Birth, The American Way

Both my boys were delivered via c-section (19 1/2 months apart). My first was an emergency, as I was in labor for 3 days and did not progress past 4 cm. His heart rate was also dipping. My second was born c-section and not VBAC as I developed an umbilical hernia and it was risky to chance a normal birth. Am I disappointed that I didn't have natural births? You bet - but had I not, I'm sure that I'd be having other things to worry about than having been cut open.
I can't believe these Hollywood and music stars having elective c-sections. It hurts like hell to recover, and I think it's the "lazy" way out. To me it's certainly not a cool thing to do. Medically necessary - yes. But "cosmetically"? - no way!!!!!

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I do believe I start most of my comments with the following word: "OY" People, there are good reasons for "natural" childbirth. There are good reasons for "assisted" or "augmented" birth. There are good reasons for surgical intervention. There are even good reasons for scheduled c-sections. What there is no good reason for is undue danger, stress, pain, medication, or expense for any party. I think that is the whole point. I think we've come to believe as a society that everything is open to discussion. Here's one truth there is no way to get around: getting a kid from womb to world is gonna hurt. Period. I've had two kids, got another coming in a couple months. I had a 38-hour labor with the first that would have been a c-section at the first blip of my daughter's heart rate. I made the mistake of going to the hospital too early. They felt the need to augment my labor with pitocin, which made for very painful contractions and made it very hard for me to relax. I had an epidural the second I was 4 cm because it took 26 hours to get there and I had 2 more to progress or go under the knife. With my 2nd, I had a 55-hour (no kidding) labor, had to good sense to stay out of the hospital and on my feet for as long as I could, did fine, and delivered 2 hours after I got to the hospital with no augmentation. That said, I have had more than my share of friends with horror stories about baby getting stuck in the birth canal, even with full epesiotomy, breaking baby's collar bone, only to shove baby back up the birth canal and have a c-section. Or of a woman who has a rare allergy to most anasthetics and narcotics, so she knew drugs would have to be used in a life-or-death situation only--because there was a good chance she WOULD die, even with proper care. Or of a woman attempting a VBAC only to have her uterus rupture, and her life and her baby's saved by the quick actions of the doctor literally grabbing a scalpel and cutting the baby out of her, nicking the baby's shoulder in the process. SOOO....there is a place and time for pretty much everything, when it comes to childbirth...EXCEPT DOING THINGS STRICTLY FOR CONVENIENCE. There is nothing convenient about having a baby. Want convenience? Get a goldfish.

The article stated that everyone agrees C-section is neccessary in certain cases. However, I agree that the perception people have of birth, more of a medical situation than a natural procedure, needs to be more open. I have always thought hollywood has been a little over the top with birth scenes. It can be a good laugh, but it does change people's perception as well. I believe people use the drugs too often and too soon; that they just assume that every birth needs an epidural, etc. That the pregnant woman has been indoctrinated to think it is necessary to have a successful vaginal birth. As I was sitting on a bench in the mall a woman sat down beside me and told me the first thing I should do when I got to the hospital was ask for those drugs, not to be one of those 'tough' women and try to do it natural! Well I didn't tell her I had no intention of using anything. Today, however, I would be more outspoken having gone through two births without anything. A few friends have said that their pregnancies had been moving along and the nurses had commented it wouldn't be long and then they received their epidurals and the labor seemed to just quit. I just don't think people realise they don't have to have one. Intervention can be neccessary, but it should not be the norm, the ritual. I had a low lying placenta during my first birth and a chunk broke off during a contraction. My water had not broken yet, so they did intervene to tear the sac to avoid undue stress. However, they wanted to brake my friends shortly after arriving just to hurry it along. Fortunately she was strong enough to say let's wait and it broke by itself within twenty minutes. I had another friend who started throwing up hours before and had a miserable birth experience, I do believe it became a c-section. To those who are having a normal pregnancy and are otherwise healthy I'd ask you to really look at non-intervention, it can actually make for a more comfortable birth! (Possibly a quicker one, and no unneccessary after effects. I have another friend who had pain for years at the spot in her back where she got her epidural.)

