Why vaginal birth?

[SantaSusan]

Inspired by another thread. I'm really interested to understand the reasons for most women opting for a vaginal birth.

Disclaimer: I really, really want this thread to be a nice discussion to share views. I'd hate for this to descend into a judgy or unkind thread! Obviously, however anyone chooses to give birth is their choice alone. And as long as your precious little bundle arrives safely at the end, then who cares how they got there!?

I ended up with an elective. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd have anything but a vaginal birth. However, for reasons I won't go into, it was decided during my pregnancy that a c section would probably be the best option for me. Everyone I spoke to absolutely loved their c section experience, and 99% of the comments online were so positive, so I wasn't worried about it at all once it was decided upon.

I had absolutely no pain during my c section or during recovery. I breastfed right away. I was up and about pretty much immediately. This seems to be the experience of most women who've had elcs. I would have an elective section again and again. If I'm lucky enough to have another baby, it'll be another section.

As such, I often wonder why more women don't choose to have their babies this way. It's so common in other countries. I think there's a lot of misinformation around c sections. The risks are also lumped in with those of emergency c sections, so electives are often painted to be riskler than they actually are.

You often hear people saying it's major abdominal surgery' in quite a judgemental way, which of course it is. But as far as surgical procedures go, it's generally very straightforward and in most cases, is easy to recover from.

I also repeatedly hear that vaginal is best as it's the most natural. But just because something is the 'natural' way to do something, doesn't necessarily mean it's the best. There's lots of things we do now with technology and with medicine that isn't the 'natural' way, and nobody bats an eyelid.

I can't quite put my finger on why I was so opposed to c sections previously. It's like it was subconsciously ingrained in me for no reason other than popular rhetoric. Which is why I'd be interested to hear why others decided a vaginal birth was best for them? Or why others knew they wanted an elcs? Has your subsequent birthing experience changed your minds at all?

But that can happen with a vaginal birth as well - it's down to whether the doctor or midwife looking after you is crap!

@TrashedSofa interesting.
I last gave birth August 2022.

I was more concerned about the recovery and potential complications from tearing / episiotomy and the unpredictability of it, than from a section. Plus I really really didn’t want to risk needing an instrumental delivery. Obviously I knew things can go wrong with a section too, but I was happier to take those risks than the ones associated with attempted VB. I know lots of people won’t agree with my choice, but 3 elective sections later I’m happy with my choices and would do the same again if I had my time over.

Yes, for being "meant to come out of there" both maternal and infant mortality were quite high, before modern medical interventions.

ELCS wasn’t an option that was offered but I don’t think I would have considered it even if it was, it just made more sense to have VB, it’s what our bodies were designed for and although there was some concern throughout my pregnancy over whether my dodgy heart could handle the strain, it was all fine.

As an aside, I’m sure I read somewhere that the high rate of c-sections in the US is a contributing factor to their maternal mortality rate being so high.

I also had a spinal headache following a lumbar puncture and had to lie flat for 4 days. It was absolutely the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced, including a natural vaginal birth. Utterly excruciating. For that reason I’d also fight off anybody going near my spine with a needle

That happened to a friend of mine and she was back in hospital a week after giving birth.

I had an epidural but thankfully no nasty side effects. I wasn't happy about anyone going near my spine with a needle but I wouldn't have coped with the pain otherwise.

I really didn't fancy the idea of an epidural and having a catheter, which my antenatal classes really went into depth about. I wanted as little 'mucking about' with as possible. First birth ended up with a bit of mucking about with, but second birth was amazing. Second went well from knowledge i'd gained about myself from the first (i throw up with pain). Was given an anti sickness medication on second so had the energy needed. Was very straight forward and was such a rush of adrenaline when baby was born. So much pressure put on mums to have vaginal deliveries and breast feed, but the same results are achieved whatever you choose. I see so many new mums with guilt over one thing or another.

Wonder how many babies would be born if people had to pay for their own ante natal care

Women’s health issues might be a case of “whatever’s cheapest” to you, but thankfully the NICE Guidelines recognise the grotesque risks which vaginal birth can poses, which to some women may be less acceptable than the risks of an elective c-section - fine. The opposite? Also fine.

Not fine? Implying all women should have to have vaginal births and put up with the risks of this because it’s cheaper.

I'm not a fan of the medicalisation of everything being better. Birth is sanitized enough without pretending its just a routine Op.

OP writes... "Disclaimer: I really, really want this thread to be a nice discussion to share views. I'd hate for this to descend into a judgy or unkind thread! Obviously, however anyone chooses to give birth is their choice alone. And as long as your precious little bundle arrives safely at the end, then who cares how they got there!? "

Oh let's not be judgy - and yet most of her responses are.

"As long as baby arrives safely" ..... and what about mum?

So many "super birthers" on this thread.

It's like a competition.

"I worked til the baby crowned, made a roast dinner during labour and was back running marathons the next day after my vaginal birth".

As such, I often wonder why more women don't choose to have their babies this way. It's so common in other countries

You say you don't want anyone to be judgy and yet YOU are being judgy by saying this! There is plenty of clinical evidence to show that going through the birth canal has positive health benefits for the baby- google it if you don't believe me.

