Impact of caesarean births on mother and baby

Kirst wrote:
2kidmamma you mention a friend who has a brain-damaged child due to a traumatic natural birth (you imply that this wouldn't have been the outcome had your friend had a c-sec). You say that her choice was due to her being "force fed how imperative natural birth is", but clearly her choice could also have to do with her not trusting the recommendation to have a c-sec, otherwise surely she would have had one.

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i am not really in any frame of mind to debate this topic any further without getting upset about it but Kirst,I just wanted to put you in the picture regarding my friend.

She has subsequently confided in me that it was a result of her not wanting to fail at birthing her child naturally due to pressure from her Midwife, friends and own mother that she point blank refused the C-sec when the Doctor warned her. Then when she wanted to turn back it was too late the and baby was not in a position to be removed via C-sec anymore. She regrets her decision everyday and wishes that she had only taken responsibility for her own choice in the first place and not what other dictated to her. She has to live with her decision. Now I know this is an extreme, it's just my personal experience and i thought i would view it.

I respect all opinions but also feel free to view my own. I as Misses Mom and Pro CS and natrual births and if given the opportunity I would have a natural birth. With my Cs's I was given very very good indication of the pros and cons of both and decided on a natural Birth. At 37.5 weeks I was told the cord was tightly wrapped around my babies neck and that we had to do a CS, when my baby came out she was Blue, she would never have made it out into this world naturally without an emergency C-section. Thank goodness Ihave a 'Wake Up" gyne whom I trust.

I am certainly not denying there are doctors out there who force C-sections on mothers knowing none the wiser and also find this atrocious. But again i say there are two sides to a coin and as was said earlier, we are all adults here and should be able to do our own research and investigate for ourselves and make our own decisions.

Misses mom you hit the nail on the head. I now know why I get so annoyed by this topic. It isn't because women choose a c section, but it is because some women (please don't shoot me, I know not all! Actually shoot me anyway, I am on good drugs) argue that the c section doesn't carry more risks when it has been proven to.

If you choose a c section be a proud c section mommy. You have your reasons and they are as legitimate as my reasons for wanting natural birth. I don't deny that.

Don't Denounce proven studies to support your cause, and that counts for all things in life.

I used to smoke. At the time I knew it was bad for me. I never said it wasn't, but I was happy to say that despite me knowing the risks, I was prepared to do it anyway. Try to find someone to fault you when you acknowledge the risks.

Good to be back.

ok my 2cents...

I am pro choice, I am a 2 x c-section mom who would kill to have a natural birth!
I was not bullied at all to have c-sections, I, with my husband, made informed choices to opt for nr 1 an ellective and number 2, an emergancy c-section. I personally think that women with the means to have and electiv c-section, should be informed enough to make the right choice, stop blaming Dr's for bullying you into a choice. If you dont trust your Dr, find a new one! Get a second opinion! You are grown women for heveans sake!

I also feel that un-biased info should be given. Dont give a mom set on natural all the horror stories! Why the hell would you do that. Pray she is smart enough to be senseble to do the right thing should the time come.
Same said, if a mom is set on a c-section, give her the facts, but dont give her horror stories (about your intestines being moved when they cut you open...)

Natural does not have to hurt! A c-setion will, no matter how strong you are. My labour never hurt, not for 18 hours! And I was in very little pain after my c-section, but I was in some pain.

Each women is differnt, so her choice should be made to fit her. Do NOT try justify why you need a c-section with false facts, be proud, tell people that you are having one because you want to. Dont say baby is too big (I doubt he/she is) or or or
If there is a liget medical reason, then yes tell people if you want, but why do you feel you need to justify, like you feel bad?

My first I had a crap pregnancy, I was not in the right frame of mind to even atempt a natural birth! (even though my dr offered my a trial labour)
But for my second I was in the right frame of mind and my body said no. But I have a surge of pride that I tried, and I may get it right the next time
My Dr could not stop apologising for the fact I had to have a c-section my second time round, but for us our Child was born, healthy and happy, and beautiful. And that to me is all that matters

And if my post makes no sense, sorry, I'm seriously sleep and sugar deprived

Flowergirl, I had an emergency c section at 4 in the morning. There was time. It would have taken 5 minutes. The emergency surgery that followed, there was time, however I was not in any frame of mine to understand it so that is understood.


The fact is that even in an emergency, it takes at least 10 -30 minutes to prep the theatre. There is time.

You are right of course, it should be discussed in the consulting rooms prior, but it doesn't.

Yes, it is extremely sad that some (and we should be careful not to imply all) gynaes seem to be "forcing" mothers to have c-secs. I agree with you Julz, this is a form of malpractice that should be taken very seriously.

Julz, I also think that in the case of an emergency c-sec, it's difficult to expect the gynae to explain all the risks to the patient. But maybe it should be done in the consulting rooms when discussing birth choices.

Kirst I think you make a very valid point that the moms that truly want a natural birth may be less inclined to make a good choice when it comes to the birth due to so many gynaes not giving women the correct information and encouraging c sections where natural births are possible.

What also worries me about the perception that most gynaes are too quick to recommend a c-sec is that mothers who want a natural birth are aware of this and so may not completely trust that recommendation, even if it is in fact necessary for mom's and baby's health.

2kidmamma you mention a friend who has a brain-damaged child due to a traumatic natural birth (you imply that this wouldn't have been the outcome had your friend had a c-sec). You say that her choice was due to her being "force fed how imperative natural birth is", but clearly her choice could also have to do with her not trusting the recommendation to have a c-sec, otherwise surely she would have had one.

The more gynaes "cry wolf" the less mothers are going to trust them and this can lead to very dangerous and tragic outcomes for mothers and babies.

I think that a natural birth is much safer for moms and babies if there are no complications or conditions that indicate a c-sec (not to mention the benefits to babies born in their own time, the physical effects of natural birth on their spines, the intestinal bacteria they get from the birth canal, etc,etc). I think gynaes should have their births audited and have to answer to the medical council for high c-sec rates (ie recommending and performing unnecessary major surgery) and it should be illegal for medical aids to cover totally elective c-secs.