Why all the opinions on c-sections?

I think women are choosing c-sections because they are misinformed about them. There is no way, after having a durg free vaginal birth, that I would ever even believe for a second that csections are easy and enjoyable. A csection should only be performed when a vaginal birth is out of the question medically or if the baby and mother are at risk of injury or death. I think there are more women than is let on that have csections with their (first in particular) babies because they see it as easier than a vaginal birth, and various other mythical reasons they hear through the ill informed grapevine. I have come across quite a few who've felt this way and it makes me very sad that they are gipping themselves out of the possibility of a beautiful natural birth experience. I didnt realise that at the moment you conceive you have the option of choosing a vaginal or csection birth, I was always under the impression that csections were a "if neccesary" procedure.

I was in a position where a csection was a very real possibility for my birth after suffering with pre eclampsia and having a sudden spike in BP which resulted in my being induced early. I am extremely lucky that my OBGYN took into account that I wanted to avoid csection if possible and let me try for a vaginal birth. If it came down to "the baby needs out NOW, no ifs not buts" then I would have had one no qualms and done everything in my power to have a VBAC the second time around. Instead I was monitored religiously by the nursing staff and my OBGYN and ended up with a beautiful 3hour vaginal birth. I am extremely thankful that I didnt just insist on a csection OR be bullied into one like alot of women would in that position. Now Im facing the same issue again, I may be pidgeon-holed into a csection because of medical issues. I am praying and hoping it doesnt come to that but again if its life or death I'll do what I have to.

Whats got me thinking is, its ok for a woman to spread a horrifying vaginal birth story around and have poor first timers thinking "OMG why would I want to labour vaginally?" and possibly entertain the idea of an elective csection but a woman is made to feel bad for trying to encourage women to aim for a vaginal birth because they feel their csection delivery was upsetting and unneccesary?

But Catherine, the majority of women aren't choosing to have c-sections, that's the point. Maternal request for c-section makes up a very small proportion of the overall rate. 32% of women don't walk into a public hospital and say "I would like an emergency caesarean please". What is more likely to be happening is that women go in with an expectation of a 'normal' labour and birth but fall victim to the policies and procedures of that hospital or their obstetrician. For instance, they are told they need to be induced for having a 'big' baby, their pelvis looks 'a bit small', they have 'gestational diabetes', or they're 'overdue'. All these things interfere in the natural process and make the outcome more likely to be a c-section. Women then think they should feel grateful that their baby was saved despite the fact that if they had of been left alone in the first place, it might not have happened.
I am not critical or judgemental of women who choose caesearan, thankfully we live in Australia and have the right to choose, but some women are being robbed of what should be a fulfilling life-changing experience because of somebody else's agenda or timetable.
If our bodies were so poorly designed to give birth (according to the c-section rate) then our species would have died out years ago! ;-)

Flowerchild - as i keep saying, i think they are choosing because it was the best thing for them at the time!

I agree, if my baby was told it was in distress and would die if i continued, i too would buckle for sure... and i am also aware that some women aren't very sure of themselves. And as i said in the above post i don't have the birth experience and don't know every freaking scenario, but i know we should be supporting women regardless whether it be an unnessesary or nessesary procedure so women don't feel so unhappy and negative. I can't help but feel if we were positive but also informative women wouldn't feel so negative after they have had to experience this procedure.

I'm sorry i can't keep up with you all, soon as i post one there are another 5...

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A csection should only be performed when a vaginal birth is out of the question medically or if the baby and mother are at risk of injury or death.

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Shouldn't women have the right to choose? And if people don't want to experience a vaginal birth who are we to say they should?

Cailin - you weren't meaning that you felt attacked by me did you?

My god another 10 posts by the time I got that one out!
Just on the support for homebirth vs c-section thing. The government covers caesarean sections at the tax payers expense - it doesn't cover homebirth. If you choose this option you are out of pocket for every cent so please don't compare the two.

Catherine, it can take the same amount of time for a woman to transfer to hospital than it can to set up for surgery sometimes. When the WHO says 15% of c/s are medically necessary, thats 85% who do not medically need one - huge percent. Of that, high risk women are not accepted for a homebirth - so if you are high risk, you will be in a hospital anyway. Birth is not automatically a medical event. It is just like digestion, yes it involves another life, but it is designed to work, so we can evolve and succeed as a race.

