C Section vs Natural birth?

I didn't really have an opinion one way or another before having kids. Or even after my first was born (by ceasarean). It was only after I started doing research and getting information from someone other than my doctor that I started to realize how messed up both the maternity care system and the birthing community can be. I am a huge birth advocate now - mostly for "normal" birth more than just "natural" birth - and feel that sometimes, unfortunately women can make decisions based on lies, misinformation or bad advice that can sometimes not really be what's best for them. Even if you have an elective cesarean, for instance, and think that's okay, it can lead to complications both for the mother and baby, both in the short and long term (especially the more cesareans you have). Even if *that* doesn't happen, this type of thinking is shared among OBs who are happy to push women into an unnecessary cesarean and mainstream their thinking to include every patient, even the woman who doesn't want one. It's getting harder and harder to find a doctor who has really attended a "natural" birth, and harder to find a woman who doesn't confuse "normal" birth (through the vagina) with "natural" - the total absence of pain medication or interventions while in labor.

I'm not that hardcore - to me, natural means no painkillers and no labor augmenting drugs, and probably no artificial rupture of membranes. Letting labor take a natural course unless the need for intervention arises. That is how birth should be. But unfortunately so many women think excessive vaginal exams in late pregnancy and birth are necessary, and actually tell us something, when they don't. They think it's normal to have Pitocin, and for sometimes it to end in cesarean, when in fact it's probably the Pit that did it in the first place. They have no idea of the "Pit to distress" phenomenon, where doctors actually start the dose of Pit too high in order to create fetal distress in the baby, which creates a need for a cesarean. They also aren't aware that sometimes hospital protocols - such as pushing while on your back, remaining flat in bed throughout labor, and no eating/drinking in early labor - can all make it harder and more painful than it needs to be.

I am of the opinion that you can and should be able to do whatever you want in labor - whether it's an elective cesarean or refusing vaginal exams and unnecessary tests - as long as you do it with the right information in order to make a truly informed decision. I realized I couldn't count on my doctor to give me that when I noticed he was only telling me how dangerous one was in order to benefit himself (when I wanted to do a VBAC), and yet giving me none of the risks of a cesarean. My eyes were opened with that experience and it made me the birth advocate I am today.

Some of the reasons for elective cesarean - like preserving pelvic floor muscles, etc. are absolute BS and lies. Studies have shown that in nuns, who we can assume who have not had children, they too have pelvic floor issues simply brought on by gravity and age. Most women do not realize that pushing out a baby under duress (like directed pushing when you have no urge), using forceps and tools because you are too medicated to allow your baby to come on its own, etc. are most stressful on the body and yet is the norm in hospitals. More pelvic floor damage is done while you pushing against your body (directed pushing) instead of waiting for the urge to happen.

Probably way more than you wanted to hear, I'm sure. LOL

I think, like you do, that it is a woman's choice how she gives birth and what she feels comfortable with. I think most women, like me, would go along with whatever is best for their baby and their own body. I have noticed this attitude of 'natural is best' - it's the same as all the 'breastfeeding is best' stuff. Women try to push their opinion onto other women instead of supporting choice.

I think the argument for natural birth is that it's just that 'natural.' It's the age old method and it's also a bonding experience, being in labour and pushing your baby into the world is supposed to make you feel close to it. There is also a load of rubbish about it making you a real woman. Some celebrity Mums have said that it's the most amazing experience of their life and all women need to do it. Now if I was told my baby was in trouble, and needed to come out quickly, I wouldn't worry much about this 'life transforming experience' and would just say, get it out as quick as you can so that it's okay!

I think there are some women who chose to have a caesarean for vanity reasons. Personally I think that's wrong, there is no room for vanity here., But again it's their choice and what matters to them. Natural childbirth can widen your hips for good and can stretch and tear open your vagina. Also women put on a lot of weight in the final month of pregnancy and I have heard or rich women who pay to have a caesarean a month early to avoid that final period. They can then also have a tummy tuck at the same time. Personally I find that sad, I would rather worry about my baby and how I am going to recover and be able to spend time with it. But that's just me. A caesarean is not an easy option, it's major surgery and carries risks, then there's a 6 week recovery period where you can't drive. Personally I would want to try for a natural birth so that I can recover quicker and get up and about caring for my baby.

Some women are just petrified of birth, I read an article by a woman writer who just couldn't face the pain and trauma. It is a scary thought. I am now 19 weeks pregnant and am starting to think about the birth and yes, I am so scared. My friends who have kids have not lied to me, they say the pain is like nothing else on earth. Also I do not really want to tear or have to be cut and yes I do worry about how my bits will end up looking and feeling afterwards, I love my fiancee and I want him to find me attractive down there! But I am planning to have natural birth if I can. If I need pain relief I will take it, I couldn't possibly say right now, it will depend on how my birth goes and how I feel at the time. There is, again, this snobbish attitude of 'you're weak, you needed pain relief - but every woman is different and my god, if it's available, why not use it? This is all about personal choice and women seem to be very quick to judge others.

i opted for c-section, was pregnant with twins, one breech. doc said i could try natural but if second baby didnt turn after the first was delivered that i would then have to do an emergency c-section. I prefered only dealing with pain from one area versus the possible 2. personally I look up to women who have an all natural bith (no meds), thats a heck of a lot of pain to go through when you can opt for pain meds. But for those who have pain meds its no diff than opting for a c-section imo.

Emergency Cs are not the same as elective Cs

Sorry but no good OB would allow an elective C without a valid medical reason

Preserving pelvic floor muscles, avoid tearing and they just have a fear of pain is NO reason not to have a vaginal delivery

Being pregnant alone can and will weaken the pelvic floor

Its MAJOR surgery and the pain from that is WAY worse than any pain you will experience from a natural birth

Not to mention insurance companies won't pay for an elective C

**Edit: Won't happen here in the US

I'm not going to get in the middle of the debate, but I want everyone to remember that sometimes it isn't up to the woman. I labored (naturally - no epidural) for 17 hours and couldn't progress past 5cm because my baby had turned her head sideways, so she couldn't move down. It had been over 24 hours since my water broke so my doctor decided we needed to do a c-section to reduce the risk of danger and infection.

I was very depressed that I couldn't give birth to my child naturally and it took me a while to accept that I did what I had to do for the health of my baby.

I had a natural birth, and personally I don't understand why more women elect to have a natural birth. The healing process is so much faster, you don't have a huge scar, and you have the feeling of accomplishment that you pushed that sucker out of there! I also breastfed, which sped up my weight loss, which further's my belief that the natural way is the best way out there!

Unless absolutely necessary, why would someone elect to have a c-section? Does that really happen? Blows my mind.

BTW, I haven't seen anyone chastising another for having an emergency c-section.

*tam-tam- how can you say giving brith naturally does not bring you closer to your baby when you haven't even given birth before??

Choosing to have a c-section for no reason is selfish. It has MANY, MANY, MANY more risks then a natural, vaginal birth.

A lot of "emergency" c-sections are only done out of "convenience" for the doctors anyways.

Look at these shocking stats and the raise of c-sections;

http://www.childbirth.org/section/CSFact.html

http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck...

http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck...

In fact, I bet half of the "emergency" c-sections wouldn't even be needed if inductions weren't done unless 100% needed.

i dont understand it either. i had to have an emergency c-section with my first, and it wasnt by choice. i honestly dont care about what others have to say. im going to do what i am comfortable with, and if you dont like it you can go play in traffic.

thats how i feel about the situation lol!