Why is there so much judgement directed at c sections?

[DanceLikeTheWind]

I honestly don't want to start another endless VB v/s CS debate. I am just eager to read any insight that people may have on this topic- Why are other women so judgemental towards women who opt for c sections, whether elective primary c sections or repeat c sections?

There are several reasons why I will opt for a c section: a prior (minor) uterine prolapse, anxiety issues, and a family history of erb's palsy and incontinence.
I have faced nothing but judgement, ridicule and even hatred from other women :(:(

I am well aware that this is a major surgery with a longer recovery. I'm well aware it shouldn't be done prior to 39 weeks (unless of course I go into spontaneous labour). I'm well aware of the increased risk of complications in future pregnancies, however I don't plan on more than two babies.
I'm also aware of the risk of staph infection.

However, by opting for a c section I'm reducing my chances of developing
incontinence and prolapse. I have a zero chance of suffering an obstetric fistula, a third or fourth degree tear and perineal trauma.
My baby will be at a reduced risk of cerebral palsy, erb's palsy, brachial plexus nerve injuries and trauma caused by a possible assisted birth.

I'm not hard-selling c sections here, just pointing out that there are some benefits to a c section as well.
Why then do people only focus on the negatives? And why are the varied risks of a VB ignored simply because it's 'natural'?

Pebble I personally found that strangely enough a lot of ladies DO care. I personally came across comments such as "if you want CS why don't you pay for it yourself" (not in those exact terms but close) or midwife telling me "mums who want too much control end up with mental health issues."

Obviously I had the same experience during the antenatal classes as you. What made me feel a bit synovial was this really nice midwife saying "but do not worry if you have a CS or don't breast feed - you are not a failure" - well I didn't think I was a failure in the first place thanks very much!

I have done both, no way would I opt for a c section and had my c section baby been my first he would be an only. Oh and pelvic floor bladder issues,all fine after my vaginally delivered babies but have had issues since c section basically all the yanking about, nerve damage etc.

My vaginally births were a walk in the park in comparison even with episiotomy/tears etc c section felt like being run over by a bus.

I don't care what other women do, just want all women to be able to make an informed choice, their body their choice simple as.

All my friends have had different births one way or another. Whatever is best for mum and baby, hey?
You need to find new friend if they are judging you x

Asia what an idiot to say that to you. Were they jealous as they didn't have the option? I'd remove that person from your life immediately! And that midwife....well there are good and bad midwives. I wish they'd fire all the bad ones but I hear there is a shortage in the uk so maybe that's how the get away with it. Sorry u had to hear such unhelpful comments!

I made no conscious choice in how my labour progressed ; that was all down to primal instinct and thousands of years of evolution. To feel proud of something like that makes no sense. If I had had to have a c section I would have had a c section. Baby came out and we were both fine. That is what counts. Why anyone would think less of someone for how their baby came out is beyond me. Natural birth without intervention can and does kill and maim thousands of women and babies. It would appear that we are so removed from this reality that we have regressed into thinking it was so much better before. It's much like the anti vaxxer movement. OK maybe birth is excessively medicalised but I'd prefer it that way rather than risk death.

Haven't read the thread, so apologies if anyone has already posted this link, but if you're looking for some recent RCOG stats on perineal trauma and rates of assisted delivery at different hospitals the new maternity indicators site is really good: here

Would add that the figure given on this site for 3rd degree perineal trauma is 5.1% for first time mums and 1.8% for mums having their second baby. The overall rate is 4.8% with the range from 9% (Blackpool Teaching hospital) to 2% (NHS Isle of Wight).

In relation to the OP, two thoughts occurred to me - one is that the OP's has an unusually horrible bunch of friends and acquaintances, because I'm 50 and haven't come into contact with people who are unpleasantly vocal and opinionated about caesarean section in this way.

