Would you judge someone for choosing to have a c section?

[ProudOtter]

I’m just curious as to why you would judge someone for choosing to have an elective c section?

For background I’ve decided I’d like to ask for a c section for baby number 2. Some people have made comments about me being insane, or that I’m missing out of giving birth “properly”

I am curious as to why some people have this view.

My first born was semi elective c section, was rushed into an induction due to minor fetal distress and escalated a bit so had to choice to attempt vaginal birth or go for a C-section and I chose the c section. Positive experience and no regrets.

Nope - in fact I rather envy them not listening to the ‘natural birth’ noise - I wish I hadn’t

DD1 36 hr labour and emergency section

Dd2 24 hrs, assisted delivery (brutal, in theatre about to be put under for a section after 4 attempts to deliver her) 64 stitches and a child with a brain injury

DD3 still listening to the noise- 30 hours and an emergency section!

I wish I’d gone elective with 2 & 3

oh and I couldn’t give a rats wank about my ‘mummy ledge’ it means 3 of my 8 pregnancies made it through!

Nope not for any reason, even if it was just to avoid pain. I had a natural birth and it bloody hurt.

even if it was just to avoid pain

Nope CS defo involves some pain

I wouldn’t judge but I feel that current maternity care has led to this feeling like the least traumatic option whereas for the majority of women vaginal birth is statistically safer and quicker to recover from. I had three home births because I found the idea of being forced into a variety of procedures like internal examinations, foetal monitoring etc stressful and I wanted to be in control. My third was 42 + 4 and I suspect in many cases that would have led to induction but in the event it was a v straightforward 6 hour labour even though he was a big baby. Better support ante and post natally and one to one care with a known midwife are known to have a huge positive impact but we just don’t really have that as standard in the UK.

Me personally I find c sections (especially emergency) and vaginal births can be both as “traumatic” in different ways.

It's nobody else's business. Don't listen to vile people who want to belittle others.

I had an EMCS and would only judge women who opt for a free birth as I know how quickly things can go wrong

I am not surprised that you have experienced some people being judgmental as I received those kind of comments myself. “Taking the easy option”, “You had your baby the easy way” and “not a real birth” being popular ones. It felt hurtful and unnecessary.
It does kind of astound me though that others assume these judgments when they must very rarely be party to all the information.

My C Sections were planned and based on the medical opinion of my obstetrician. I was terribly upset to not be having VB and found the recovery very difficult and painful in the first few weeks. I describe them as elective as obviously they weren’t emergencies.
Fortunately, despite apparently disadvantaging my children by not having a VB they were very healthy babies and BF without problems.
The circumstances of women, their health, birth choices, feeding choices etc. I see as being between them and their health professionals. Definitely not for me to judge.

No of course not, it’s none of my business. Give birth however you want to.

Nope. It’s none of my business at all.

I don’t see a caesarean as the ‘easy’ option though - I’ve had 4 children, luckily no complications and all born vaginally, but I would have tried anything to avoid the surgery

Your body, your choice.

What a silly, judgemental post. If someone is terrified of the pain when giving birth to the point where they are asking for major surgery, it is not the "easy option" at all. I had two epidurals for babies two and three. - spine-to-spine labours are no picnic - and I would have had one with the first, traumatic labour except that it was just a bit too late. Does this make me a "wuss" too?

Great for the lucky few that breathe a baby out without injury, but never underestimate the joy of being able to reliably sit on your undercarriage for the next month.

I'd rather go through the EMCS recovery again than the "successful" VBAC

And that itself could be seen as a medical reason, in that it's better for your mental health, and a happier mother leads to a happier baby.

I had 2 horrendous vaginally deliveries, which left me with PTSD and PNA. First time I just thought of was unlucky so gave it 'another go'. But never again. We don't plan a third but if we get a suprise I will definitely opt for a c section.

Hi I posted about vbac recently as I am due another child and trying to work this out and have had similar comments about 'missing out'. But there is different risks to vbac mothers including much higher risk of uterine rupture. I have found most of the comments come from people who don't understand the different risks involved compared to mothers who give birth vaginally - there does not seem to be much understanding!

Giving birth no matter how you do it, is not an easy option.

Both ways involve pain for 99.9999999% of women. (There's always some that say they had no pain, I'm not sure how
..)

My c section experience - I didn’t feel any pain during surgery but had obviously a lot of pain during recovery, when walking, trying to move about and get out of bed. Trapped wind in shoulder which was horrendous.

Anyone who feels no pain during vaginal and c section birth mind blows me

Jealous? That is a very immature reply. How can you be jealous of something you've never had to (or wanted to) experience?

I technically "chose" to have a c section 5 weeks ago. My baby was in breech and I was offered an ecv. I turned it down because when I had my daughter I went through the same and she went overdue by a week, in which time I developed piles the size of a satsuma. It was the most horrible thing I've experienced. I also got bad piles with my 3rd child so I wasn't willing to go there again. Also my husband and I have no one to call on to watch our 3 kids if I went into spontaneous labour so an elective cesarean was the best option. I did question my decision afterwards with all the pain and healing but it worked out for the best

People are dickheads?

I had a horrendous first vaginal delivery with my first, failed epidural, failed vontuse then a forceps delivery, an episiotomy and a 3rd degree tear, a pp haemorrhage, baby was in distress and spend a week in NICU with an infection from PROM and such a long distressing labour. I was in hospital for 10 days quite unwell as well. There was no way I was trying that again. I had an elective section second time. I didn’t feel judged by anyone, medical staff included, everyone was supportive and tbh even if they weren’t I wouldn’t have cared as I was so sure it was the right thing for me. As long as you are confident in your decision who cares what anyone else thinks?

So sorry about your 2nd having a brain injury, how awful

I didn't know about the mummy ledge...I do now though!!

Whoever judges anyone else's birth choices is a pathetic knobhead.

I had an emergency c-section with mine. My experience was traumatic because of how I was treated during induction as well as postnatally by staff. I am genuinely amazed me and my baby made it out. I am positive it was the number 1 contributor to my PND.

My C-Section was the only part of the process where I felt safe and treated with respect. Honestly I doubt I will have another because of what happened but if I were I would only do it if I could have a c-section again.

I know people would judge me but I don't really care. I do not worry about the opinions of people who call people wusses for not experiencing the pain of vaginal birth or judge mums for feeding formula to their babies. We are likely very different people with different values and I imagine we would judge quite a lot of what each other do day to day.