If you were planning a home birth but had to have a planned c section...

[MadameCheese]

...for medical reasons, would you be really upset? I planned a home birth but ended up being induced. It was a very positive experience and I don't feel cheated/disappointed in the slightest. I'm just glad we were both well.

Well, I was quite miffed for a while.

It was because the baby was feet-first, and they insisted on doing a cs the next morning (I was 38.5). I wondered for ages if I should have gone home, and waited a week or two. She might have turned. (The docs said she might have poked the cord out with her foot and suffocated herself, though)

It was wondering whether we made the right decision or not, that really bothered me about it all.

I planned a hb for dc2, as well, and had another cs - for placenta previa this time. Now that one I was fine about, because I know it saved our lives.

But still, I probably wouldn't have had previa, if I hadn't had the first cs ...

I planned a homebirth with my first, but ended up with an emergency c-section under general anaesthetic.

At the time I was very upset, but as time passed it became less significant.

As you say, a healthy baby (and mum) is the most important thing.

I planned a home birth for DC1 but ended up with an elective section because he was oblique and I did feel very cheated. I was determined to have a VBAC second time around so I could get my natural birth (though in hospital because I had a PPH during my section). That didn't go to plan either - ended in a crash section and my baby had to be resuscitated and transferred to neonatal intensive care in a different hospital. I don't feel at all cheated this time; I'm just very grateful that he survived.

But if you initially wanted a home birth and then were told early on that a c section would be the safest and only real option surely you'd get your head round it? Why should that turn your pregnancy into a bad experience? Thank you for your frank replies ladies.

No experience myself but my friend had 2 hb and the third by c-section for medical reasons. She has found it quite hard to come to terms with as it was such a different experience to the other two and feels as though in some way it wasn't as positive.

I would be happy that my baby was healthy and that they had identified that I needed the c section and grateful for medical science.

However I would be upset / disappointed that I did not get my home birth yes as would see it as a much better experience and what I wanted.

I think the problem for many, is that they don't have great experiences, and with hindsight research discover that in fact their medical birth was unnecessary, or at least, if they had possessed all the facts they would have chosen not to go through with it.

And their aint no medical reason on earth that I'd ever agree to an induction, - sorry.

I would like a homebirth and that's what we are aiming for but I am trying not to be too fixed on having that itself as the outcome. The outcome we are aiming for is a healthy baby and a healthy mother, so whatever has to happen can happen. That includes an induction, for which there are some very good medical reasons to have one.

I don't agree there are good medical reasons for an induction - sorry.

I wasn't planning a home birth but I still felt incredibly cheated when I was booked in for a section for previa.

It didn't last though. Probably helps that the section was a very positive experience.

StarOfValkyrie, medical evidence suggests otherwise whether or not you agree, which is why I will (should my midwives suggest one) be asking them why it is needed and, more than likely, following their expert advice.

I had to ditch hb and go for cs for medical reasons. No other choice as he would definitely have died and I might have as well. Disappointed but not that traumatic at the time, morphine helped a lot but then was so focused on helping my son live that the birth didn't seem that important. Did have awful recovery though and was pleased managed VBAC next time.

What did annoy me is that having had a cs limits your choices next time from their perspective and they try to scare you into medical intervention again by overplaying the risks of uterine rupture.

StarofValkyrie - what are the options for a mother with ruptured membranes who has shown no signs of starting labour 5 days later?

Sorry, should have clarified, that I don't agree many of the reasons given are good medical ones.

For a mother with ruptured membranes it is still possible for the pregnancy to continue safely. If the baby or mother is not at risk of course.

If the baby IS at risk, a c/section would be more sensible surely!

There are VERY few sound medical reasons why an induction should be performed. Medical evidence DOES NOT suggest otherwise. Policy and protocol are not based on evidence, nor is much of mw's training.

Are you saying that you think a c section is preferable to an induced labour that might result in a c section?

Mother and baby are both at risk if membranes are leaking/ruptured.

Mother and baby are only at risk if they are at risk.

And a planned c/section is always safer than an emergency one.

Inductions are rarely sucessful unless the mother is showing signs of being close to labour starting, so why not just let it start?

So, there is sometimes no risk if membranes are ruptured but labour hasn't started within 24/36 hours?

Many women in this situation are induced and have normal deliveries. Are you saying they should all have elective c-sections instead?

I'm saying they should be allowed to have the safest delivery medically. That is very often NOT induction, which is often banded about as the solution without evidence to support it.

There are arguments for all kinds of medical interventions that aren't neccessarily good for mother or baby, but on balance are the safest option. Induction can be one of them, but in actual fact is rarely medically required, and often started in situations where the outcome of a c/s is very high indeed. Women should understand THEIR individual risk of this, as a planned c/s is safer than an emergency.

Women who are induced successfully are 'usually' very favourable to the starting of labour.

Mebranes broken alone, is not sufficient reason for induction.

My friend was induced due to pre-eclampsia, actually I think it became eclampsia and that's why she was induced.

She had a 6 hour labour, second stage consisted of 2 pushes. She was 36+4 at the time.

Surely that was a good medical reason for an induction?

Well my induction was fab and it made for a rather interesting and enjoyable experience . TBH I can't really see how my DH would have coped with the clean-up after a home birth!