Another thought is that the OP's perception of a nation of incontinent women whose lives have been ruined by damage caused by vaginal births isn't something I recognise. I've had three vaginal births, including one 11lb shoulder dystocia, two 9lb+ babies and a forceps delivery, so would be up there with women who the OP would classify as 'damaged beyond repair'. Yes my pelvic floor is a bit shite, as are the pelvic floors of many women I know, but not enough for it to impact in any significant way on my quality of life. I'd say this is the case for most people in my position. If it was I'd motivate myself to do something to try and improve it by doing a lot of physio fuck that for a game of soldiers.

Of course there will be women who will have life changing injuries from birth, but they are few and far between.

Doesn't mean the OP is wrong to want a c/s, but honestly, maybe she shouldn't feel the need to make such a strong case for it to everyone around her. There's no need. Do what you want! These things are very, very personal.

"It would appear that we are so removed from this reality that we have regressed into thinking it was so much better before."

IMO the majority of women DO have worse labours than they used to. They last longer on average than they did even 50 years ago, and are much more likely to go shit shaped, basically because of the astonishing amount of interference in modern births.

Most women are willing to accept this as the price of reducing overall maternal and infant mortality. Like an insurance policy - we accept the interference that undermines the normal physiology of labour and makes it more painful because sometimes it saves some mothers and babies. Example of this would be that hundreds and hundreds of inductions for post dates pregnancies have to be done in order to prevent one late term stillbirth.

One day when I'm ruler of the universe we'll find a way of looking after women which utilises the brilliance of modern medicine, without carelessly undermining the physiology of birth so that more women have easier, safer, less traumatic births. We'll stop throwing the baby out with the bathwater (which is what our current system of care does - reduces maternal and infant mortality, but at great cost to women's emotional and physical well-being).

I had a friend who chose to have a CS because, and I quote, "my vagina is so tight, men have always commented on it. No way I'll give birth through it and make it go big!"

Choco, maybe she hadn't got much else going for her poor girl. Of course she wouldn't want to risk something she sees as an important part of her appeal.

I am likely to get flamed for this, but I just don't think ELCS should be permitted unless there is a known danger to mother or child (for example placenta previa, or mental health issues that are related to a first birth experience). Many mother who have had a long or difficult first birth opt for a ELCS when in reality their second birth is reasonably likely to be quicker and easier (I am one of these).
I cannot see how it is preferred to have a c-section wound and operation to manage afterwards, rather than a potential small tear or vaginal discomfort that will heal naturally within a couple of weeks, and allow a mother much more mobility with her new baby. ELCS are often performed before the 40 weeks, so the baby has not shown signs of being ready to be born just yet.
An ELCS just because you want one, is costly to an already stretched NHS. If there is a problem during your labour of course the NHS will perform an emergency C-section.

I am NOT judgemental about C-sections performed as an emergency or because there is a medical issue. I do question ELCS otherwise.

I hate the judgement, and I've never had a section. There are so many parts of motherhood that we are judged for and it sickens me. I couldn't care less if someone chooses to have a section, that's up to them and none of my business.

A potential small tear or vaginally discomfort that will heal naturally in weeks.... Wow. Way to under estimate the trauma of a vaginally birth can often does cause to women.

I have had five vaginally births and one emcs. I would always want to birth vaginally as for me generally it was easy but episiotomy not small took ages to heal properly and left scar tissue, very common and small tear I had after number two was not just a bit uncomfortable. Even having easy births, 11lb baby in birth pool I am aware that actually vaginally births can rake a lot of recovering from. And you can't predict if you will have the easy birth with little or no tearing or a third degree tear and incontinence. Seriously waiting that kind of attitude and underestimating the huge impact pregnancy and birth have on women physically and mentally is part of a misogynistic attitude towards women that sees these things as women's problems and no big deal. The put up and shut up attitude that is prevalent in some areas of female health care, what do you expect if you have a baby.

Not on. Women should be able to make an informed choice on how they want to birth, be that vaginally with drugs, all natural home birth or elcs.