Wow, this is a really interesting thread. Thanks Sushee and everyone else for your contributions.
I guess, perhaps, that there's a general belief that surgery brings certainty and control, though I would agree with you Sushee that the evidence does not necessarily support this.
Personally, the thought of yet more medical intervention during labour/birth, as well as the prospect of recovery after major abdominal surgery completely put me off c/s. And that was before I read about the risks to my baby.
Having come through the other side now, and still not getting the natural birth that I so wanted, I only feel more strongly that that is what I want. I had a forceps delivery and episiotomy - not nice! But I still want a vaginal birth next time (fingers crossed, knock on wood) and hope for a home birth.
I think also during my pg that I forgot (or maybe just didn't realise) the continuity between conception, pregnancy, birth and parenting. What I mean is, I compartmentalised each, rather than seeing how they linked together and influenced each other. But, how we conceive affects our pregnancy, which in turn affects our birth, which in turn affects our parenting. How we labour and birth can also have a big influence on whether or not we successfully breastfeed, which is often overlooked, i think. Many ACers need help to make the jump from conception to 'mainstream' pregnancy and beyond, i believe...
Oh, not sure if this makes sense...