It drives me nuts - all the snobbery over a natural brith being best, and a vaginal birth without painkillers beingthe ultimate.

I mean, we dont get any extra points for coping with pain? The babies arent much healthier and mroe likely to be geniuses?!
As the BBC said - you wouldnt consider having a tooth removed without drugs so why a baby?!

And WHY do certain women feel a c section is the devils work? That we're not real mothers or women until we've experienced true childbirth. I'm in no hurry to feel my perineum tear. I'm in no hurry to feel contractions as if I'm being squuezed by 56 sumo wrestlers. Or to force out a water melon.

There is always a slight snobbery or hoitey-toitey-ness about birth - that you're a better person if you undergo a natural childbirth. And you get extra bonus points fr a long labour and lack of drugs.

Well I for one would like to poo-poo that idea.
I think we're never failures - wether we choose c section or drugs coming out of our ears. For me as long as baby is out and healthy then that'll do me.

I could endure birth without any pain relief, but I dont believe I'd receive any medals for it. It wouldnt be added to my CV - "This lady has endured extreme pain so must be a super-MuM". It wont make me a better person, I wont suddenly become more popular or worldly wise. I wont be thanked by the child in years to come. My OH wont love me more. I wont be given a round of applause or be put at the top of a league table.

We're all creating a baby. Thats the main thing, not how we choose to bring it out into the world.
In the grand scheme of things the birth is a small factor.


I get quite wound up by the natural "hippy" mums who claim child birth is wonderful and magical. sorry but I dont get it. Receiving a baby in your arms is the magic as far as I can see. The rest is just a way to get it there.


so there, thats my tuesday rant...phew!

Don't worry I hear ya!

I don't believe the method we choose for birth is any reflection on what kind of mom we're going to be.
Giving birth isn't being a parent it's a few hours at the beginning. Staying up with your child while they're sick, helping them with their homework, loving them each day, watching them grow. That's being a parent!

I don't listen to anyone who tries to tell me what I must do.
As for home birthing. Or birth without pain relief. If women want to do that then let them. It's NOT me. And I don't appreciate any of them telling me how much better it is. Personally I think being in a clean hospital surrounded by people who know what they're doing is better than being at home. And I'm all for pain relief instead of sitting there suffering. The technology is there. Why not use it. I'm not for the whole "I am WOMAN!! Hear me roar!!!" BS.

I have nothing against you wanting a C-Section.That doesn't make you a bad person. I'm not going into hospital with that NOT being an option.I'm going into hospital open-minded. I don't know how my body is going to react to the pain. I don't know if natural will be possible. As long as I have my healthy baby with me in the end that's all that matters. And if that's only going to be through a C-Section then so be it!!



P.S: the "hippy" moms drive me nuts too lol

I have nothing to add. Well put. Until someone has been there I think they should not berate others. By all means have an opinion, but keep your options open.

I really couldn't give a toss on how anyone else decides to have there baby, c-section, pain free, drugged up! Its all down to personal choice and preference. I don't think any less or any more of anyone opting for a specific type of birth.

All i am bothered about is having my baby safely and as easy as possible. So i will do as i am advised and have whatever drugs i am advised to have by the professionals, i have never given birth and don't no what to expect or whats normal.

Yeah Im also with you, after a chaotic birth last time, ending in an emergency section, I am definetly not holding back this time on any pain relief etc for the sake of having a natural birth.
Im not sure why some people think its so much better to be 'natural' As long as the baby is healthy, and the mother is healthy, does it really matter? If people can manage without pain relief, then all power to them, but it doesnt make them any better/worse than me, who may need an epidural, possible section.

So Im with you tinytoes, the snobbery is daft

I always say "Until you walk a mile in someone else's shoes." Every pregnancy, every delivery and every person is different.

Great post and I agree wholeheartedly!

I'm having a natural birth, and I don't think that it makes me any better than anyone that chooses not to. What I don't like is people making an uninformed choice.

America has a totally different view on giving birth than the rest of the world. We have a the 2nd highest newborn mortality rate and the highest rate of c-sections. There is a correlation between the two. The other problem is that drugs in OB have never been carefully studied. If you look throughout history and the drugs they have used, you will see that it's not until thousands of babies are born with defects that they decide to discontinue the use of drugs. Also, they are suspecting that their might be a correlation between the use of epidurals and the rising incidence of ADD.

Whatever birth you plan on having, I highly recommend you watch the movie, The Business of Being Born. And do your research. People spend more time researching the stroller they are going to buy than they do the birth they are going to have and the effects on both the mother and the child.

Be informed, that's what bothers me. Doctors don't know everything.

I agree with you completly and it was well said!

I feel as i have to explain why i am getting a c-section to others and go into detail as i do get looks when i say i may need one and feel im being judged

But ive learnt to hold head up cos aslong as i am a great mother the birth shouldnt have any impact on anyone as its MY experience

But again well said!!

haha, i have nothing to say but


GIMMIE ALL THE DRUGS YOU GOT!!!!

I wont be having an epidural, not cos im a snob but i just dont like the idea of a needle in my spine.

I agree with Holldoll, people should do their research. I did and decided that a home birth was best for me, as it turned out I needed a c-section, so I've experienced the whole range lol. I should say that being judgemental can go both ways - eg I am not a hippy mum - NO ONE has a right to judge the way you choose to give birth, you go with what is right for you and your baby whether that's at home by candlelight or in hospital by c-section.