Interventions cause c/s and they happen in hospital. Stats also say hospitals have more intervention. Infection is caught at hospitals, so the risk at home is not that great. Haemorrhage is much less at home, again, another thing caused by intervention.

Women are giving birth in environments not condusive to normal, physiological childbirth so it is no woner there is all this fear and sense of urgency around it. But once you see the beautiful births I have and witnessed the competency and nurturing of an independant midwife, you will also see there is another, beautiful side to it.

You can have an independant midwife in hospital too. You can have a doula etc. But couples on their own, in hospital with no continuous care generally fare less better than those who do, because it is the nature of the system these days. Having that support means you have options external to policy which are not always woman friendly and in line with other things like WHO. They can give you suggestions and help you avoid what you want to avoid, have seen it many times... how are you expected to know when you are faced by whitecoats and you are in the throws of labour? Takes a straight thinker who is not on the payroll of the hosptial.

Samantha - But they are given the option in hospital when things start to go pear shaped... and you have to sign forms to consent to the procedure otherwise they can't touch you. If you say no, then they can't do anything.

ETA - i will compare the two because they are both relevant because they are both ways of giving birth.

Yep thats true even private c/s - thats what the 30% private health rebate is for! I want my tax dollars to go towards homebirth too please.

C/s do get done without consents signed sometimes. Of course you are going to sign it if you are being told your baby might die or is in distress - you cannot think straight and get scared...

Kelly - Are infants with problems such as heart problems always detected before birth? It would take me 25-30mins to get to the hospital if there is no traffic, if I started to haemorrhage or if there were unforseen complications would we be at the hospital quick enough? How about those babies that have to go into humidicribs and have all those wires straight after birth? Again, i'm not saying that i don't support homebirths, i'm just curious.

ETA - I was going to respond to that last one Kelly, but i think i might just leave it because i am just repeating myself and either way it's not going anywhere...

But it's coercion or bullied consent Catherine, not true consent. If a dr say's your baby is in distress (caused by induction or whatever) and needs to come out now, you are hardly going to refuse the section. The fact is, that women shouldn't be put into that position in the first place.

catherine, I would disagree with you that the general community believes women who have had c/s's are failures. In fact i think people are too quick to opt for a c/s without properly evaluating the risks, pros and cons. This is a very very difficult situation given that many women don't think about these things until they are in labour (and are therefore extrememly vulnerable). If your community so strongly supports natural, gentle births then you should feel extrememly fortunate:clap: Just out of interest, have you done some reading/research on the topic? You Seem particularly passionate about the topic. there are some great articles on this site. If you choose an elective c/s, then great - i don't think you will find anyone judging you in here. What this thread is more about (i think from the OP) is generating a discussion and information sharing. It's not about anyone judging, ganging up on, or attacking other people's choices. You have read that quite a few women chose c/s for their own reasons and it was the right choice for them. Others feel they weren't fully informed, and others enjoyed natural births.

Just by way of interest, i wonder how many people would consent to having their tonsils taken out in case they ever got tonsilitsis without being 100% informed. People chosing emergency c/s's are not in the state to be making these decisions, which is why it's so important to talk about these topics during pregnancy, and to have the CORRECT information avaliable.

The department of health has just released a directive that states that cs is no longer to be performed without being obsetrically necessary. This is following research that says that a baby born by unecessary cs is 3 times more likely to die than if born vaginaly. I'm really sorry Berry but caesarian section is definaltely NOT safer for the baby.

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I strongly advocate women having rights and will continue to do so.

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This is a bit confusing now. Aren't we all advocating women to have rights, and choice?
But how is having rights being given half the information and then making a decision?? Catherine, you are talking about the rights of a women to choose c/s, of course they have a right, but my frustration is that if they were given all the information, and been told the risks of everything including the surgery, that they may not choose the c/s. How is that not advocating womens rights?

Oh, and yay for homebirth. My second bub is due by vbac at the end of august and will be much safer arriving at home!:D

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If our bodies were so poorly designed to give birth (according to the c-section rate) then our species would have died out years ago! ;-)

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Very good point!:clap:

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But it's coercion or bullied consent Catherine, not true consent. If a dr say's your baby is in distress (caused by induction or whatever) and needs to come out now, you are hardly going to refuse the section. The fact is, that women shouldn't be put into that position in the first place.

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This is exactly what I was getting at (in a longwinded way LOL)

By the time my c/section was called, it probably was "medically necessary". DS was in distress, his heart rate had dropped to 70bpm and he was pretty well stuck - as evidenced by the bruise on his head when he came out.

