Natural Birth vs. C-Section After Difficult Delivery: Weighing Your Options

Question
after a very difficult birth with my first son which resulted in a forceps delivery and a very bad 4th degree tear i am now undecided what to do about the delivery of my second child.  i have been given the option of either a natural birth or a c-section but the natural birth will entail me having to have an elective episiotomy, which i have had before.  my worry is what long term problems a natural birth will leave me with and whether is will be better to have a c-section to avoid these problems.  

Answer
How big was your baby, and why did yhou have a fourth degree tear?  Why are you sure that you will have to have an elective epiisiotomy? Certainly, a vaginal delivery is safer than a cesarean section. If there are inidications for a cesarean section, by all means have a cesarean section. However, I would not encourage a cesarean section if you just want to avoid an episiotomy. You will not necessarily have a tear into your rectum (4th degree).