I had a C-section because I lost all the amniotic fluid and my baby was breach. That was not what I wanted but I didn't want to have a premature baby either, and it happened. We can't choose when and how will our babies be born. Having a C-section because it is convenient is wrong, very wrong.

oh come on now...so some people need and require c-sections, other do not want or need it, and some who don't need it, want it. just do what's best for yourself and the baby. not just what's easiest, or more convenient. i, myself delivered naturally,on 3 hours of sleep, no drugs or anything, to a healthy 8.13 pound baby girl, and it was tough. but my baby was worth it and i gave it my all that night. it was the most awesome sacrifice of my life and i'm proud of myself for doing so.

This is a culture where people think a woman should have the "right" to abort her baby, but not the "right" to choose whether she wants/needs a c-section or not.

If it weren't for a c-section, my twins and I would not be here. Thank you, c-section! I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I think this is all well and good if you can have a "normal" delivery. I tried twice and both times ended up having c-sections. My children are both fine and I did remarkably well (I left the hospital on the 3rd day after the c-section). Both my doctors and I agreed that a vaginal delivery was the way to go. Then I got gestational diabetes and had fetal distress with my first pregnancy, so that ended up in my first c-section. I tried for a v-bac with my second pregnancy, but again the diabetes returned and my daughter was about 10 lbs at birth. Being a petite woman, my doctors suggested that I would have a very hard time delivering vaginally, also because of the fact that she wasn't positioned properly. So that decided the second c-section. I was very happy with the outcome of both operations (healthy children), and I did not mind taking a bit longer to recuperate from their births. I feel that it was a good choice for me at the time, and I don't feel in any way guilty for not "going natural". I think this is a very personal choice for each woman, and each should not be pushed or coerced into going one way or another by their doctor, or a documentary, or society in general.

I had a vaginal birth with my first child, who is now 12. I had a c-section with my now almost 11 year old because my amniotic fluid leaked out and I did not have enough to turn the baby (she was trying to come out knee and elbow first). I didn't think I would ever have any more babies but I met a wonderful man and he didn't have any children of his own. I got pregnant and didn't realize there would even be a question of me delivering vaginally. I was told by the ob/gyn that I chose that I would only be able to deliver by c-section because of my previous delivery. I said that was 9 years ago!!! the way she explained it was that unless I had a perfect family medical history no doctor in my area would even consider a V-BAC. I resigned to the fact that this was my fate and stayed with that dr. for 6 months. But every day the thought would haunt me about me not having the right to choose how to have my baby, If a woman can choose whether she WANTS to have a baby or not, she should be able to choose HOW she delivers it. So I started to do my own investigative work on the risks and benefits of a V-BAC. The information I found was astounding!!! Especially if you have had a vaginal birth before, the possiblity of you delivering vagainally again are great!!! I looked into drs that were an hour away from me, I even looked into midwives so I could have the baby at home. I finally found a dr only 20 minutes away who would consider doing a V-BAC. I told him I just want the chance to TRY. If there is a complication and a c-section is necessary, then by all means we do it. But I really belived I could deliver vaginally if given the opportunity. I also found out that with a V-BAC the dr. has to be in the hospital for the whole delivery and not just come in and "catch" the baby at the end. I felt it was all about malpractice, not the individual. Happy to say that I delivered a healthy 8 and half lb baby on 9/20/06 and she was just perfect!! Thank you to that wonderful dr who gave me the chance to deliver the way I wanted to! I absolutley belive a woman should be able to choose how and where she wants to deliver (hospital, home, midwife, or MD) as long as mother and baby are healthy and happy!!!