But it was the events leading up to that happening that was the problem. I had GD, was told I had to be induced 2 weeks early. Had ARM, which led to a synto drip, which led to an epidural, which led to being stuck flat on my back hooked up to monitors. So by the time DS was distressed, there was not a damn thing I could do about it. I couldn't reposition to help him move, because I was paralysed.

So when I'm in that vulnerable position, with a baby in distress, sure by that point the c/s IS necessary. But had my OB not led me down the induction garden path in the first place it would probably have been very different.

Had I been left to go into labour on my own - and I could have been since there was absolutely NO evidence that DS was having any problems, or was big, and I wasn't on insulin - I highly doubt his birth would have ended as it did, since I had already previously given birth vaginally with no dramas.

This story is told time and time again around here, I am by no means on my own in having had this sort of experience :( .

See all this discussion is wonderful, because we are seeing the beginnings of an era where women will take back their power. It has been surrendered to the medical profession for so long, and now, many women are starting to question it, so I see it as great. The woman and her carer need to share a special relationship of respect where each can trust the other's judgement - it isn't a bullying or power struggle situation. Carers need to share decision making with women (giving their advice still of course) and it needs to be a respectful and balanced process. But Obs are so over worked and in demand these days, that many feel that it's their way or the highway and this is how they do it... not vey empowering or confidence boosting at all. I can see their temptation to get things over quickly. I have felt it being present at 2 or 3 day long births!!! But you need to stick it out for the best outcome. Another reason why one-to-one carers have such great outcomes, they have time and patience for their women.

Most people would agree that a c/section for a genuine emergency or complication is a positive. For some women, even though they know the c/s was necessary, they may still have a sense of grief or disappointment, especially if they were really hoping for a vaginal birth. Even when a c/s is genuinely life-saving, along with the sense of relief that you and the baby are safe, may well be other feelings if the way events unfolded were scary or traumatic.

The conflict comes when there is a growing number of women who look back and feel that the c/s was not necessary, or that they were pressured or even tricked into, or that they missed out on information and support or simply *time* that could have helped them avoid major surgery.

In Brazil, the c/s rate is 80%. That is a cultural issue - not a medical or scientific issue. When a c/s is based on evidence-based care, it is possible to find resolution, to feel it was a "no regrets" c/s - that you did all you could, but in the end it was needful. But to feel that you had an unnecessary c/s because your maternity care was NOT based on scientific best practice, is why many women regard c/s in a negative light.

I would not mind a life-saving c/s, yes I'd be disapppointed but I'd also be relieved and grateful. I would mind it if I knew i had been bullied or coerced into it by a system that holds my instrinsic ability to give birth in doubt or contempt.

There is a schism in Australian birth services. The philosophies and techniques of two models of care - the obstetric model, and the midwifery model - are quite different. When women have naively assumed they are the same or similar, and go into an obstetric system expecting that they will be supported to give birth, many end up feeling either that the system failed them, or that they failed (even sadder). Many then come out of thinking 'well I'm sure going to choose a different model of care NEXT time' and go onto to have a better birth experience that suits their unique needs better.

The difficulty arises when women do not realise the huge difference in the two models, and go into birth either not realising the difference, or not aware that midwifery model options are available to them, or that they are both safe and effective. It is a set-up for birth trauma - when women expect midwifery model care from an obstetric system. It is only well into the cascade of interventions that they start to realise that they'd basically been 'had'. This is where much distress and disatisfaction with high rates of intervention (including c/s) and birth trauma comes from.

I agree totally with informed choice, and would only say, it is fine to choose elective c/s for various personal reasons, and it is fine to choose the obstetric model of birth for various reasons, or to desire a setting that has access to specific interventions such as induction, epidural, etc. These is a place for the appropriate use of these interventions and for this model of care. However, on the basis of the saying, "if I don't know what my choices are, I don't have any", if alternative approaches to birth such as the midwifery model are not equally supported, and made equally available to women, and equally encouraged, then the 'menu' for birth choices is narrowed, and that is not 'free choice'.

I would encourage any first time mother to know that the modern medical model for birth is not the only way or the even best way, and to pursue knowledge of both approaches, and most of all, to be pro-active in choosing the kind of care you think would best suit you. This will not prevent a low percentage of life-saving interventions & c/s, but you may well be able to avoid being carried along by a domino effect of one intervention leading to another that results in an unwanted or avoidable instrumental or surgical birth.

