Death twice as likely by caesarean

[Trish]

Sonya, it is one thing to have a caesarean for a medical reason, whether its psychological or physical. It's another thing to have a c section just because you want to.

Not that I am bashing the girls that choose to do that either. It's all about making an informed decision either way

I hope that you do fall pregnant again, very soon and you get the birth that you dream of

[sonya1]

thanks trish

i only want what is best for our maybe baby. my recovery after a c/s was slow, but i had tubal ligation as well.
im not fussed on the experience for myself, mainly its mums and bubs health i.e like rach's story.... and for my recovery and ability to go home and be a happy and healthy mother for my other children.

these topics are so very interesting, but the stats are very scary for mothers who have 'no option'

[BellyBelly]

If its worth the risk to you then who cares what anyone thinks? The risks need to be said though, so everyone can make an informed decision and clearly, something is going on which is resulting in more c/s - we have a long way down to be at an acceptable level - what else will bring the rate down but knowing the risks? It's like induction - if you know the risks and it's worth it (i.e. urgent situations, psychological) then that's all that matters. But someone has to be allowed to mention it or the c/s will continue to skyrocket as will the stats, and dead mothers and babies. The US has the highest rate of this in the developed world - so its not the 'poor' and 'unhygenic' countries that are skewing stats here!

C/S and induction should be seen and treated as the major surgery it is to keep things in perspective. How do you tell a father whose wife has gone in for a c/s where they have been told there are very little risks when his wife arrests on the table or haemorrages? Or like a client of mine, went into surgery to stop the bleeding after an induction and ended up waking up being told she had no uterus? Small risks... big consequences. My client didn't have surgery complication - but no matter what we NEED to know realities which are not always as rare as we think. Yes it's scary and that sucks. But what's more scary is never knowing in the first place and it coming as a completely unexpected surprise. Lots of law suits I would imagine.

[Trillian]

Sonya, i am not against them when there is a real medical reason to have one(including psychological ones). Regardless of the reason for having it, you just can't stick your head in the sand about the very real risks involved - it is all about informed consent. If you have no other choice but to give birth this way, you still don't need to be scared of the risks, after all many women have them everyday and have no negative outcomes, but you do need to be aware of them is all.

[Tanya]

I think all women should be aware of all the risks involved in such procedures, whether you elect it or not, you need to be made aware. So often c-section is seen as a safe option but it is a major operation and should not be taken lightly.

One of my partners friend's GF has elected to have a c-section because, "I am not pushing anything out of there!"... This really grates me!! Why can this surgery that carries so many risks be funded and yet another birthing choice such as home birth not?

[*Belle*]

Im sorry but I am sick of having these articles around to "scar" people, I need to have a c-section for medical reasons, and dont need these scare tactics of saying my baby may die this makes me very angry and upsets me and I dont need this for my anxiety. Had to say my 2cents next time I wont open the thread. Just wanted to mention that these articles to scare those who medically still need to have a c-section.

[Tanya]

Belle, no-one is trying to scare you out of having your baby... threads like this are simply to inform. Everyone who is involved in the birth of a child should be made aware of all the risks involved in all aspects needed to birth their baby. If you are having a c-section for medical reasons or otherwise you shouldn't go into it blindly, these risks are real.

*snap* MR

[SamanthaP]

It's not even about the discourse of risk anymore. The risks of c-section are in the media every other week at the moment. I think everybody appreciates the risk, you'd have to have your head in the sand not to. The majority of women are not choosing to have c-sections - they are being told they have to have them. The accountability for this lies firmly at the feet of the doctors who are actually not acting exclusively in the best interests of the women, they are protecting their own. So long as women continue to choose inappropriate care givers for their situation (and doctors contine to take advantage of this lucrative industry), then the c-section rate will continue to rise.

[MantaRay]

I am not sure that it is about scare tactics at all. Sure, people get scared when they hear about the risks, that's only normal. But the purpose of informing isn't to scare, it is to inform. I know of someone who chose to have a c-sect as they had trouble conceiving and wanted to take the "Safe" option to reduce the risks. These people are not helped if no-one points out the risks are actually higher with a c-sect.

And Samantha, you are right, the doctors often ARE telling women to do it. All the more reason for us to be informed so that we can assess the information given to us by medical professionals, question it, analyse it, maybe get a second opinion and then decide. We need to be empowered. And to do that we need information.