In praise of the C-Section

[Inanna]

I am sorry Sassafrass that my opinion that birth is an initiation if it is chosen to be is hurtful to you. I will standby that comment - that I believe we need to bring birth rites back. That we need to honour the spirituality of birth. For that is my truth. It is not said to hurt you - & I am sure that anyone who holds a similar philosophy does so not to upset other Women. Again...

I had a c/section to save my life. I love c/sections! Without it I wouldn't be here & my daughter would be a statistic also... I tried to make it the best I could given the dire circumstances. Obviously birthing her naturally wasn't an option. I didn't feel like I gave birth. I felt like I had an operation. I felt like I had a procedure that saved my life and that of my child. I am grateful in every cell of my body for the wonderful surgeons, anethetists, physicians, nurses, paeds etc that were there that day. But whoa it left me empty, wierd & confused for some time. I (& their father) were the only ones to touch my other new borns (apart from DD1) so the gloved hands of a surgeon inside my gut was just bizarre. No pain to signal my labour. No nothing. Just a spinal and the grim faces of a team... Stainless steel - no birthing pool, no oils, I did manage my mood music and I did manage dimmed lights just for a time...

I have had a c/section and it hurt my heart. It saved my life and that of my child. However, my body didn't birth and that did and still remains this odd and bizarre feeling. (for me)...

I think if you choose annoyance or hurt when hearing someone's story that is a responsibility that lies with the reader.

Nobody tells their story to stick it to another. They tell their story as that's what women do. We tell our stories, share our joys and pain. It's not about spite or comeuppance. It can't be helpful to take things from that perspective.

This site is about education and information. So that those who choose a c/sexction to so from an educated place. For there is much misinformation. There is very little continuity of care. There is a lack of sacredness around birth. I think we need to bring it back...

At the end of that day I was alive - and my daughter was. How can I not love c/sections?

It's just that c/section is major abdominal surgery and it is *often* chosen out of fear. It is chosen sometimes due to a lack of information & education on the part of the client. It is chosen sometimes due to birth being made a medical event instead of a "birth rite" that it is.

That is what you will hear on this site. You will hear information & education. You will hear opinions.

I think it's sad that I cannot state my feelings, opinions and experiences without being accused of pushing a barrow...

I think its sad that we have to push the thoughts and beliefs about the very nature of birthing underground in case those that had a c/section are upset.