Maternity services in our country ideally should be presenting a truthful picture to our birthing populations, that includes a realistic picture on pros, cons and alternatives, but given that this is rarely the case, it is we women who have to be a bit skeptical, questioning, assertive, and pro-active in getting the birth care we each want.

The article 'Fish Can't See Water' by Marsden Wagner of the WHO is a good place to start researching this.

My heart goes out to every woman who has ever been let down by the limitations of our current system and suffered as a result. By telling your stories, you are being so very brave and also contributing to our collective wisdom, that will help other young women know their rights and choices - I applaud you.

Exactly Julie, I am grateful we have this technology, but I do not want it used needlessly on me and if someone in power abused my trust, I would be very upset.

Trinnie - Thankyou for pointing out how ignorant i am and correcting me on the words "most" and "some".

What if we are informed, we have done our reading/research we have TRIED to ask questions on BB and we still make the choice to have a c-section... and i'm referring back to my original question - WHY ALL THE OPINIONS?

If someone chooses to have one, why do people gasp in horror about it?

So how is a woman in this situation able to decide if it is a genuine emergency or not?

This is what bothers me about this debate, and it's the only thing, is yes, I see the point that OBs are classing things as emergency when they are not. But what does one do? I know a website can't advocate to ignore the OB because that would and could be somewhat dangerous. But when it's talked about on here and women go into ir uncertain, it does make it hard. If one is told by an OB that a baby is in distress or in danger and they need to get it out now, what do we do?

Really, there is nothing we can do. Noone can say it's right to ignore that advice because we simply don't have the medical knowledge to do so (well most of us here) and imagine if we refused surgery and the OB wasn't lying and was right and something happened to the mother or baby.

I feel that us as women have this information said to us, but really there is nothing we can do. I guess we can question an OB at the time, but as most of us who have been in labour know that that would be hard thing to do when you are in that state of mind.

So I guess that it lies with changing OBs perspective, or insurance or whatever it is that makes them do these deemed emergency c/s that is not an emergency. And also things like inductions and epidurals which can lead to it. Women can't and shouldn't take the guilt of an unecessary one themselves. (BTW- I'm not saying that anyone is trying to make anyone else feel guilty in this discussion.)

Keira, I'm not sure that they do gasp in horror. Do you mean here on BB? I haven't seen any of that.

LG - i've seen the gasps of horror, i've even been laughed at - to my face, and heard stories about bullying all because of c-sections!

My OB recommended i have one due to a medical condition i have - and i'm not going to divulge as to why either, there's no point!

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What if we are informed, we have done our reading/research we have TRIED to ask questions on BB and we still make the choice to have a c-section... and i'm referring back to my original question - WHY ALL THE OPINIONS?

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You asked why we have opinions, because we have been through the experience of a c/s ourselves, and I would never give my opinion on something unless someone specifically asked. But trust me, once you have a baby, or as you know before you even have a baby there are people who give you their opinions on anything and everything. That's life! You will get opinions on how to feed your bub, dummies, solids, sleeping, clothes, everything you can imagine. There are always opinionated people who will tell us what they think even if they are not asked. You just have to learn to ignore them.
Unless it a condition you are aware of all through pregnancy then it is a bit hard when you are in labour to get other information. You obviously started this thread because you are annoyed about people having an opinion so perhaps you should have stated that in your original post because i got the impression you actually wanted to know about why people had opinions which comes down to having an experience.

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If one is told by an OB that a baby is in distress or in danger and they need to get it out now, what do we do?
Really, there is nothing we can do.

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Not true. You can take an independant midwife to hospital with you as an advocate and for a second opinion.
Which I wish I did for my first birth.

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You can take an independant midwife to hospital with you as an advocate and for a second opinion.

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Good suggestion. That's where you begin to realise there is a big difference between the obstetric model and the midwifery model - and that we've been misled to assume that there is only one way and that that way is in fact scientific .... sometimes, it is not. A second opinion from someone with a different philosophy and approach to birth can greatly widen options and possibilities for you.

Keira - all the best with your c/s

Keira - I am on the same page as you here!

Caesarians are available not just for medical reasons but to provide an option which may make life easier for birthing women in a variety of ways.

