Have had 3 sections and would have gone for vaginal if i could. Lots of risks with c section, infection, pulmonary embolism, painful scar, general anaesthetic can be risky, i had an epidural and they had trouble getting needle in right spot ooooohhhh, dvts, takes a few weeks to get fully mobile etc. Having said that I did hold my babies a few minutes after they were delivered and was breastfeeding 2 hours later. I envied the ladies on ward who were packing to go home , while i still had my cathteter in , dvt stockings on and needed help to pick baby out of cot.

No, I wouldn't personally. I've seen my mums c-section scar and I don't like the look of it at all. I had 1 stitch and it caused me no problems at all, it was fairly uncomfortable going in.. but once you've pushed a baby out, thats nothing!
Fair enough if you HAD to have a c-section, but I don't think id ever choose to have one. Plus I feel that I have a very strong bond with my little one because I know it bloody hurt to push her out, im also very proud of myself for doing it.

@tinytoes - You're right, it is a personal choice.. but you do seem quite angry about the whole thing? It didn't even cross my mind that men don't go through this pain, so why do I have to?? I didn't want a c-section, because it's a natural process, why interfere with a good thing (thats my opinion, im not asking you to agree).

I'm not sure it really matters how you give birth as long as you are comfortable with the choice (I kept hoping for a third choice!). At the end of the day, the birth is such a tiny part of your childs life.

I can't say that I feel that I missed out on anything by having a c-section and I found the recovery was amazing really. Very quick.

I don't want a C-Section unless I HAVE to have one. I also don't want ANY drugs (I hate the way I feel on any sort of medication). I HATE needles so I darn well don't want anyone putting one into my spine, ack..OW!

well im glad it was quick for u it took weeks for me to get properly back to normal

i am hoping for a natural birth, am acting very naive about it haha but i dont want any painkillers etc but i am pretty open minded' you can go into labour and something doesnt go to plan and you may end up getting a c section anyways; im always up for giving thigns a go; it makes u strogner and i feel like u appreciate the pocess more; that being said it is totally up to u; the beauty nowadays is we have a choice so do what you feel comfortable with...

on another note, there is this "thing" out, i cannot remmeber what it is calle di have a leaflet somewhere round the house ill look for it and post again when i find out what it is called: but (here r the gory details lol) you put this pump thing up there; down there: if u get what i mean and gradually week by week you pump it more and more and it stretches 'down there'; which is a great way to do it cos during labour the reason you can "tear" down there is cos its a shock to r body. ur gina isnt used to stretching that much haha; god the details :P it doesnt make u loose or huge down there it just gets ur body used to haveing to stretch; and after labour you can use it again and it make su "tighter" you can do the pelvic muscle excercises on it. sorry bout all the gory details haha its about $170 but i think it would be soooo worth it; especially if ur going to put time and money into a c section i think its worth a go;
what eva u decide will be the best way for you good luck :P

I'm in no way angry but feel it is unfair if someone should have a c section that they're made to feel that they've taken the soft option or not experienced true child birth so their way was somehow inferior. I have known mothers to be a little smug about the way they managed to swat and push adn be heros for days on end.
And I'm in no way angry with men, far from it!! I'm delighted my boyf has given me this little miracle. it was just a point - they're full blown parents without pushing, so if a lady so chooses then so be it.

If we're talking about nature then maybe we shouldnt have drugs, no gas/air, no epidurals. etc, and I think we should appreciate all that modern medicine can offer.

Basically, to me it's just a way to get out your baby and into your arms. Whichever we choose is fine - after all it's about the baby, and not the experince / procedure.

anyway, that's my two pennys worth.

Im hoping for a vaginal birth. I wouldn't opt for a c-section, but if something happened which meant I HAD to have one, then I'd have to have it obviously.

A c-section is a massive operation and I would never opt for that. I've had one operation and my body went into shock and I really didnt like staying in hospital. It was a bit of a scary time for me and Im a bit scared of hospitals now, so I want to be in and out, if I can.

My midwife said if I give birth early I could be home that night with the baby, that would be ideal for me.

Im not scared of pain or any part of the labour, I've watched so many labour programmes that Im kind of looking forward to having my exprience.

Id rather have the labour pain and be up and walking about enjoying my baby than stuck in bed in pain for a week in hospital.

My body was made to make babies and my body will naturally do whats needed to bring my baby into this big wide world. So thats exactly what I'll let it do. Its totally natural and I wouldnt have it any other way.

Watch, now it will be breach !! lol

Men weren't exactly designed to have babies or deal with pain!!

I think my hubby went through enough trauma watching me in pain and not being able to do anything to help. and give him his dues he never left my side through 19 hours of labour.

I personally would never consider a c section unless there was something medical that meant i needed it, the human body is an amazing thing.

the man thing was a joke - it was an exageration. Ofcourse they werent designed to. I was. But I was also designed to hunt and to eat raw meat. I've turned my back on that.(Least for the next 9 months!...hehe)

Each to their own I say. No moralistic ideas should be forced on anyone else. I'd understand if a C section was danegrous for baby or Mum, but with a good doctor I've heard of many successes. And obviously I've heard of many successes of natural births.

If someone wants no drugs, then I wish them luck.. if someone wants 3 epidurals then fingers crossed - good luck to them... And if they want a c section then best wishes to them too.
Using modern science isnt a bad thing if you so choose.
As long as baby comes out healthy an mum is healthy and happy then that's all we can wish for,

Where I am we stay in for 4 or 5 days even for a vaginal birth. Which is perhaps a shame but also a good chance to rest up.