Berry, It's fantastic that you have a good relationship with your OB BUT it is because women like you put so much trust in one person without doing the research themselves that they end up with unfulfilling birth experiences like some of the people posting in this thread. The risk of morbidity to the baby following an unecessary caesarian section IS 3 times higher than following a vaginal birth and this is researched and proven fact. Kelly has posted the link so have a look if you like and maybe take it your OB to show him, you may enlighten him on something he didn't know either then other women under his care can have the correct advice. Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go at you I actually feel sorry that the OB that you obviously put alot of faith in is telling you the wrong thing- he has no right.

How much more research do I need to do??? I have spoken in detail with five obstetricians, been to caesarian as well as vaginal ante-natal classes and asked millions of questions, given birth vaginally as well as by c-section, I have two shelves of maternity/pregnancy/baby books include recent books about caesarian and vaginal birth and have read them all, I am an active member of 3 pregnancy forums, and I have spent hours at Melb Uni researching obstetrics and related journals when I was thinking of doing a paper on AND/PND. So please don't suggest I haven't done my research. And by the way, to clear up another presumption, my obstetrician is FEMALE.