I'm not too posh to push, but what reasons are there for me to have a natural birth??

[generalunrest]

I had a CS with my DD1 who's now 8, and it was such a lovely experience. She was 16 days over the DD and they'd tried to induce me, but she wasn't having any of it so they had to lever her out (don't blame her it was Dec and cold ). I was calm, she was calm, and I stayed 3 days in hosp which I'm presuming I would have done with a natural birth anyway with her being my first and me not having a clue.

I'm now preg with DD2 and really noticing how the MW/consultant presumes everyone wants a natural birth, and how many people on here are really disappointed if they have to haver a CS, as if it's a failure of some kind.

I admire anyone who would choose the pain over a quick pre-bookable surgical procedure, and it's not that I'm 'too posh to push' (I don't even hold my pinky out when I'm having a cuppa!) but I just don't get it, can anyone enlighten me please?

Pregnantpeppa - the gut colonisation is that the baby picks up all sorts of beneficial bacteria from the birth canal, which colonise in the gut and are essential for immune performance and healthy digestion. Lactobacillus acidophilus being the main bacteria in the vagina I think...

I don't understand why anyone would choose to have major surgery for something that your body is designed to do naturally.
I had 2 natural births, the second was more natural than I intended as there was no time for any pain relief whatsoever.
After giving birth, I had a bath and walked back to the ward, having cleaned the bath as directed by the sign on the wall, on my own.

For me:
I have a ready made hole, don't want someone cutting me up.
My long natural birth prepared me for the thought that baby was actually on its way.
I am hoping my 2nd labour will be long too as a quick painless one would freak me out. I don't wish for pain, but I know I can handle it.
I guess like you I want my second experience to be like my first.

hmm - really difficult decision. Had an awful experience with EMCS 2 years ago, I'm now pregnant again and my worse case scenario is another EMCS, which I'd avoid at all costs. For that reason I'm inclined towards an ELCS because at least you know what you're in for.

I think a straightforward natural birth is undoubtedly far, far better than major abdominal surgery but some people seem more likely than others to have straightforward births and a bad natural birth or EMCS can be pretty horrendous. Good luck with your decision. If this is your last child and considering you have an 8-year-old I would imagine a planned CS is very tempting.

From an aesthetic point of view there's also the problem of 'overhang' with CS scars, I managed to avoid that first time round but I guess it gets worse each time?

It was interesting to read all these birth stories and experiences. What strikes me is that of course everybody is after a "good" birth, but that can mean very different modes of delivery for individual people.
I had
an induction which was fine
emCS which was necessary
and above mentioned VBAC which was fabby and which I am therefore hoping to have again this time round.
No doubt, it I had had a horrendous experience with "failed" labour and then CS, I would now opt for elCS.
I think we are lucky to live in a part of the world where an operative delivery in the vast majority of woman is a safe option. As are the even bigger majority of vaginal births. I just kinds know I would not want to miss out on the rush again (natural high addict, me ) and the much quicker recovery is the other reason from a practical point of view...
As others have said, 'tis a v personal decision and the vital thing is to have all the information about pros and cons, about what may go wrong either way and then be happy with your decision.

I'm really heartened to hear there are so many more positive experiences to go with a natural birth than just the pain of it, esp the 'high' afterwards although even with my CS I did get such a rush of love when I first looked at my DD little face that still hasn't gone away lol

I think the thing about having a good experience with DD1 and wanting to try and replicate this has hit the nail. But as we all know nature has a habit of doing what it wants anyway, so if I do have a natural birth I'll try not to panic and keep in mind all the plus points you've all been kind enough to post.