I think obstetricians are sometimes unfairly criticised for a rise in planned caesarians, when the trend is because this is an option more women are asking for. And who cares anyway if there is a rise in planned caesarians in Australian society??? There may also be a correlating rise in the amount of birthing women feeling happy and liberated.

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catherine, I would disagree with you that the general community believes women who have had c/s's are failures. In fact i think people are too quick to opt for a c/s without properly evaluating the risks, pros and cons.

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I'm not sure who wrote this but it stuck in my mind and I thought I would reply.

I know the risks I know the pros and cons, yet I'm still choosing an elective C for the birth of my 3rd child and it's my choice, yet I feel like I'm judged for this, it may not be directly but just the fact that people feel they need to "inform" me of the risks, I have educated myself, asked many many questions and opinions and C/S is what myself, dh and my ob have decided.

I had an emergency C for my first and chose an elective C for my second due to breach baby, I felt this was the right decision for myself to make and I wouldn't dream of pushing my opinion on any other mother to be. All I wish is that I was given the support and understanding by my fellow mothers. I agree with most of what people have said here but my concern is not for the statistics or the causes or the place of birth or who you choose to deliver your baby but more for the mental well being for c/s mothers and the lack of support, comfort and understanding given.
It's so sad but there is a stigma attached to c/s births and this makes women feel ashamed and hurt I can say this because I feel it and I would hate for another mother to go through this also, but I know they do.

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I'm really sorry Berry but caesarian section is definaltely NOT safer for the baby.

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This must be a matter of opinion, but I'd rather go by my obstetricians expert knowledge and trust that a caesarian is without a doubt safer for my baby.

I think there is some major confusion in this thread.

No one is saying that elective c/section should not be available to those women who want it after making an informed choice.

The concern is for the majority of women who go into hospital expecting a vaginal birth and come out with a belly wound.

They are two VERY different scenarios and alot of posts here are attempting to compare them, or lump them in as all the same.

I couldn't care less if someone has an elective c/section - their body, their baby. But that was not the birth I wanted, or many others here wanted. But that's what we got. Naturally we feel ripped off, and traumatised by that, which is WHY so many of us have an opinion about c/sections in general. That is WHY it's such a heated topic.

I posted the directive in May as well as studies in the news forum

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ad.php?t=36829 (NSW directive)

Apparently it already has.

2% of c/s are as a result of maternal request.

It's the rise in unplanned, not-desired c/s as a result of the medicalisation of birth, that is causing so many women to experience c/s as 'negative' (well, it was, for them - understandably).

C/s is available as a funded option.

Homebirth, another effective way to avoid birth trauma, is not available as a funded option.

The cultures where women are more liberated have very high rates of homebirth and as a result, excellent peri-natal stats. The cultures where women are more oppressed (I'm talking 'first world' here,) such as Brazil, have the highest rates of c/s and intervention.

While we applaud c/s, including elective c/s, as an option, to have that available but homebirth, and other midwifery-model approaches to birth less available or accessible, is hardly liberating.

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I think there is some major confusion in this thread.

The concern is for the majority of women who go into hospital expecting a vaginal birth and come out with a belly wound.

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You would feel ripped off if you went through a long painful labour only to be given an emergency caesarian at the end. But I don't believe this happens frivolously; obstetricians have to be an advocate for baby's safety and unfortunately sometimes this involves overriding the requests of an emotional mother.

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I'd rather go by my obstetricians expert knowledge and trust that a caesarian is without a doubt safer for my baby.

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I think obstetrics is one of the fields we fail to get second opinions on (perhaps coz it costs so much to shop around for an OB?). If someone recommended bowel surgery for me for a certain condition, I'd be running around seeking alternatives and second/third opinions. But it seems if a c/s is recommended, few people are questioning it, and yet it can involve the very lives of both mum & bub.

I do wonder at how many OB's when recommending c/s mention the knock-on effects of c/s, such as the possible effect on breastfeeding, impact on future births etc etc. It's usually the here and now that they discuss, getting the baby out... not worrying about what happens after that. From what I've read, often they don't even speak of the 'general' risks of having c/s surgery, all mum's are told is that they have to have one.

And let's not forget that you have to sign a consent form for a c/s, unlike natural labour, so if something happens during surgery you cannot sue because you have signed a form, whereas if something happens during natural birth the obstetricians are more liable. I reckon that is a huge incentive for them wanting to do c/s's.
I agree with Flea, personally I have been referring to emergency c/s done without good reason, not elective. I don't care if people have elective c/s. Doesn't make any difference to me, I have no opinion on that one way or another. What does concern me is emergency c/s done unnecessarily and having another woman feel the way I did. I wouldn't be human if I wasn't concerned about that.

