Genuine Question - Natural or C-Section & Why??

[sansha]

I chose to have both of my children by c-section. I've never felt pressured regarding my birth choice but I was able to go private, which meant that my choice was available. I'm sure I'd feel differently if I had to run the public system gauntlet

I'm very pleased with my births.

[Jaybe]

What type of labour/delivery did you have?
I had a natural delivery after a 49hr labour. I went drug free for the first 40hrs, but after having an internal and finding I was still 3cm after 2 days of contractions, I opted to have an epi to get some rest (my ob was concerned I wouldnt have strength to push if I didnt recover a bit). I also elected to be induced as my waters had been broken for 2 days and my ob was concerned about infection. The middies were also jumping up and down about failure to progress as the contractions werent doing anything and then they realised DD was posterior. DD was born not long after - the induction worked very quickly and I had an easy delivery.

Was it what you planned? If not, why?
I had approached the labour hoping to do it drug free, but was also realistic that if I needed to have something the options were there. I hadnt at all considered I wouldnt progress and didnt know how to respond to this as time ticked by and nothing was happening (thank god my ob was so supportive and encouraging as I was getting pretty upset). I had a mobility epi, which numbed the pain around my tummy but allowed me good movement still. It also wore off by the time I had to push so all in all I dont believe it had any negative impact on my labour. So although it wasnt what I planned, I dont think it went badly as such - just different.

Did you/do you want to - do things differently in subsequent labours/deliveries? Why?
The only thing I would do differently next time I think would be to stay home longer. My labour slowed down progressively once I got to the hospy and I think I wouldve been better off to stay home longer and try to relax more and rest more. I also will do alot more reading on posterior bubs and failure to progress so I would be more prepared for that next time if the need arises. Oh and I would refuse internals until I thought they were absolutely necessary - they hurt like buggery and were useless IMO (which my ob supported).

[joji]

I wanted a natural birth, was even hoping for a water birth, but things didn't end up that way. I had gestational diabetes and was on insulin so was going to be induced and would have had to be flat on my back on the bed to labour because they wanted continuous monitoring. I was prepared to cope with that if I had to but in the end the placenta failed and I had an emergency c/s at 37+1. I was extremely happy with the care I got and how my ob explained everything to us, and my recovery from the c/s was fantastic - I didn't have any pain relief, not even panadol, from 36 hours after the birth because I felt so good, and was back exercising the day after we came home from hospital 6 days after DD was born.

I would be keen for a VBAC if we have a second child but the ob has already told me that if I get GD again and need insulin, I will have to have another c/s because he won't induce me after a c/s. At the end of the day, the most important thing to me is that my baby was delivered safely, and I'd make all the same decisions again if I had my time over.

[KLB]

Sansha - while I appreciate your choice to go private, is it really necessary to make such comment about public hospitals? Its those kind of comments that start silly debates in a thread that has nothing to do with private v public...

[Jaybe]

Originally Posted by kristybarr

Sansha - while I appreciate your choice to go private, is it really necessary to make such comment about public hospitals? Its those kind of comments that start silly debates in a thread that has nothing to do with private v public...

Babe I think what she meant was in response to the OP's q about pressue for vb's - that she may have felt pressured to have a natural birth had she gone public where the option to have an elective c/s isnt freely available.

[KLB]

Originally Posted by Jaybe

Babe I think what she meant was in response to the OP's q about pressue for vb's - that she may have felt pressured to have a natural birth had she gone public where the option to have an elective c/s isnt freely available.

Ahhh, ok... Thought she was having a dig at public hospy's!! My bad!

[Effie]

Originally Posted by kristybarr

Ahhh, ok... Thought she was having a dig at public hospy's!! My bad!

I'd agree with Sanshas comment on an elective c/s through public hospitals too - or anything thats not the 'norm'... its unusual to find support for something that isnt the 'norm'... which Lis found with a vbac and I found with a 'non medical' c/s - I got lucky with my GP who knew my history and helped me get the support I needed. It would be my advice to anyone, be it a midwife, doula, OB or anyone else, having someone support you so that you dont seem completely insane really helps.

[manda83]

Thankyou all so much for sharing your stories. I really do appreciate it. It certainly gives me alot to think about. I kinda feel that I was taken advantage of abit because I didn't educate myself more on different options during labour. I just went with anything that was suggested, thinking it was the best. If I get to experience birth again I will be doing things a hell of alot differently!


Keep sharing ladies!

[suziz3]

What type of labour/delivery did you have?


1st baby was an emerg c.s after a 17hr labour with lots of problems with the labour
2,3 and soon to be 4th babies all planned c/s



Was it what you planned? If not, why?

1st wasnt planned. The rest were and I was under advice from my OB and middies I know from my personal life


Did you/do you want to - do things differently in subsequent labours/deliveries? Why?

nope... they were great...no birth is pain free just at different stages

I am VERY interested in those that CHOSE to have c-sections and those that wanted to have a VBAC.

no desire for a vbac at all. I dont feel any less of a woman or a mother because I had a c/s and I feel sorry for the women that do feel this way..very sad


Why did you choose to have a c-section?

under advise and also for me birth is a means to an end and nothing more.


Why was a VBAC important to you?

far from it.

[Samantha2]

What type of labour/delivery did you have?

1st - induction, laboured 14 hours - emergency c/section
2nd - planned vbac turned into planned c/section (medical reasons)

Was it what you planned? If not, why?

No, not at all. I wanted my babies naturally. I felt like I wasted so many peoples time and effort - particularly my own after labouring for 14 hours. I was so exhausted as it was a hard, full on labour from the start ( as was my DD) so neither of us got off to the best start.

The other major thing that got me down was after birth, I guess mainly the first few days. To hear my babies cry and know I couldn't jump up to grab them. To not be able to snuggle in bed with them as it was too uncomfortable for me to get into those positions. That was very hard - both times.

Did you/do you want to - do things differently in subsequent labours/deliveries? Why?

Yes, very differently. I would avoid induction at all cost, and the least amount of intervention I could.


Why did you choose to have a c-section?

I never felt I had a choice in either of my c/sections. The only two things in my childrens lives I honestly regret.

Why was a VBAC important to you?

I wanted to give my kids the best start at the beginning of their lives and for ME a c/section wasn't the way I wanted to start.

I also felt very pressured, though I don't know where from, to have a natural birth. I wonder if those who wanted a VBAC also felt this pressure?

The only pressure I have felt is from myself. I feel very much a failure as a woman and a mother that I couldn't do what supposedly we are supposed to do best.

To have carried a baby inside and nourish and protect it for 9 long months, to have them taken away from you at birth is a very hard thing to come to terms with. I don't think I will ever lose the feelings of emptiness both heart and arms once my children have been born. The pangs of jealousy when I read someones birth story haven't gotten any easier for me over the last 4 years.

So the pressure is all from within myself.