It has blown up! I feel sad to read your post Rachel. I too agree that a c/section for no reason is not optimal and again as I said above it's not within my radar...

I can't imagine comparing a birth choice to not strapping a child in safely... I find that offensive personally. But, again it is your opinion and that's what's so wonderful... That we all share our opinions respectfully.

Jovie said she would never contemplate a c/section but she has not been put in the position... I totally understand that. Until I had the recent experiences of the past 2 years I wouldn't contemplate an induction - but it's certainly something I will consider... Trust me I am fully aware, understand the risks... And believe me this baby growing in my belly is just so incredibly precious. I would never do anything to risk his/her health or wellbeing. BUT my head is also important. My head gives birth. If my head can't get around the fear that my baby will die in utero because I am no longer on antiocoagulants than trust me my hoo haa won't be able to push it out!

Sometimes Rachel women have perceived risks... They may not be there but they are very real for the woman... Yep, those risks can be talked through, counselled but sometimes that fear is just too great... I remember a time when I thought similarly to you... A time when I believed that all women can birth vaginally. Being with women, and living my journey has taught me some stuff. Some of that is "before we judge, walk a mile in my moccassins (or someone else's) I remember being with a woman in labour, she was having a vbac... She just couldn't push... She just couldn't. Her body wouldnt' let her. This woman had worked tirelessly for 2 years to have a vaginal birth. She had the props, the support. The vbac friendly doc. The water. It was beautiful. But the trauma was so great. I told her that I could see her baby's hair and it sent her into a spin... She was afraid she would die. The baby would die. She needed to hear the heartbeat - continually but to do that we had to get out of the water. Her face was white with fear. Eventually we made noises. Just like the cows in the cow paddock next door to her house. We laughed and soon we coudl see a forhead. The doppler sounded beautiful and her husbqand said. I believe you can really do this... She did. Now, this was a replication of her first birth. But during her first biarth she had no continuity of care. No support. A sterile room. No knowledge. She says now she feels blessed to know of how we can overcome the fear. BUT that even had she had not been able to she was still the woman she is. We need to remember this. For some of us birth is a walk in the park. For others of us it's not such an easy thing. As women we need to support and love each other. We have much wisdom to impart to each other but it needs to be done respecting that we don't know what is happening for women all of the time.

We do a great disservice to women not to fully inform them. Education needs to happen, loving support and strength of advocacy... But ALL care providers need to be mindful that it's not your birth it's the woman's... If a woman makes an informed choice that is her right... EVEN when we don't think we would make the same choices for ourselves.

Do I think elective c/section should occur because of convenience. My answer to that would be no... Would I support a woman in her choice? Well I have and I would but not without being very clear about risks and my own opinion... That's my right...

Yes, I think that our c/section rate is unacceptable in Australia... BUT we need to look at why... Most women dont' have continuity of care. They don't have a careprovi\der they know and trust... Women enter the birthing room with a stranger... "It's like saying okay take off your clothes and let's get jiggy with it but don't mind us!"
Choice is limited. We are socialised to believe that the doctor knows best. That we are safer in the hands of a doctor in ot than squatting on the floor of a birthing suite or at home, or in the water... This is changing but we need to be gentle.. We need to be loving. We need to be strong and supportive.

We need to involve our children more in the birthing process (I believe) they are the parents of the future. But again for many this isn't acceptable - for many reasons that we may not understand but they are REAL for that person...

MIdwives and Doctors debating their case without considering the WOMAN is detrimental to the cause of swinging back to a more natural approach to birth...

I think it's wonderful that folk can speak their minds in here and be heard... Some of the stories that women have told I know would be hard so thankyou for sharing...