Scooby- exactly! you are more than well-informed about what you have to do; in fact, it's not even a choice for you, so it's empowering for you to be completely informed about the only path you have to take. Of course there are cases where not having a CS is far more risky than the side effects of intervention...that's what the interventions are for and I have never, ever said that interventions, OB's and medical births don't have a role to play in birthing. So many women have no choice but to have a medicalised birth and don't realise that they can still be active participants and ask very little questions about the process (I am really happy for you and heartened, Scooby, that are on the ball with your situation). And heaps of women prefer to ask few questions, so be it. For me that's a bit too much like a blank cheque. Some don't realise they CAN ask questions and forums like this let them know otherwise.
Trillian - like I said, you're right. And someone else is going to read what I've written, it will resonate with them and they will disagree with the angle you've taken with the same material. You'd both be right. I'm not going to bend over backwards appealing to everyone and saying nothing in particular about what I've experienced and learned. And on the contrary, if my bubble is to be burst for great benefit to me, I would hope to be gracious enough to accept a correction to a misperception! I had some bubbles burst in my pregnancy and was eternally grateful for it. Funny how it really is ok to tell someone that birth is traumatic and that they should leave it to an OB to look after and it's not ok to suggest to people that they can have a fabulous birth with just midwives if their pregnancy is normal (with the normal back up that midwives have for necessary interventions). Really not understanding what's not 'nice' about the latter. And there's no forcing of anything - you choose or don't choose, I can't make anyone do or think anything they don't want to do, simple.
Just saying: do yourself a favour, ask questions, birth doesn't have to be a spectator sport.