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I do wonder at how many OB's when recommending c/s mention the knock-on effects of c/s, such as the possible effect on breastfeeding, impact on future births etc etc. It's usually the here and now that they discuss, getting the baby out... not worrying about what happens after that. From what I've read, often they don't even speak of the 'general' risks of having c/s surgery, all mum's are told is that they have to have one.

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The ob I have now is the 5th one I have encountered during my birthing history and I have discussed with all of them their views on c-sections.

My ob addressed all of these points: breastfeeding - no problem; no evidence to indicate giving birth by c-section leads to less successful breastfeeding. Milk does take slightly longer to come in, but this doesn't effect the baby; they get to feed on colostrum until the milk is fully flowing.
Re future births - my ob suggested that having my second c-section now may hinder my ability to ever birth naturally again, but that I can quite happily have a third c-section should I want to.
Re general risks of c-section - my ob has clearly let me know that as a mum I am more at risk having a c-section than a vaginal birth, in light of the usual risks of surgical procedures.

Isn't it wonderful to see all of this discussion from such spirited and intelligent women. It's fabulous.

I am confused Catherine and I will say offended. I am a huge advocate of women's choice. I am very very pro choice. However, I lament when choice is not evidence based. Because often when it's not, when a decision is made that the woman does not feel in control of, or understanding of there is often much struggle afterward.

You are saying c/section is best for you and others are saying that wasn't their experience. Why is that a problem? These women have every right to convey their feelings about their birth. If you choose to feel it's about you then that's your journey. But we can't put a lid on peoples experiences so others dont' feel put out. I have had great fanny births but that doesn't mean I would never choose c/section if it was necessary. Or an induction. And, it would never enter my consciousness that I would be judged for it. Goodness me. But I do know what it's like to be judged for my birth choices... When you birth in water, at home, with other children present, no obs, candles, co sleeping, demand feeding, extended breastfeeding, tandem feeding... the list goes on. Some folk find that foolhardy. Folk who don't know the stats, the who recommendations... So judgement I do know about. So, to be accused of judging another woman for her choice is hurtful to me. But perhaps that's my hormones, my sinus infection and the time of day...

Kiera: I too must have misunderstood your post. I thought you were asking why people had opinions. So, I offered why it was so from my perspective. I didn't understand that wasn't the question... I hope your birth is all you hope for and you have a great experience.

I just want to reiterate. I said it in my first post but I want to say it again. I completely understand why women choose a c/section. Psychological reasons for c/section are very real and great. I have a great many friends here on BB and in RL who would consider a c/section due to experiences losing a child, sexual assault, birth trauma etc. They are real reasons. I want that to be heard. Its quite irrelevant if I think they are valid reasons, they are valid for that person, for that birth. I would walk over glass to support a woman through that experience (and I have ).

If a woman chooses a c/section that's her choice. Many of these women didn't choose a c/section. They did not have the birth they wanted and they feel pain around that. That is valid and real.

This is always a hot topic. I am not sure precisely why. It seems that folk find it hard to own their choice. I know of one gutsy lady here on bB that chose c/section and had her own midwife. She had the birth of her choice. It was informed and what she wanted. I am certain she felt empowered and LARGE. She didn't have regrets. It was an informed choice. I didn't want to mention names...

Flea and the other Mamas are saying that they feel they didn't have that choice. I hear that and I am so sorry... :hug:

So, please don't throw around blanket statements about women not supporting each other. WE need to hear each others stories, if someone doesn't want to do that then don't read the post, but don't stop the process of learning and hearing and healing that comes with discussion .... please. We all deserve to be heard. I learn something new each time I read a post. That is a wonderful thing.

I've just read the report from the National Caesarean Awareness Day Forum - “The Caesarean Section Rate is Rising … Let’s Talk about it” held in September 2006.

Does anyone have a more recent report?

I don't Julie...

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The ob I have now is the 5th one I have encountered during my birthing history and I have discussed with all of them their views on c-sections.

My ob addressed all of these points

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That's good to hear :) I would like to think my OB will be as forthcoming with all the info should the need arise. Trouble is I probably will never know coz I'll be the one quizzing him first LOL, so I'll be pumping the info out of him rather than him volunteering it.