In praise of the C-Section

[Bathsheba]

Hmmm.... not sure about that SB. BellyBelly's mission is to inform. If women want to remain uninformed then i would respectfully suggest they avoid BB. It's like going to school... sure the socialising thing is important... but if it's going to distract the people who want to be there to learn then those kids really need to take it elsewhere... time and place and all. ETA: just speaking for myself.

[Lulu]

SB, I do think though that when you are truly happy with your choice you don't look for (or find) an atmosphere of disapproval.

I know there was outward disapproval about my choices and I dealt with them in my own thepecial way, I didn't notice an undercurrent as such because I wasn't looking for one iykwim?

[BellyBelly]

With the whole 'there are a LOT of people that imply the natural, holistic approach in childbirth is the ONLY way a birth should pan out,' well yes, there are people like that... but even with my many, many birthy contacts and friends, MANY of them don't look at it that way and are respectful of needed c/s's. Some do think that way, but the very vast majority agree that c/s has its place and is important, it would be ridiculous for anyone to suggest that a vaginal birth should happen at ALL costs. I dont know ANYONE who thinks that.

If these people are around you and in your life, then find people to hang out with who are singing your tune or else the only other option is to accept that's their opinion and it's not yours. BB certainly doesn't have that view, I think MOST people would like a normal, natural birth where possible, but it doesn't always happen.

Most BB people join us during conception or early pregnancy. They know what we're like. They know what we say, they know our philosophy. But to come back after you have given birth, and had a c/s, then all of a sudden we're judgmental and unsupportive of that choice? How come we weren't before? People know what BB is all about, and if they feel this way and choose to keep coming back, there's nothing we can do. We don't preach ONE way. We might be passionate or suggest one way is more healthy in low risk women and give statistics and research as to why. But we NEVER say one option is best, for c/s or formula - there are normal ways to birth and feed - but nothing is ever best for one woman.

I am sure there are c/s forums out there. Join them if you wish. But if you're interested in growth, learning and empowerment, and perhaps seeing things in another light, then you're very welcome to stay and hang around at BB. We'll never give in from telling the truth to telling whats nicer to hear.

[Visitor6]

Whoa there Kelly,

I'm not having a dig at BB, it's usefulness or where I fit in. It doesn't hold a level in my life where it affects me in a bad way.

My opinion is about a wider community, the birthing world is bigger than BB so I was trying to talk about society in general.

For what its worth we have no issues with our choice if a needed CS. most importantly because we have educated ourselves, we are emotionally mature and we see that most empowering about our pregnancy and birth journey is a 5 week old little baby named Riley. He is what defines us.

I don't seek approval or opinion on our choice/s. We are happy. We have had setbacks that can be emotionally taxing, however we just float back to our little man and he makes it all worthwhile.

So just see my post as a broad opinion on society rather than BB.

[Lulu]

I don't seek approval or opinion on our choice/s. We are happy. We have had setbacks that can be emotionally taxing, however we just float back to our little man and he makes it all worthwhile.

Yep, do.

But you realise it's not going to stop.....you might find next month someone tells you Riley should surely be on solids/sleeping though the night. Put a spoonful of brandy in his bottle, put him down you shouldn't hold him so much, why isn't he walking right on 12 months, he can't possibly go to a private/govt/boarding school.....

that's my broad opinion on society too. I just keep on trucking doing what I feel is best with the information I have.

[Mummato2]

With the whole 'there are a LOT of people that imply the natural, holistic approach in childbirth is the ONLY way a birth should pan out,' well yes, there are people like that... but even with my many, many birthy contacts and friends, MANY of them don't look at it that way and are respectful of needed c/s's. Some do think that way, but the very vast majority agree that c/s has its place and is important, it would be ridiculous for anyone to suggest that a vaginal birth should happen at ALL costs. I dont know ANYONE who thinks that.

Yes Kelly - I know of some - and they are the ones that choose to overlook the medical advice of Middies and OB's and are trying to take us back to the dark ages where infant and maternal mortality was high. I am not saying however, they these people can be found on BB. I am saying that these are the opinions that some people are faced with in society that can potentially cause them guilt in the way they birth.

To give you an example, another of my friend's needed a CS for a placenta previa (something completely out of her hands and it wasn't as though she was going to make the decision to birth vaginally for obvious reasons). We were talking about her birth last weekend with a few of our friends, she was debriefing and saying how she is coming to terms with it and also that this is her one and only baby so she just needs to accept she'll not know what it is to birth vaginally.

