There are an abundance of sites out there if you're after that sort of thing, why would I want to be another one of those in the crowd, especially when I have access to more information and knowledge - I don't treat this just as a business as many others, used for marketing gain, owned by Fairfax, J&J etc. I run this with the passion and extra knowledge I have on the topic. BellyBelly's approach is that of information is power and health and safety is important too - it would be irresponsible for me to encourage something more dangerous and risky. I hear stories from midwives all the time - women arresting on the table, golden staph in c/s wounds resulting in hysterectomy, Alan posted a shocking story about that in a QLD hospital - and we're talking healthy normal women who thought they'd go along with friend's suggestions of it being easier and no big deal. Tell that to the woman who lost her uterus or worse...
As some of the others have said, it's a life saving thing, I also see it appropriate where the mother may choose it for psychological reasons, e.g. previous stillbirth. But I will never sing it's praises, it was designed as an emergency procedure, it is major surgery and carries risks especially in this time of rampant infections. So I will never attempt to make it a mainstream choice by encouraging it.
BellyBelly is different to many sites as it provides information the others don't. We've never judged anyone for their choice here, we give confronting information but there is nothing wrong with confronting yourself as a person going through this journey - it is an opportunity for personal growth and reflection especially given it's based on facts given. Doesn't that help you to make a better decision for yourself, when you're thinking extra hard at your decisions or choices? What if you realise something really important? Maybe you might not, but either way, you will likely be more sure of what you want, no matter what you choose.
This is the way BB is, this is the way it will always be. If we can inform about the risks about caesareans, then hopefully we can help women avoid that first c/s - which all too commonly results in further caesareans, or hard work to be 'allowed' to have a VBAC. Because like it or not, women may not think so right away, but they often start having thoughts that they would like to experience a normal birth, a VBAC, and doing so can be very healing. Some will choose not to and that's fine also. But I think the majority want to know how they can do what they want, as safe as possible.
A woman will carry her birth experience to the grave, and many women - more than ever - are feeling traumatised and a sense of loss with their birth experience. So something tells me, women are wanting and needing more information to help them prevent all this. Who wouldn't, I don't know very many women at all (note: any) who are genuinely enthusiastic and feeling safe about an elective caesar for their first birth. I am sure there are some out there but they don't make up the majority who want to birth as their bodies were designed to.
As you will see in the birth debrief/trauma thread, I posted an article from caesarean.co.uk talking about how women cope emotionally after c/s.... the first reaction being them needing to believe it was absolutely necessary in order to actually cope before they even begin to dissect it. Yes for a small percent it will be needed. But there are ALOT of disappointed women out there who feel cheated and rightly so. Their Obs aren't giving them the right info. The hospital system is not giving them the support... so the only way these days women can have a supported and loving birth is to feel educated (properly not just bits here and there - I think many women think they are but need more/better information) and they need to get their own support sadly. They expect continuous care and don't get it, they are often left to their own devices and feeling unsafe and scared results in interventions. Those few of my clients who have had c/s, dealt with it much better knowing they had great support even after the birth and they knew all avenues had been exhausted - they knew I was on their side and suggested everything I knew to help prevent the situation. But they found peace knowing we tried everything.
Why should women shut up and take what they get in the terrible maternity system and say that the experience doesn't matter when you have the rest of their lives to make it better? The fact that we have one of the highest c/s rates in the world says it all - we're failing women dismally and these c/s don't all need to be happening, nor do women need to be suffering. I appreciate what the article is trying to say/do, but this will not change the philosophy of BB. For those who prefer to be in their comfort zone, then there are so many other places they can go. But for those who want to be informed, educated and experience growth and personal confrontation, BB is the place for them. And with close to 20,000 forum members now, myself and the mod team must be doing *something* right.
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