52 replies to this topic

[Birdie07]

So I debated whether to post this thread. I actually started and then deleted and then got sick and decided to do it again. First off, I want to say this is not mean to offend anyone in any way! Informed choice is exactly what it says. It's your body it's your choice! I just want every woman to have the information before they make the choice. This subject is very close to my heart and I couldn't hold it much longer. I came to write this with so many BDW births happening lately and one post hit me. I won't write it here but it was something to do with convenience rather than a health risk and need.

So I just wanted to put a few links in here about C-Sections. There is this fear around childbirth that is instilled in us from our Doctors. What we need to remember is we are woman. Our mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers all gave birth. Back to the beginning of time we have given birth. It is a NATURAL process that our bodies are capable of doing. We have to trust our bodies to let us do this. C-Sections are MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY! There are many many risks involved. Now saying that, I'm not saying you should never have a c-section. Sometimes its for the sake and health of the mother and child. Heart rating dropping, baby is stuck, a major health issue that requires a doctor to act fast. Than by all means yes a c-section is required.

But there are risks for future pregnancies that doctors may not tell you. 2-4x maternal mortality, bigger chance of having a premie, higher infant mortality, more chances of breathing problems in the newborn, six months of recovery from major abdominal surgery, problems with breastfeeding, greater chances of complications like placenta accreta, previa, etc. in future pregnancies. Now doctors are recommending no more than 2 c-sections because of the increased risks in future pregnancies. It is also harder to find a OB who will deliver your second child vaginally if you had a previous csection. This is called a VBAC. These are all things to thing about before having a c-section. Not to mention recovery from a c-section is longer than a vaginal recovery. Not being able to lift anything heavy, driving, and pain.

Ok that said here are a few links for those interested. Again this is not to offend anyone. I hate even posting this. But it makes me sick to my stomach and I just want the information for those who want it. If you don't that is fine. All that matters is at the end you have a healthy beautiful baby! If you go vaginally or a needed c-section.

Cesarean Birth in a Culture of Fear
C-sections may be behind rise of preemie births - Kids and parenting - MSNBC.com
Childbirth Connection: helping women and families make decisions for pregnancy, childbirth, labor pain relief, the postpartum period, and other maternity care issues.
International Cesarean Awareness Network

If you want any more information please feel free to PM me. Or Mods if this against some rule I don't know about or too offending which I'm trying not to be you can delete it.

[Christine]

Can I ask why you feel so strongly about this? I thought you were a nanny...are you also a doula or midwife? If you don't mind sharing I would love to know why you are so interested in this topic.

Also I want to mention that my Dr. did discuss all the risks of both c-sections and vaginal births a while back and again when we went over our birth plan the other day.

[Birdie07]

I am not a doula or midwife but have many friends who are! I don't usually share this but I will. Since I've been with my now husband we've been ttc. I have alot of fertility issues so it's been pretty hard for us. Every single on of my friends and family members have been getting pregnant and it's been really hard for me. I haven't shared this information with my family b/c its hard for me to talk about to them. My mom ends every email and phone conversation with "we're waiting on our grandbabies". So in this effort I am reading every single thing I can on fertility and childbirth. I have gotten really into reading about childbirth and how I want to go about it, if I get pregnant. I have met many women and heard their stories on childbirth. Most have brought me to tears. How they felt cheated by the healthcare system and their doctors. It's made me an advocate for childbirth I guess. I don't know why really b/c I'm not even pregnant! But being a nanny I have watched so many newborns and children. I have lost count. Been doing it for 12 years! Children are my life I guess. Because I feel so informed on many aspects I feel like EVERY woman should have that information, instead of solely relying on their doctor. Some women have amazing doctors or midwives who are great. But some don't. This is ending up a novel so I'll stop. Maybe that helps?

