I could talk about the benefits of natural birth forever because it does not interfere with natural processes and hormone production for birth and after .... yes we want a happy healthy baby - but also mums' experience of birth is important too - her feelings count in all this and she should NOT be made to feel guilty to have the birth she desires. Surgery does not come without risks, it is more risky than a normal vaginal birth and a study on VBAC in 2000 showed one mortality for VBAC and one for caesarean related to mode of delivery - so take your pick! Uterine rupture is a VERY low risk, hell if you are going to be so concerned with risk, don't have an amnio (more risk than rupture at 1%), dont have an induction (risk of rupture and even stillbirth) and a midwife told me that 50-75% of first time mothers coming in for an induction at RWH end up with caesarean - so risk of inductions plus caesareans plus pain relief. It's crazy that people are so against women having a normal birth when it's clearly a very, very safe option for most women, and the risks increase as soon as you step foot into a hospital!!!! Interventions are a major reason for complications, how many women have posted lately with failed inductions? Gone in for induction and end up with caesars? Then breastfeeding issues as hormones are all out of whack for mother and baby.

This is just the way things are. I can't wait until more of this is realised and women get angry and/or serious about what's going on, only then can we have change, and only then women will start having more empowered birth experiences and realise, it's not just about being grateful for a healthy baby no matter how it got here. I dont mean put the baby at risk, but define risk!!! And who's risk is it?!!!

I think we are so fixated on being grateful for what we have that we have missed the point that women are losing their power and confidence at birth and this has major issues attached to it. They need to be involved in the decision making process, and be given balanced information. There is no shortage of work for Obs, which I think is part of the problem. There is an Obstetric crisis, we all know Obs are hard to book after a few weeks of pregnancy - for most the ability to be able to book in or schedule births must be very seductive, in order to work more efficiently.

Our mothers gave birth in a very bad time, so its understandable they feel the way they do, they have obviously carried their bad experiences with them and sadly, will carry them forever. There is no-one to de-brief with them, so they can honestly express how they feel. Sadness or disappointment can often be expressed as a 'tough' front and I was discussing this with a client last night who was experiencing the same and she said it exactly - its as if they want you to go down the same path so there is some justification in the trauma they went through. Not saying this is for all, but a very interesting thought.