable.

I told the head of the maternity ward that I wouldn't be going into labor – I'd paid for the C-section, so please prepare the operating room.

Thank God, the doctor (who was also my contract doctor's backup) quickly gave the orders, and they started preparing me for the C-section right away.

The medical staff's work was well-coordinated.

Everyone was moving quickly, and they were all cheering me on, although I was calm.

The one thing that really freaked me out was the anesthesia during the C-section.

In my case, it was spinal anesthesia.

I was terrified of the shot in my back.

But as it turned out, the anesthesiologist gave me a painkiller injection before the shot, so I didn't even feel it.

The operation started.

I was separated from the rest of the room by a curtain, so I had no idea what was going on.

Twenty-five minutes into the operation, the doctor told me to push!

I had no idea what was going on and, on a completely serious note, I replied, 'I can't!'

It turned out that was just a joke from the obstetricians, because right after that, they showed me my baby!

My first thought was, 'That's it? Already?! Compared to my previous labors, which lasted seven hours and eleven hours, respectively, I got to see my baby in just half an hour!

The baby was taken away for weighing, bathing, and dressing.

After all the procedures, they attached the baby to my breast.

Since the operation was still ongoing, the nurse held the baby, and I wasn't allowed to move my arms.

Of course, you don't get to spend quality time with your newborn right away after a C-section.

But they did give me a chance to see the baby, show me the birth certificate with my name and the baby's weight and length, and then the nurse took the baby to the nursery.

Meanwhile, I had to come out of the anesthesia and start walking around with the stitches.

Recovery in the ICU.

After the C-section in the ICU recovery roomAfter the operation, I was taken to the ICU.I was looking forward to the 'thrills' of coming out of the anesthesia.

Before the procedure, I read reviews, watched interviews with doctors – I knew what to expect.

Straight away, I called and texted my husband and family, and then I disconnected.

I slept for about two hours.

In the meantime, the anesthesia was slowly wearing off, and I could move my right foot, but my left foot was still numb.

In the ICU, coming out of the anesthesia. My right foot is moving, but my left foot is still numb. Spinal anesthesia during C-sectionAnother hour passed, and they brought me a cup of chicken broth.

Chicken broth – food for the gods! After the C-section in the ICUPerfect timing!Although I wasn't hungry, I enjoyed drinking the broth!

Later, I could move my legs freely, bend and straighten them.

The most important moment had arrived – I had to start walking around with the stitches.

First, they explained how to get out of bed.

Nobody helps you in the ICU; you have to do it all yourself.

I tried my best.

I really did, pushing through the pain.

I was even doing pretty well.

The nurses were praising me.

They said some girls give up, but I'm a clever one.

Postpartum ward.

I spent 6.5 hours in the PITU.

I was transferred to a two-bed room at midnight.

I liked that it was a shared room.

I was told the baby would be brought in the morning.

But, either they forgot or there was a shift change, but the baby was brought to me 2 hours later

Postpartum ward. In a room with my baby after a C-section reviewsIt was great that the baby was eating formula and sleeping until morning.I was resting too.

What can I say about the post-op period?

Just be patient.

That's the only way to get through this.

Suture.

I had a cosmetic suture with dissolvable stitches.

I followed the hygiene instructions from the hospital.

But a few days after discharge, I had to rush to see the surgeon: they were removing the knot from the stitch.

What's better: EPI or C-section?

As a woman who's given birth twice without anesthesia, I can say that the pain from EPI and the pain after C-section are roughly on the same level for me.

Either way, your body needs recovery time.

With C-section, it took longer.

But with C-section, there were no birth injuries, which was more important to me than the pain!

I knew what I was getting into and prepared myself for it.

Of course, you can't anticipate everything, but overall, I'm happy with how it all went.

I wouldn't regret choosing a C-section for a second.

To all women, I wish you healthy pregnancies and healthy babies!

Thanks for reading!