I think it's sad that the OP and some subsequent posts have set up an 'us versus them' mentality about birth. Yes, I'm sure there are those who advocate intervention-free birth who also have this mentality, and I believe that's sad, too.
In the end, for me, I advocate making a REAL choice. A real choice is one where you are properly informed about all angles. I mean, knowing the risks of C-S, induction, (the catalyst for the slippery slide into further interventions at a time when a woman is not in the best position to make informed decisions) pain relief (did you know that it crosses the placenta and affects a lot of babies in establishment of breastfeeding? Or that it also affects how a baby comes out of you, if at all? They don't tend to tell you these things if you don't ask!), medicalisation of a normal pregnancy and birth, as well as knowing the risks of homebirth (very little if you are having a normal pregnancy), how to manage pain naturally, writing a birth plan (not wish list, but a proper birth plan).
You may wish to put the blinkers on and let the OB take your hand through your pregnancy and look after what your body is doing. Just be aware that this is not informed choice, yet it IS still your choice to do this. Many women are lucky and have great births this way. Many more are not, and don't realise until they meet a 'bully' (geez, never heard that term before today!) that they have choices and that their next birth needn't see them be a spectator to a most wondrous event.
I hardly had any support for the birth I planned. There was my partner who believed in what my body is designed to do, and there was a male friend who said "you've got balls, you won't need drugs" (wow, what a paradoxical thing to say!) and then there was the rest - the 'take the drugs' brigade!
So, you may be feeling indignant that your vent has been hijacked by the 'birth bullies'. I would say that it's a case of 'tough luck' because BellyBelly was established precisely to advocate gentle birth and gentle parenting and empowerment. Handing over the reins to the medicos, where it's not medically necessary is not empowering if you have chosen not to inform yourself about what you can do to have a better birth for you and your baby (remember the baby? Seeking pain relief methods is not about the baby) is just not empowering. And that's fine if you don't want to be empowered. Just remember it affects more than just you, it affects your little one.
I, for one, was going to learn from friends who didn't enjoy their births and look into it the first time round. I wanted as little of it as possible to be a lesson in hindsight - after all, I wanted to give my baby the best entrance I could prepare us for. And I did. And more than anything I want women to experience that, instead of trauma, regret, unnecessary interventions.
No apologies for pushing the 'natural' agenda in your thread, I came to Belly Belly to be informed and to impart empowerment to other birthing women. I am not prepared to say that I believe it's ok if you want to hand over all agency to medical professionals. I don't have that much faith in my fellow university graduates :P
(ETA: just looked back on OP, and SophieBear wasn't polarised in her view, apologies. It was subsequent posts that did this)
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