C-sections save lives and prevent long term disability BUT an elective one where not medically required is silly in my opinion, contrary to what is put in tv programmes, giving birth is not difficult for most women, it's one day of pain and even that wasn't bad in my case
Please stop trivialising women’s fears, it is not acceptable.
Many women have experienced sexual assault, rape, or traumatic gynae procedures - personally I’ve experienced all three, and what was a fear of labour before pregnancy morphed into something all consuming once I was actually pregnant. Mental health is generally not considered a “medical reason” but it absolutely should be. This is not “silly”.
And I’m glad in your case a VB wasn’t bad, but for many women it is and there’s no way to know how it will go for you especially if it’s your first. In countries without access to adequate healthcare, women die in childbirth (even in this country some women still die, although it’s rare) - it’s not always a straightforward process. Many many more have traumatic experiences, longterm birth injuries and so on. It’s perfectly reasonable to be concerned about this.
I work as a patient representative within maternity so I speak to women about their birth experiences all the time. I hear positive stories about VB and CS all the time, and I hear negative stories too. Most of the HCPs I work with choose ELCS because they have seen a huge number of both and the results of them.
The most heartbreaking cases for me are women who have lived with severe trauma and / or physical injuries from VB for years or decades. Women who have not had further children despite really wanting them because of their experiences. Women who’ve lived with incontinence, fistulas, severe prolapses, unable to have sex etc. These women exist, and these experiences happen. Not for everyone, of course, but they are not so uncommon that they shouldn’t be factored into decision making.
As a PP has said, it’s very difficult to find statistics relating to outcomes for elective c sections where there are no complications. I am told by the consultants I work with that overall, even taking this into account, c sections are marginally safer for babies and marginally less safe for mothers than vaginal birth. In multiple pregnancies, c sections have better outcomes than vaginal birth.
The midwives from my local unit recently did a birth debrief for a woman whose child is now 25 years old, as she’s still traumatised by it.
Please don’t use the term “silly” about legitimate concerns.