I just called my dad and asked him about vd's and ecs
he is a fan of ecs surprise surprise
but i dont know.
i just dont know if i can deal with the aspects of a vd. But then i feel selfish when worrying about my own pain instead of whats best for my baby.
Personally Lauren, its your choice - and I will probably get shot down for this one, but its a niggling feeling I have in the back that I can't help having when I hear of non-medical c-sects on the first baby but.... If you are unwilling to go through the pain of labour for your baby, then really what are you willing to do for them?
See - its a horrible judgemental feeling but it sits there and gets ignored most times because I am very much an advocate of womens right to choose - whether I personally agree with it or not. Normally I wouldn't mention it, but I thought at least some food for thought. My bad, I know.
On the flip side - I believe there is a lot of literature regarding c-sections, the cumulative damage and how it affects your future delivery prospects. Sure, you can ask for a vbac, but sometimes its like pushing a cow pat uphill with a paddle pop stick.
I would - at the very least - recommend making sure you are fully informed before you make that decision.
Oh, and don't let the prolapse/incontinence stories scare you. There is a LOT to be said for pelvic floor exercises - and a recent study has shown that the damage is done by the pregnancy, not the delivery so c-sec women arent protected from it. I am on #6 with no incontinence and my cervix is still "very high" - which actually means my uterus is still sitting high in my body. Mum had 7 of us and her pelvic floor is in great shape too. My sis is on #8 and very proud of hers. We simply didn't shirk learning how to and properly exercising our pelvic floors. So I tend to think there isnt much too it if you are really determined to prevent it yourself. Its like any other muscle.
On the pain aspect of a VB - Its not actually that bad. I'll be the first to admit that it hurts like a b***h. But mentally you are already prepared for the pain because its natural and instinctive. You deliver the baby and its all worth it. We women are marvellous creations - men simply could never understand the miracle of carrying and birthing a child. I wouldn't give up this ability willingly for all the money in the world!
Ok, rambling - off I go to clutter up other threads, haha.
I highly recommend you purchase the book 'The Natural Way to a Natural Pregnancy' by Francesca Naish. You can buy it from bookstores & online. Loads of brilliant info in there!!!
As for the elective c/section thing, keep in mind that it is major surgery and there are far more risks associated with this procedure than there are with a natural birth. OBs are criticised for favouring this method of delivery because they can schedule women like an appointment at a time which suits themselves (no offence to your Dad!).
C-section can also make it harder for you to conceive in future as a fertilised egg has difficulty implanting where there is uterine scarring in the womb. There are also other factors such as the extended recovery time and medication required after a c-section to prevent infection because you have been cut open). Of course there are valid reasons why some women need c-sections but they are best left for what they were originally intended- emergencys only.
Just think, women have been giving birth naturally and without pain relief for hundreds of thousands of years. You have to trust your body to do what it was designed to do when the time is right. You are at the perfect age for childbearing which also decreases the chances of having complications during pregnancy and labour. Besides, you can still have a natural birth and opt for pain releif anyway!! There is really nothing to fear!!
Your chances of delivering naturally and complication-free are increased if you allow your labour to start spontaneously (ie - don't be pressured into being artificially induced just because you are 3 days 'overdue'). Left alone, the baby releases the hormones to trigger labour contractions, when he or she feels ready to come out - whether this be at 38 weeks or 42weeks (both are considered normal). When an induction occurs, the baby is caught unawares, and can often become panicked, especially as the hormones administered in an induction cause the contractions to come on harder and faster then they would naturally. This can lead to the baby's heart rate becoming unstable, and can ultimately lead to an emergency c-section. I guess what I'm saying is- don't pay too much attention to your estimated due date or allow the fate of your baby to be determined by this, as it is an estimate at best - and the majority of babies do NOT come on their estimated due date.
I am biased as I had a natural birth, but in my experience, the flood of endorphins and intense emotion I felt after it was incredible - after you have been through it you truly feel as though you can conquer anything. Ok I will stop rambling now.
Best of luck with your pregnancy and labour. Its an incredible journey....
Platinum Member. Love a friend xxx
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