[LadyCheese]

Thx for the info Calia. I delivered my daughter by c-section 5 years ago, partly by choice and partly bc I needed to. After many hours in labor, my Dr. informed me that the way the baby was positioned she may not be able to come out, etc, etc....I was exhausted and in pain and finally just told her to do a c-section bc I feared for the baby's health & because she led me to believe that its what was needed! I dont know if I had continued to push, would I had given birth naturally--I'll never know that now...but something about me just giving up and asking her for that c-section never felt right with me. I agonized over that decision for many months afterwards...different feelings and emotions that I rather not get into. I wish that my Dr would've been more informative about c-sects but she actually seemed like she wanted to do a c-section as soon as I was admitted; she kept bringing it up and FI and my mom were getting aggravated by her rushy-rushy behavior. She kept saying I wasn't going to dilate any more but she'll give me a couple more hours and I actually dilated fully...I think personally she may have wanted a c-sect all along bc its major surgery and it means more $$ in her pocket (IMO)...Plus she kept bringing up the baby's position, her shoulder, etc....and it didn't seem positive. I really wish I did have a Dr who informed me of everything (c-sect risks, etc), a Dr. who was more patient and willing and perhaps I would've made a different choice 5 years ago (by the way, she doesnt do VBACs either, she told me this after the fact actually).

[Christine]

Calia thanks for opening up, I am so sorry you are having trouble TTC. I worked in a fertility clinic so I know how hard this can be on so many women. Have you read Taking Charge of your fertility? I bought that and was charting when I got pregnant, I think it was an amazing resource to help understand my body and what it goes through.
As far as c-sections I don't doubt that many women feel the way that Lady Cheese does about c-sections.
Personally I watched my sister go through 18 hours of labor after her water broke before she was dialated, she finally got to a 6 with the help of a lot of pitocin which was incredibly painful. Her Dr. was anti-csection and kept telling her it was going to work out, but when she got stuck at 6, they finally agreed that the baby needed to come out, my sister was so worn out from the experiene and in the end the Dr. had to vaccume my nephew out of her pelvis because he was so stuck, he would have never come out on his own. He was a very large baby and my sister's body would not have been able to deliver him naturally.
So the moral to my novel is that many times its really the best thing for everyone involved and until you are in the situation your self you really cannot tell what you will decide to do.
Until a few weeks ago, my daughter was not turned properly and we thought we would be scheduling a c-section, personlly the risks of a c-section were something I was willing to take on over turning my child in utero as those risks out weighed the c-section risks.
That's the beauty of pregnancy and childbirth its all very different for everyone and everyone has a unique experience.

[Birdie07]

Yep. I have that book and am charting. We're trying dietary things too. And chiropractic. I agree with you. Every birth is unique. I'm not saying NEVER have a c-section. Sometimes it just has to be done. But I think the risks need to be known also. And the rise of unnecessary c-sections NEEDS to go down.

Lady Cheese. I am so sorry! And heres a huuuuuuuge hug!!!!!!

[Christine]

calia I just read about accupuncture possibly helping with TTC
Acupuncture may hike odds of conceiving - Pregnancy - MSNBC.com
here is the link, also this is not any of my business but have you thought of telling your family that you guys are trying and not to bother you about it, the extra stress they are causing you is not helping you at all. It might help to have their support, instead of keeping it secret.

[Birdie07]

I have tried to tell my sisters but when I told them they didn't talk to me for weeks. My mother had 7 kids and thinks all her girls have no trouble. I tried to tell her once and everything I said she had an answer for so I felt let down. I don't want to try again with her.

[Christine]

oh I am so sorry, that is not the reaction anyone is looking for. Well feel free to vent here, it may seem like all of us got preggo easily but I am sure there are other girls who are TTC as well and would love other girls to talk to. I also know that fertility friend has forums for support.

[Jessica]

Oh, I agree!!

I'm not anti c-section, but I personally would not opt to have a c-section unless it was neccessary. I won't go into my reasons, because I think it would be offensive to some of the girls who have chosen to go that route.

Have you read Pushed? I forget who it's by It discusses all the info you just listed. It's a pretty good and interesting read on how our country pushes c-sections as being safer when that's not always true. We have the highest c-section rate out of all the developed countries.