Now, of course some people need a c section which is fine as the mum and baby's health is most important but saying "well why doesnt everyone just get a C section!?" is incredibly ignorant and judgy in itself. Whether you like it or not, it IS major abdominal surgery- that's a fact and with surgery comes an increased risk of infection and bleeding and a longer recovery time etc so I don't know why you seem so annoyed by people pointing this out to you if its medical fact, unless you think you know better than medical professionals 🙄

I've had 3 vaginal deliveries, one with forceps, and an EMCS. I hated the EMCS, I found the recovery painful, I found it far easier when I had a hysterectomy. I had more problems with breastfeeding after the EMCS, in fact no problems with the other 3. The baby delivered by section suffered badly from chest infections and I was told that was common and that a vaginal delivery made it less likely (I can't remember why.)

Forgot to add I had altered feeling round the scar, it feels like itching but no amount of scratching or moisturising eases it.

Just a few ideas thats could be considered pros for virginal delivery (although I think it should be the woman's choice above all else):

There is some evidence about the baby's micro biome being seeded by a vaginal delivery.

Risk of infection is still greater after an elective section compared to a vaginal delivery.

For some women labour and delivery are really empowering experiences.

But your body your baby your choice!

@SantaSusan

I've helped friends following a c-section, they definitely had a large wound, they definitely struggled to look after their newborns, contrasted to me who went shopping on the way back from the hospital (for good reason, dd was unexpectedly born fairly small despite being term, I needed clothes) 2 days later I caught the train 3 hours to the in laws including a tube connection, something not possible after a c-section. I admit I was lucky, no stitches.

My first was a C-section to save my son and I ended feeling everything as the anesthesia didn't work, was hospitalized for over a week, needed multiple blood transfusions, and I was ill for almost six months after. I pleaded to never have another one, but unfortunately for me it was not possible. My second c-section for my daughter was a little easier but I would still never recommend it unless needed. After that I was unable to have anymore children because scar tissue from my two C-sections had built up and it was unsafe.

Vaginal birth for babies that are full term 37-40 weeks is the safest as C-section mortality rates continue to climb. I think we treat C-sections as a convenience to schedule your baby coming instead of realizing it is major abdominal surgery. You never know what could happen during the procedure and that unknown alone should be enough to pause and reason whether it is necessary for safety or just convenient. We are normalizing major surgery over how our bodies naturally work.

I had an emergency c section
during a vaginal birth the child gets exposed to mum’s friendly bacteria.
plus it triggers the infant reflexes to go dormant
google infant reflexes not going dormant

As such, I often wonder why more women don't choose to have their babies this way. It's so common in other countries.

Well it's literally what you said in your OP.

I guess you don't have any particular countries in mind though... perhaps if you knew the birth outcomes for the countries where its 'so common' you'd feel differently.

The baby delivered by section suffered badly from chest infections and I was told that was common and that a vaginal delivery made it less likely (I can't remember why.)

I think it's due to fluid being squeezed out of the lungs/nose and also exposure to good bacteria in the birth canal which helps the immune system

I do think that your posts come across as suggesting that anyone who doesn't automatically opt for a c section must be ill-educated/a fool.

Your initial post set the tone of the thread.

Ah crabs! Honestly did not want to come across judgy at all. Really sorry if I have! Things don't always translate well over text. I honestly really just wanted a nice discussion 😂 might mute my own thread now though because it's not what I was hoping for! Gah

When did this become a thing? Can any pregnant woman opt for this option?
I only thought if complications.
I learn something new everyday.
Obviously I'm old and didn't even know the sex.
But my eldest Grandson is 18 and youngest nine and neither of my daughters were offered it . I'm flabbergasted..
But gosh.. what a choice.
Why shouldn't women have the choice..
Whatever will make you the happiest and healthiest is my comment .

As long as baby arrives safely" ..... and what about mum?

I’ve had both births, there are pros and cons and I’m very pro-personal choice but I’m interested in what you mean by this. Do you think caesareans are not safe for women or something?

I wanted the experience of a vaginal birth (preferably a water birth) and I didn’t want to have to recover from major surgery while looking after my new baby. I also want more children in the future and multiple vaginal births are less risky than multiple c sections.

I’ve only given birth once so far. It was pretty horrible to be honest and I didn’t get the water birth I wanted. But it was my first baby and I was induced which are both things that can make labour more difficult. I plan to give birth vaginally again and I’m hoping it will be easier next time. That being said I know from experience that giving birth vaginally is no walk in the park, so absolutely no judgement to women who opt for c sections.

it’s what our bodies were designed for

Human birth is thought to have become much more risky due to us being upright and the size of our heads.

Birth is very risky in general, it was a leading cause of mortality in women before the last century and infant mortality was significant too.

If they survived labour, risk of death from infection was always there before antibiotics. Women even died from infections from miscarriages - as portrayed in Hardy's "A Pair of Blue Eyes".

It's not anywhere near as simple as "designed for" or meant to do ..... nature allows plenty of losses, it doesn't care.