One of the ladies that was sitting with us had the audacity to say "it's a shame you didn't get to experience labour even for a little bit. It must feel terrible to have your baby removed from you rather than being given the opportunity to birth her" WTF??? She then proceeded to explain how in MOST cases Placenta Previa's correct themselves and asked her if she was "sure" her OB had checked if this was the case prior to the CS. I almost climbed the table to stitch this lady's mouth shut.

If these people are around you and in your life, then find people to hang out with who are singing your tune or else the only other option is to accept that's their opinion and it's not yours. BB certainly doesn't have that view, I think MOST people would like a normal, natural birth where possible, but it doesn't always happen.

I agree. You surround yourself with the energies around you that share the same belief system. Unfortunately this doesn't always happen and this inevitably can mean you cross a toxic birth personality along the way that can have you second guessing.

[BellyBelly]

Yes Kelly - I know of some - and they are the ones that choose to overlook the medical advice of Middies and OB's and are trying to take us back to the dark ages where infant and maternal mortality was high.

>>> When maternal mortality was high, it was attributed to malnutrition and unsanitary conditions. <<<

To give you an example, another of my friend's needed a CS for a placenta previa (something completely out of her hands and it wasn't as though she was going to make the decision to birth vaginally for obvious reasons). We were talking about her birth last weekend with a few of our friends, she was debriefing and saying how she is coming to terms with it and also that this is her one and only baby so she just needs to accept she'll not know what it is to birth vaginally.

>>> What's wrong with this bit? <<<

One of the ladies that was sitting with us had the audacity to say "it's a shame you didn't get to experience labour even for a little bit. It must feel terrible to have your baby removed from you rather than being given the opportunity to birth her" WTF??? She then proceeded to explain how in MOST cases Placenta Previa's correct themselves and asked her if she was "sure" her OB had checked if this was the case prior to the CS. I almost climbed the table to stitch this lady's mouth shut.

>>> I know this woman probably wanted support and compassion (I don't know her or the situation, but sounds like she was trying to relate to her feelings in some way (telling her it was a shame) and offering advice she thought might help (about the placenta). Not defending her words or actions, I don't know the tone or anything of the conversation. But she wasn't bagging the c/s, the Ob or the woman... I can see her good intent (the majority of low lying placenta does resolve, but a small percent 0.5%? will be a problem) but some people just don't pick the right moments. Depends how well you know the woman too.

[Mummato2]

>>> When maternal mortality was high, it was attributed to malnutrition and unsanitary conditions. <<<

- not only these factors. It was also due to other factors such as women not having access to the appropriate medical treatment needed for their pregnancy as well as not knowing all we know now about bub in the womb (thanks to ultrasound etc)

To give you an example, another of my friend's needed a CS for a placenta previa (something completely out of her hands and it wasn't as though she was going to make the decision to birth vaginally for obvious reasons). We were talking about her birth last weekend with a few of our friends, she was debriefing and saying how she is coming to terms with it and also that this is her one and only baby so she just needs to accept she'll not know what it is to birth vaginally.

>>> What's wrong with this bit? <<<

You tell me? I didn't think there was anything wrong with her feeling comfortable enough to trust the OB's opinion and not question his decision. I thought it was fantastic that she felt she could talk openly about her experience and come to terms with her birth. It's just a shame one person decided to open their mouth without thinking

>>> I know this woman probably wanted support and compassion (I don't know her or the situation, but sounds like she was trying to relate to her feelings in some way (telling her it was a shame) and offering advice she thought might help (about the placenta). Not defending her words or actions, I don't know the tone or anything of the conversation. But she wasn't bagging the c/s, the Ob or the woman... I can see her good intent (the majority of low lying placenta does resolve, but a small percent 0.5%? will be a problem) but some people just don't pick the right moments. Depends how well you know the woman too.

You're right in that she wanted to get some support or compassion regarding her birth and probably didn't choose the right moment to broach this.

[HotI]

- not only these factors. It was also due to other factors such as women not having access to the appropriate medical treatment needed for their pregnancy as well as not knowing all we know now about bub in the womb (thanks to ultrasound etc)

Kind of off on a tangent, but ultrasound and prenatal testing have probably increased the loss of fetus' (through selecting termination) than increased safety of bubs.