Do women feel as if they're being told 'you shouldn't have a section'???

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Various organisations, including NCT, campaign for choice of place of birth and type of birth, and point to the rising caesarean section rate with concern. This is because the high numbers contrast with the likely figure of women and babies who need a section for medical reasons. It also reflects concern that on the whole, recovery after a section can be longer and more difficult. I don't think this is the equivalent of telling individual women they shouldn't have sections (clearly, the op is life saving for some, anyway), but this is how it seems to be interpreted. Comments?

Interesting topic - didn't read it all !!!
I don't teach antenatal prep for the NCT but I do a lot of antenatal preparation with my clients (as their doula).

I respectfully disagree with Jimjams about MW knowing you're going to need an epidural - in my experience, some hardly ever see unmedicated births and can't quite believe it when mother refuses ! That's true of gas and air as 2 of my most recents clients did it wothout G&A.... MW said herself.... never seen it done without ! And believe me she pushed her to sue it... mum was adamant... she hates the stuff!

As for what you are taught and how it ends.... it's very tricky I must say. As doulas we often support women who REALLY do not want a section, that's why they want us there... we prepare them and then they go for an induction because they are overdue (which we have highlighted the risks and informed them of their choice -which they will acknowledge is more than the hospital might have) and they end with a section anyway - especially when the induction looked like it wasn't going to work from the onset !!!!! How much do we have to say/how far do we push it..... it's very tricky !

I agree with those who feel that they should be proud of their birth and baby.... no one should judge, we all make the best choices we can at any given time and sometimes in hindsight we wish we had done it differently (for example many will never be induced again!)... induction in particular is a topic women are well informed about (how the risks of management to section are much higher)- including on Mumsnmet - yet many still choose to do it and often go on to regret it!

I went to NCT classes for my 4th baby and everything was covered inc forceps/ventouse and CS. I remember thinking it was a pretty boring topic for me, but I supposed I'd better listen anyway, just in case. We also did a lot on pain relief, everything from epidurals to hypnosis. The teacher certainly didn't make any judgments as to whether one option was superior to another, or that it was a matter of failing if you used such-and-such.

I know a number of NCT teachers and I must say, I can't imagine any of them being dogmatic or critical in their attitudes. Their wish seems to be for their clients to have the birth they want, whether it's a CS or under the nearest hedge!!

Oh I would agree with you on gas and air pupuce. Practically had a punch up with my m/w over the gas and air. If I had another mouthful of the stuff I was going to throw everywhere- and the m/w got very stroppy with me for refusing it!

I think the NCT teacher actually meant that m/w were good at knowing when you may well be in for a long haul. ALthough I guess sometimes dilation can occur surprisingly quickly especially after 2cm.

As for induction I think its hard. On the one hand you are told that not inducing will put your baby or you at risk (that's what I was told), but then inducing a labour can be incredibly hard- and in my case probably did lead to the section. My problems were really not so much the induction, but being in hospital for the entire labour as I was clock watched then fiddled with. Maybe induction suites away separate from the main labour ward would be good - a more natural environment for early labour? Not going to happen though is it? Ahh if I was in power