A friend of mine had an elective CS as her ob told her it was the safest way, this was several years ago, and her wound was not sewn up properly, she reopened, had infection, internal bleeding, lost her uterus and had to push legal action for 5 years before fault was admitted on the part of the hospital, initially they said it was a standard risk of surgery. Another one, who I don't know personally but at my work I was referring the husband to agencies that can give assistance, a newly arrived woman with 3 kids already was told CS was better, She thought I guess that a modern country like Oz would know best so had the CS in spite of the fact that she had her other 3 perfectly well with just the village midwife, she is now paralized as a result of the epidural piercing something in her spine.
I personally have had 2 CS, both questionable, and even though mine went "well" I have to say that I would not wish that 6 weeks of recovery time on anyone, the second one was worse, I could hardly walk, hardly pick up baby, my wound took a long time to heal the second time, and I required a blood transfusion. In most other fields of science methods are being developed to minimise the need for surgery, such as keyhole surgery, so why is society so determined to cut women open when they are pregnant, whether there is a need or not. Someone said that birthing, no matter how it is done is risky, and that is true, but CS do not get rid of risks, they just have a whole lot of new ones and that should be openly admitted by surgeons, not touted as the answer to everything as if it is a simple and risk free procedure. When they talk about safer my question is safer for who, me or the hospital. In this litigious society I understand that they have to take steps to minimise their potential exposure to litigation, but CS where most things that go wrong fall under the general risks of surgery to which we sign a waver is not the answer. Having said that every woman has the right to choose how she births her baby, and choosing a CS is a perfectly legitimate choice, and should be supported. SO LONG AS IT IS AN INfORMED CHOICE which often it is not as important things are left out. Most things that can go wrong with a CS can be managed by a good hospital, just like most things that can go wrong with VB. We don't get pregnant in order to birth a particular way, we get pregnant because we want a baby. My personal beef with it is that I choose not to but was manipulated into believing that I needed them, when looking back on my labour notes I didn't.
Hope this makes sense, good luck with whatever you decide to do, make sure it is what YOU want, not what is more convenient for someone else or because you were pressured one way or the other!!
Kate