"oh, now I understand...."

[HollyC]

"oh, now I understand why you want a vaginal birth"

I have been getting sick of women who have had uncomplicated vaginal births telling me to take the easy way out and just book in for a c/s. I have tried to explain my reasons, but it seems to fall on deaf ears.

Over christmas I was talking to one of these women and I was talking about some aspects of my birth. The spinal block numbed my arms and I couldn't hold DD. In fact I was vomiting so I wasn't going to hold her anyway. Also the itchiness from something they gave me, spending 2 hours sleeping in recovery by myself and a few other things.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not upset by these things. They were just part of my experience that I was sharing. That was when this woman made the above statement.

I guess it just made me realise that people can be very ignorant about what actually happens with a c/s. They assume that it is quick, clean, easy and you avoid any unpleasant aspects of birth. They assume the only downside is the recovery.

[Arimeh]

Yup I hated the procedure and the recovery.

I'm hearing ya.

[TeniBear]

Although I've always been aware of some of the bad aspects, I never realized just how much of a procedure it was until I joined BB and started reading some stories. I've never wanted one of course, unless it's absolutely necessary, but wow!

Even now I'm still learning *blush* I only just twigged yesterday where they make the incision... Somehow I thought it was right across/up the belly, not... There...

[Arimeh]

Teni - the classical incision (what they USED to do) was right up the belly - so you were sorta right (just not with the current times thats all )

[STARRYSKY]

I so get where you are coming from! I seem to be hearing similar alot lately.
it bugs me when my friends that had VBs say "oh, youre so lucky, I wish they wouldve cut me open..." I just tell them they have no idea what theyre talking about!

[Indadhanu]

it bugs me when my friends that had VBs say "oh, youre so lucky, I wish they wouldve cut me open..." I just tell them they have no idea what theyre talking about!

Yep, even my SIL says I got it 'easy'. I used to get offended, now I just tell her we'll discuss it once she's had a c/s.

They just don't understand, neither did I until I had one though.

[TeniBear]

Teni - the classical incision (what they USED to do) was right up the belly - so you were sorta right (just not with the current times thats all )

Hooray, I'm not as ignorant as I thought I was!
I'm having a problem convincing my "friend" that I want a drug-free birth if I can get it - she said she fell in love with the anesthesiologist when he gave her an epidural (five minutes before her little boy arrived )

[Astrid]

When I was waiting for one of my mw appointments one of the other mums in the room starting talking to me. It was her first baby and she was asking me about my first. So of course the question came up about the birth and I explained that I had an emergency c-section. She smiled, turned to me, held up both hands with fingers crossed and said "I hope I get to have a c-section" I was shocked, quickly explained that they are not great, but was really to shocked to talk much more. After my 2nd emergency c-section (did not get a chance for my VBAC) I was talking to one of the midwives about her and said that someone should bring her into me right now so she can see how c-sections are not easy at all.

She did end up with one and had her incision get infected and open up. She was at an ABA meeting one morning, she obviously did not recognise me and was sobbing on my shoulder about how upset she was about her birth.