C Section is 'not a real birth'

I’m so glad I had 2 ELCSs. Always horrified by the vaginal birth injuries my friends have suffered. From prolapse to incontinence and everything in between. You don’t have to think about that.

Also, an ELCS seems to be a very different procedure and recovery to a EMCS!! Your body hasn’t gone through days of pushing and stress beforehand.

I’m sure your patients are delighted to know that after hours and hours of labour, for their baby to be pulled out at the end by ventouse to save their life that you, their midwife, now think they haven’t actually given birth.

I was too for a while. Everyone around me seemed to be giving birth like shucking peas.
You're not in a profession that will take you away from it either.
I bloody love babies though and you get to see lots of them. Breastfeeding was a lovely experience (after the initial days of excruciating tenderness).

Maybe you could link?

I just get this "No results found for "The act of giving birth is to push the child through the birth canal". When I Google the wording the pp says came up on their search.

That's right.

No. I just did a quick google and that’s how it was worded. No metric, hadn’t really thought about it till this thread and people became really angry with the poster who pointed out there is a difference between the two. I happen to agree with that poster.

Your first birth sounds exhausting and traumatic, totally unlike my elective c-section. Good luck with it.

So if you don’t push the baby out and it gets pulled out by ventouse or forceps presumably that’s not giving birth either if that’s the metric you’re using?

My quick Google didnt appear to bring the first part of your sentence up in any result. Please can you link where you found that? Thanks!

It’s langauge which takes a quick Google. The act of giving birth is to push the child through the birth canal. Birth is bringing a child forward into the world.

"I haven’t seen anyone say a c section is not a “real birth”. What has been said is that it is not the same as a woman “giving birth” and than some women feel regret if they don’t get to experience a vaginal birth."

So can anyone link to anything confirming it's not the same as giving birth?

And before anyone accuses me of disdaining women who bottle feed - I don't.

Women are entitled to choose. I will stick up for any woman's right to choose these things. Always.

I was very, very good at breastfeeding, though. That gives me a lot of satisfaction.

I haven’t seen @TheShellBeach express disdain for c sections (as she has been accused of), only regret about her own experience. Midwife or not, she is allowed her own feelings about the way her children were birthed. I’m sure she realises that not everyone shares them and treats her patients as individuals.

Thank you.

I don't mind how other women choose to deliver. Of course I don't let patients feel they've failed if they have a CS.

I am simply talking about my own personal feelings as a woman, regarding my children's deliveries.

I was so disappointed not to experience birth. I mean, really, really sad about it.

@Megifer I haven’t seen anyone say a c section is not a “real birth”. What has been said is that it is not the same as a woman “giving birth” and than some women feel regret if they don’t get to experience a vaginal birth.

C sections don’t make anyone less of mother or less of a woman, they are not an easy way out. They can be life saving for both mother and baby. Many women (especially those who have had traumatic vaginal births) opt for them and prefer them. Any sane person is glad they exist. Doesn’t change the fact that a woman undergoing a c section is not physically giving birth, she is having surgery. I understand that it’s an emotive subject but someone should be able to speak factually without causing such upset. Especially when they are speaking about their own experience.

I haven’t seen @TheShellBeach express disdain for c sections (as she has been accused of), only regret about her own experience. Midwife or not, she is allowed her own feelings about the way her children were birthed. I’m sure she realises that not everyone shares them and treats her patients as individuals.

5 of us plus the dog in this house. Only one not born by C-section was the dog. No-one is any less of a person or in some way diminished by the experience. As other have said upthread, live birth is the goal here

I think YANBU at all for wanting to experience giving birth and feeling disappointed about another c section. I’d have felt the same (my first child was a planned c section, my second a vbac and I’d have struggled with being told another c section would be best). It’s easy for people to say you’re not missing much… but your feelings are really valid and it will take time to process them. I can remember feeling left out when other new mums were comparing birth stories, and the ‘you’re so lucky you don’t have to go through that!’ comments really stung even though they were well-meant. Had it happened a second time I think I might actually have slapped someone…! I think find out the risks/benefits around your birth options, take your time and be kind to yourself whichever way it goes. For what it’s worth for me the c section was the harder birth experience - for coming to terms with it but also the recovery, and if you need to choose it again it will be a brave and selfless decision. All the best.

'Midwife' is incorrect.

I'd be very happy to hold my hands up and apologise if someone would be so kind as to post a reliable source that confirms a section is not a real birth.

Tia!

100% agree with this. I am also glad that poster was not my midwife! I find her views bizarre and scary. To say a C-section is not a birth is farcical to the extreme. You were pregnant and a child was born. It was a BIRTH FFS! 🙄

Exactly this. ^ And as for the 'women should be supporting women' comment. I'm not going to automatically support what someone says just because we both happen to have a vagina. And especially not if what I think they're saying is wrong or makes no sense. Having a C-section would not stop a woman producing milk, and breastfeeding.

She’s correct. Giving birth is completely different from birthing a child. It’s not offensive. It may be triggering for some of you but you’re being rude.

You and many others on here are making it an issue. A child was birthed during a surgical procedure or I gave birth to a child. Empower women by being honest and being proud their baby is healthy.

I hope you hide your distaste for c sections and your (silly) opinion that it's not giving birth, from your patients!

I'm very glad you weren't my midwife. With such strong options, I'm not sure it's the right job for you. How can you make women feel empowered and content with however they gave birth, and support them when your don't even consider it a birth?

It's about safety for you, and don’t be ridiculous around birth. How the child comes out is immaterial, as long as you and baby are well. Could ask for a trial of labour but labour is overrated. 1 induction, 3rd degree tear 2 c section.

Absolutely F all to do with a c section though. The vast majority of women who have a planned c section are still able to breastfeed.

My baby was wedged in sideways and couldn’t get out. I had a planned c section and it was so calm it was dreamlike.

It’s honestly the best feeling! When all planned and happy.

The alternative was unthinkable! 😭