CEASER VS NATURAL BIRTH

To the original poster:

Well I had an elective Caesar at 39+ weeks and the birth of my son was still absolutely incredible. I cried, dh cried, they took photos it was great. It was in fact fortunate I did as James had the cord wrapped around his neck.

There are a lot of statistics out there telling you what you should and shouldn't do but as a statistician I can tell you that it is very easy to manipulate a result with a selected sample set. The fact is that in my case a Caesar happened to be safer for my son than a natural birth. It is also a fact that an ELECTIVE Caesar is safer for you and baby than an EMERGENCY Caesar. Similarly a natural birth with no complications and a supported prepared mom is safer than an elective Caesar. But unfortunately none of us can see the future. So you need to pick the birth plan that you are most comfortable with and make sure that you have the support of your doctor and partner. But also make sure you are comfortable or atleast have researched what can go wrong and what the next steps will be. And lastly, when you have decided on your birth plan, tell anyone who disagrees with you where they can stick it

Ya you see, not even that could do it for me. After I told the midwife there's no way she's putting that drip in my arm and I then beg for a c-section she said - Are you aware that you will have to get an epi if you get a c-section??!! And I was like HUH oh ya, OK I don't want a c-section either! So she said, well then you must PUSH! And I said - NO WAYS! I'm not pushing! Shame she was getting annoyed with me. I didn't want a drip, didn't want a c-section and didn't want to push! So hubby was whispering - Vroutjie you must choose now, c-section, drip or push!

Jaylee I felt exactly like you did.

I wanted a natural birth but only after the gynae and DH PROMISING me that it would NOT HURT. So I had the epidural before I even felt a contraction. Wound up with a c-section and I definitely don't consider myself a wuss for either things.

Hell it was hectic. It was scarey. It was amazing!

Then a wuss i am Joli

The thought of me having to push a little person through my vagina was enough motivation to have a needle up my spine

I hate the term Cesearean section! It's a Cesearean Birth. Grapefruits are sectioned, Woman give birth!!

Yes Jaylee you are a wuss Just joking. Honestly birthing options are the same than parenting options. What works for one does not work for another. I'm shit scared of needles so there's no way they gonna put a needle in my back and that's the reason I never wanted epis, but on the other hand, I was 9cm dilated with both girls when I got to hospital, so I never really had a choice. I was offered a drip to speed things up with Megan but refused as I'm too scared of needles! I did however, beg for a c-section when it was time to push, but it was too late of course.

Ok so i have been trying really hard to avoid this topic, but can't anymore.

In the beginning i said that i do not judge and i still don't. My question is..I had a natural birth with both my kids, but how natural was it if i chose to have an epidural with both of them. Infact i opted for the epidural before i even felt really sore and couldn't handle the pain anymore. Does this defeat the purpose of having "natural birth" or will i too be judged as it wasn't as "natural" as it should've been?? I did not battle with pain, i did not wait for the pain to hit me full on, i said "pass the epidural and they did without question. I then layed there for a long time in actual labour, but not feeling a thing. Does that make me a wuss because i wasn't brave enough to endure atleast 5 hours of labour pains before opting for the epidural??

Just putting the question out there?