Making The Choice

Because both vaginal and planned cesarean deliveries are highly safe procedures, women's concerns over which to choose often center on the amount of pain and recovery involved with each. But no two birthing experiences are alike. For every horror story about a vaginal or cesarean delivery, there are many more infused with joy and satisfaction. Even women who have experienced both kinds of delivery frequently differ over which they'd prefer next time they have a child.

Canadian researchers recently followed some 1,600 pregnant women, half of whom planned to deliver by cesarean and half vaginally after learning that their babies were in breech position. Three months after delivery, both groups said they were equally satisfied. More of those in the c-section group said that they liked that their childbirth experience hadn't been very painful. More of those in the vaginal-delivery group reported that they were happy that their recovery hadn't been difficult. And the two groups of women didn't differ in how promptly they were able to return to an active, pain-free sex life.

"Overall, if I had to pick one, it would be hard," says Jennifer Berman of her two very different childbirth experiences. What really matters, she says, is not the final decision but that she  -- and other women  -- have the ability to choose at all. And most important of all is the baby you get to take home afterward.

---