THANK YOU! I completely agree. My 1st baby was a preterm vaginal delivery (still born due to extreme prematurity), my second baby was a fully natural full term delivery, my third baby was an extremely premature birth via C-section that was completely necessary. After having both low risk and high risk vaginal and c-section deliveries I see the need for both, but much prefer the vaginal delivery. I am wanting to conceive again but no one will let me deliver vaginally even though VBAC's are more successful when you've had a previous successful vaginal delivery. Some women have c-sections without complication, for me, however, the c-section took me 8 mo to recover from due to recurrent infections and other complications. For the vaginal deliveries I did need a few stitches but my recovery time was so much less. I keep praying that I will find a Dr. who will give me the choice to attempt a VBAC. Why should a DR tell me what I can and can't do with my own body. I do not advocate doing things that are not safe, but research has shown that as long as it is a normal low risk birth that attempting a vbac is safe. It saddens me that I won't be given the opportunity to have a vaginal delivery when I know how much I enjoyed my previous full term vaginal delivery. If I were given the opportunity and something went wrong then I would have no problem with the Dr. doing a c-section, the problem is not being given the option when all indications would show that for me a vbac would pose lower risks than a repeat s-section. Medical care needs to be catered to each individiual situation, but unfortunately many Dr.'s are not making the care as individually based as it should be. Every woman and every baby is different and they each need different care that suites their individual situation best. I think many mothers end up feeling guilty when their birth does not go how they want it to. Overcoming the sense of loss for a birth that does not work out well is difficult whether is is a vaginal or c-section delivery. Sometimes it is very hard for a woman to communicate their desires to a Dr. who does not have a lot of time to make the care catered to that specific woman. I keep hoping that there will be sweeping reforms to how medical care is offered to pregnant women so that all women are given adeqaute information about ALL types of births available to them, and explain what their options are if there are compliacations. Having a care plan AND contingency plan for the pregnancy and birth can help a woman know that she did everything within her power to give her baby the best ~ NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF BIRTH is performed. And knowing that you've done the best for your child leaves you guilt free and able to enjoy your baby.

THANK YOU! I completely agree. My 1st baby was a preterm vaginal delivery (still born due to extreme prematurity), my second baby was a fully natural full term delivery, my third baby was an extremely premature birth via C-section that was completely necessary. After having both low risk and high risk vaginal and c-section deliveries I see the need for both, but much prefer the vaginal delivery. I am wanting to conceive again but no one will let me deliver vaginally even though VBAC's are more successful when you've had a previous successful vaginal delivery. Some women have c-sections without complication, for me, however, the c-section took me 8 mo to recover from due to recurrent infections and other complications. For the vaginal deliveries I did need a few stitches but my recovery time was so much less. I keep praying that I will find a Dr. who will give me the choice to attempt a VBAC. Why should a DR tell me what I can and can't do with my own body. I do not advocate doing things that are not safe, but research has shown that as long as it is a normal low risk birth that attempting a vbac is safe. It saddens me that I won't be given the opportunity to have a vaginal delivery when I know how much I enjoyed my previous full term vaginal delivery. If I were given the opportunity and something went wrong then I would have no problem with the Dr. doing a c-section, the problem is not being given the option when all indications would show that for me a vbac would pose lower risks than a repeat s-section. Medical care needs to be catered to each individiual situation, but unfortunately many Dr.'s are not making the care as individually based as it should be. Every woman and every baby is different and they each need different care that suites their individual situation best. I think many mothers end up feeling guilty when their birth does not go how they want it to. Overcoming the sense of loss for a birth that does not work out well is difficult whether is is a vaginal or c-section delivery. Sometimes it is very hard for a woman to communicate their desires to a Dr. who does not have a lot of time to make the care catered to that specific woman. I keep hoping that there will be sweeping reforms to how medical care is offered to pregnant women so that all women are given adeqaute information about ALL types of births available to them, and explain what their options are if there are compliacations. Having a care plan AND contingency plan for the pregnancy and birth can help a woman know that she did everything within her power to give her baby the best ~ NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF BIRTH is performed. And knowing that you've done the best for your child leaves you guilt free and able to enjoy your baby.