Natural - v - Caesarean - a new thread

[JoolsToo]

sorry to be bossy but can we carry on here?

I'm for natural when possible

lockets - I can't fix that for you

I'd glady hold your hand

that'll be gladly!

As long as the Mum is well informed of all the benefits and risks of both then should be whichever she chooses.
For me natural/normal was the choice but I didn't obsess about ending up with a caesarean.

which makes mine what? unnatural / abnormal?

.. am being very picky there Mandy, I know, but that's the trouble with all the terminology, its invasive (I use it too if I'm honest), and it is designed to make you believe a section is inferior in some way which makes it harder for some people (not me) to come to terms with

You're right Twiglett and that's how I felt about having an epidural 1st time round. It's like if you didn't deliver naturally with no analgesia then you've failed in some way. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't really care less what people thought of me but it annoyed me that I could tell people were sorry for me!

oh don't get me started on epidurals . Unfortunately I don't tolerate them well - had two when in labour with DS1, neither worked . I actually had somebody say to me "its a shame you couldn't manage without pain relief... blah, blah, blah".

Good God this is the 21st century - why are women made to feel bad about pain relief in labour, we wouldn't be expected to have a tooth extraction without pain relief?

now if men gave birth...........

Both mine were natural, tho if the first birth hadn't been so bloody easy, I think I wouldn't have been so quick second time round to want a natural birth.

2nd time round I also went out of my way to make sure I had a natural birth. DS was breech from 30 wks and I had him turned at 38 weeks (successfully).

I am not knocking CS's, its just I am so scared of needles, being cut open etc. etc. that I really would not want one.

hah twiglett, that's the reason god made men men and women women (joking)

Twiglet don't get me started with men.

IMO men forget too quickly just how painful childbirth is. DH (not so D) wanted us to conceive again 2 weeks (count 'em, 2 weeks) after DS was born!

do you know that women are less likely to be diagnosed quickly with arthritic diseases because their complaints of 'pain' are deemed likely to be exaggerated (hysterical) whereas a bloke is more quickly pushed through to tests so diagnosed more quickly

(and yet every man I know, apart from DH, complains of migraine for a headache and flu for a cold)

must confess only time I deceived dh (I think!) was after delivering - I laid it on good and thick when I went home - did nothing but look after the baby for two full weeks. I knew minute I got up to wash a dish - he'd think I was fit.

Dejags - EXACTLY re: tooth extraction! And that would probably be a lot shorter too!!

I had induction and epidural for ds1 but ds2 was so quick I didn't have time for anything - I must admit I was chuffed with myself but I don't really know why - does it matter?! With ds3 I really wanted a 'natural', no pain relief birth simply because I found my recovery after ds2 way, way quicker than with ds1. That could have had nothing to do with epidural vs nothing but psychologically I suppose I thought it did and wanted to be up and out of hospital in a matter of hours like I was with ds2.

I did it and my birth for ds3 was the best - really 'satisfying' if that's the right word but at the end of the day it made no difference to the baby, no difference to how I've bonded and actually I did have a period of depression after ds3 that I didn't have with the others so...

Hi M2E - remember me from the conception boards in Dec 03?

DH and I were talking about this earlier - he says that whilst he had every sympathy with my pain in labour (he was a fantastic, active birth partner), he couldn't comprehend how much it hurts. Obviously a lot (in his words)

my choice and it was right for me was natural without any analgesia, I was fortunate enough to have two very quick and straighforward deliveries, and althought I had always focussed postively and expected nothing less, I was I know it, lucky!
I would never question anyones choice, it is a womans body and her life choice. And obviousy when a c section is vital for mother or/and baby's life then there is no question that it is a GOOD thing.
I do wonder why, natural birth is universally considered such a "trial"

totally agree Piffle - it's a privilege (a very painful one admittedly ). Without sounding soppy the most profound thing I have ever experienced. I have no doubt that had I needed to deliver by CS that too would have been equally profound though.

Hi dejags! Yeah I remember you. How are you doing?

I think my DH forgets too quickly because I seem to 'cope ' with it all very well and afterwards feel fine etc. etc. Go home the same day etc.

Next time I'll have to act up a bit ;)

excellent strategy JT (re. the laying it on thick after birth).

I am well thanks M2E - so you are also thinking of a third then?

my dh said, well it's what women do isn't it, did you want a medal or is a little pink baby enough?
honestly... if I hadn't still had a placenta edging it's way out, I may well have clonked him with something

dejags - we will have e third (and prob a 4th) but I rekon I will wait at least until one of mine is in school (another 2 years then)!

Can't imagine not having any more, they grow up sooooo quick!

I had a really fantastic delivery,the pushing all over in 29 mins(didn't even seem that sore,other than head crowning).No pain relief at all,ended up retaining placenta and requiring a spinal to get the blooming thing out!!Getting drip in hand MUCH more painful than popping baby out!!!

Okay, my two cents in:
I had read everything I could get my hands on about natural birth and was really, really looking forward to the experience. 36 hours after my water had broken, after transition and still at 7 cm, I had to demand that my midwife get a consult for a c-section. Here in the states midwives pride themselves on their low c-section rate compared to OB/Gyn's. I have always believed that fact played into her reluctance to consider a c-section option sooner. Some of you probably already know from previous posts that ds was discovered to be frank breech by the consulting doctor and was born by emergency c-section 30 minutes later. I was left with a lot of anger and PN PTSD. I never for a moment felt cheated out of my birth experience as far as not having a vaginal birth. I did feel cheated as far as not having competent medical personnel for a day and a half.
BTW, said midwife was perfectly willing for me to labor up to 72 hours after my water broke. Wouldn't that have just taken the cake?