Does CS mean you haven't really given birth?

[chargeahead]

My sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy last week by CS. She later told me that her husband said he didn't believe that she had actually given birth to their son. She is understandably quite upset about it, but I don't know what to say to her (apart from the fact that I think he's wrong/doesn't understand).

Surely he's being very unfair considering she's been through pregnancy and produced my gorgeous little nephew? It feels like he hasn't given her any credit for the birth.

I really want to say the right thing and help her ignore what was probably a throw away comment. What would you say in my position? All advice welcome.

I'm having a cesarian under general anaesthetic next week (medical necessity). At this point, I don't give a monkeys how baby gets out of there, so long as he/she does so and both of us are healthy afterwards.
It's astounding that the human body can grow a baby, needing a bit of help at any stage, never mind for the last part kind of pales into insignificance against it.

I am shortly to give birth to my first child and it never occurred to me to question that if i have to have a CS this will mean I have 'not given birth' in fact CS scares the bejesus out of me so i have mad respect for anyone who goes through a major op like that and has to care for a tiny baby immediately after. This guy probably made a throw away comment but it seems to me that he is being very ungrateful towards his wife who has just presented him with a perfect healthy baby. I would refer him to the description of birth in the dictionary. At no point does it mention the part of the mothers body the child exits from as being relevant.

medical dictionary

Oh yeah THEN kick him in the nuts.

Your poor sister - what a twat. The baby was inside. The baby is outside. She has given birth.

I'd fucking kneecap be quite cross with my DH if he ever said something so insensitive.

Someone said that to me once. We were a group of new mum friends chatting about the births/labour etc and one turned round to me and said,'yes but you didn't actually give birth did you?' I was abit miffed as already felt disappointed with the birth and the 'odd one out'. I went through labour and had a ventouse which failed and then a c section. I have sonce had 'normal' births and 2 further c sections including a crash one and an elective. I know that i have 'given birth' to all my kids, whether they came out one hole or other doesn't matter so much!! In any case, adoptive mums are just as good parents and they don't physically give birth, it isn't everything and doesn't mean anything if you can't do it naturally

I've had 3 straightforward vaginal births and one CS (CS last) and I can tell you which 1 I preferred! That said, she's here so I must have "given birth". I must say that hormonally the CS was very different- there was no euphoria as after a vaginal birth, and I found the bonding process a lot gentler and low key. The run-up to the CS was a bit crap which may have made some difference.

Your BIL is being insensitive but if it's their first he's probably still in that glib phase. A few kicks to the gonads should sort that out.

Show the bloody stupid man this

It sounds like he's been very insensitive - not his place to say this! - but having had an EMCS I still don't feel that I gave birth to our daughter. She was born, but I didn't give birth to her - that's how I feel and it's still a bit upsetting 15 weeks on.

And a CS is totally not the easy option, especially after a week of labour!

I remember David beckham saying something similar on a chat show,where victoria said i love giving birth,and davi said well you didnt actually give birth you had a ceasr,you should have seen the look she gave him...maybe its a man thing..

DHs response: What a dick