Hi all! Thank you for all your replies! I thought I had this set to alert me to responses, but apparently not!
Anyhow, I cannot tell you how invaluable your responses have been. I'm going to ask my OB at my next appointment whether he thinks a C-section could cause enough scar tissue & etc. to affect our ability to have more children in the future. If so, I would like to birth vaginally to preserve our ability to conceive naturally again. However, if there's little risk of that happening, I think (based on your responses & my surgeon's opinion from last year) that I should push for the C-section. I like and respect our OB and his opinion--but you guys are right about not wanting to risk the pouch. I had a terrible time with the ileostomy--both physically, in that the loop ileostomy I had was terrible to manage with leaking...I also couldn't keep any weight on at all with it, and was horribly depressed while wearing it. I didn't react well to having one, and that was only for 5 months or so, so I think it is safe to say that I'd rather avoid having to return to an ileostomy if possible.
So, thank you! I think I have a clear idea of what I want to ask about and try for now. Hopefully my OB will listen and consider my opinion. If not, it is going to be terrible trying to find a new one! I was still on my mom's insurance plan (I'm 25 and in the US, so I have my parents' insurance until my 26th birthday) but we discovered early on that adult dependents don't get any insurance coverage for maternity. My husband gets good insurance through his job, but only after a set amount of time of working for the company--his insurance is coming through around the 8 month mark of the pregnancy...which is cutting it very close for us. We paid for our OB out of pocket--$6500, so here's to hoping he's prepared to work with me if I request a c-section!
I'm also going to try to get in contact with my surgeon--he is an 8/9 hour drive from where we live now, and it is a hard trip for us to take currently. His office also isn't great about answering the phone or sending him messages. I'm hoping I can convince him to talk to me or do some sort of virtual appointment, rather than making us make the drive to him. If it isn't doable, we'll see about finding a surgeon here to give us an opinion.
Also, I got a bidet toliet seat installed last week! I am still having some occasional issues with the itching, but it is much better. I think not having to wipe as much/often is helping it heal. What little itching remains seems to be connected to gas and possibly to what I've eaten that day, which I'm going to try to figure out through trial/error so I can avoid whatever food it is for the rest of the pregnancy. Great advice! I'll look into purchasing either calmoseptine or Ilex paste as well, to help with the healing.
Thank you all!!