Following on from the breastfeeding thread -- I had an elective C for many reasons and got a lot of flack for it from all over (MIL, sister, nurses, etc). It was pretty much explicitly stated that unless I had 'a good reason', I should try NVD.
What do you think?
*I mean an elective C after 38/39 weeks
184 votes
coconut / 8475 posts
Nope. And I see a bigger difference between breastfeeding and c-sections too, fwiw
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
Nope, again. A very personal and individual decision.
And if anything, don't most people say that c-section recovery is harder? I don't think c-section mamas should get any flack from anyone whether by choice or circumstance.
pomegranate / 3779 posts
Again, not my body, so I don't have any say. If the woman and her OB are ok with it, then why not?
apricot / 347 posts
@CupQuakeWalk: Oh, I didn't mean to compare them, oh dear. I was just thinking about people in that thread talking about FFs getting flack and I was thinking about C-sectioners getting it too, that was my thought process. Hope it doesn't offend anybody!
grapefruit / 4278 posts
So I'll take some heat, but I voted yes... with a caveat. I think there are particular circumstances where electing to have a c-section is appropriate. But barring any medical conditions or complications I think that a woman should try to have a vaginal delivery. I agree with others that I wouldn't tell someone what to do, but will side-eye someone who elects to have a section out of convenience.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
I'm basically going to quote @hilsy85: from the last thread:
I PERSONALLY can't imagine a situation in which I wouldn't at least try to breastfeed deliver vaginally. And if it didn't work, it didn't work.
But I mean, I think it's hard for me to say what another woman should do with her boobs vagina. I think as long as she feeds her baby in some way doesn't try to force the baby to stay in the womb forever, then it's all good.
/endquote (strikethrough and added words)
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
I don't see them as the same thing (breastfeeding vs c-section), and I can't really think of many reasons why someone would choose a c-section (aka surgery) for their first without a medical reason, but I don't see why *I* should have a say in the matter.
I understand and support the discouragement of early elective c-sections, which you already said you aren't talking about. So, no I guess I don't think you should have to try for a vaginal birth. I just don't really know why you wouldn't-- but you (general you and personal you) don't have to explain your reasons to me.
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
@mrsjyw: @stine_ciro: agreed.
Some people have medical reasons for having a c-section that they don't feel like broadcasting to the world. Baby's safely delivered? Mama's ok? Good, that's all that matters.
GOLD / pomegranate / 3688 posts
@Adira: My DD regularly tries to climb back into my stomach... but I'm not forcing her!!! 
GOLD / pomelo / 5737 posts
Nope, although I can't personally imagine wanting a c section because I always read about how hard the recovery is. Still Im sure there are cases where vaginal deliveries are more difficult too. It's between a mama and her dr!
I hope she doesn't mind my mentioning her but @dandelion comes to mind.
papaya / 10343 posts
I think every mom should do what is best for her, and no one else should express an opinion on that. I've done a bit of research on various child birthing methods and I am personally trying for a med-free vaginal delivery. But my reasons for that are primarily that I think it will make recovery easier on ME. I think a c-section would be harder on ME. I don't think that I've read anything that makes me feel that the risks to a baby are appreciably higher with c-section vs. vaginal birth.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@googly-eyes: That's a good point. I CAN imagine a situation where I would elect a c-section, depending on how previous births had gone!
I should have said that I personally would want to try to deliver vaginally for a FIRST baby, and then depending on how that went might change my opinion on the next ones!
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
I think of this differently, because a c-sec is a major surgery and I could never imagine opting for an elective (but I know there are very valid reasons!) But again, not my body, not my family, not my place to judge.
kiwi / 661 posts
Can you define elective C-section? I think in general vaginal delivery is considered safer and would be my option if I could. Certainly if they thought the baby was large, if my hips were narrow, if my mother, sister, aunts and cousins all had c-sections I would keep an open mind about it.
It doesn't really affect me how anyone else delivers their babies, but I did think it was weird when I was nervous about a possible c-section my non-mother friend didn't understand. It is major surgery and not something I would personally jump into without medical reason.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
The only thing I feel strongly about is that the baby is given full opportunity to stay inside until it reaches full term status, unless there is something like GD at play. After that, I don't really care.
honeydew / 7589 posts
There are lots of cases where it is safer to deliver via c-section than vaginally (multiples, placenta previa, certain types of breech).
I will say though, it does bother me when a woman chooses to go with an elective c-section purely out of convenience. It does, just because there is higher risk of complication involved with a c-section and I just can't fathom accepting that risk unless you have an actual reason.
pomegranate / 3565 posts
As a mom who had an elective c section at 39 weeks, I voted no. It wasn't my plan from the start but when I found out how much DS was weighing I knew he was not coming out vaginally. Sure, I could have tried, but for me I think a c section was the safest and best choice for both of us. For reference, he was 10 lbs 9 oz.
Just this weekend, my SIL threw a dig at me that I had it easier because I didn't have to push him out. Hmm, you can throw that dig at me next time you push out a 10 1/2 pound baby. From what I remember, her kids were around 7-8 pounds.
grapefruit / 4823 posts
No.
With my second I had an elective (repeat) csection, and had numerous people IRL ask me why I wasnt even going to try to give birth vaginally. I was somewhat taken aback at how many people questioned my decision, as if I hadn't thought about it myself and was just making a casual decision.
coconut / 8234 posts
I feel that if there's no medical/psychological reason why a woman couldn't deliver vaginally, then yes she should at least try. A C-section is major surgery. But I'm only in charge of my body so it doesn't really matter what I think! I'm trying to imagine a situation where I would tell someone, "Well, I really don't think you should have that C-section." No matter what I think, I wouldn't tell another woman what or how to regarding her body and her baby.
pomegranate / 3350 posts
I think there can be many reasons why someone would opt for a C-section and personally I would rather just go ahead and get one if the chances were that I would need on anyway. No sense in going through labor and then end up with a c section if you can avoid it.
grapefruit / 4311 posts
I'm a little more opinionated on this one, but I still wouldn't even give it a sec thought of start to judge someone else's decision, but don't really feel great about elective u/s if there is absolutely no medical reason behind it - it is major surgery after all.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
I can totally see why SOME women have really valid reasons for wanting an elective c/s.
However, I do think there are SOME women that, in my opinion, choose to have a more invasive surgical procedure for what I consider less valid reasons. Things like just to schedule a better time, because they are sick of being pregnant, don't want to go through labor, etc.
pomegranate / 3890 posts
Not at all. and I would be offended t if someone questioned my decision to have a c section. I fought like hell to get my son here and I don't care how he was born. Baby #2 will be a planned c section.
pomegranate / 3791 posts
I don't think any reputable doctor is going to do a c-section when there's no medical reason - if someone is having a scheduled c-section I would assume there's a reason for it, and no one is under any obligation to explain their birth decisions to me!
ETA: I don't believe people should be allowed to elect to have a c-section early though. I recall coming across a very old thread where someone was planning on inducing at like 37 weeks a just because it was more convenient for her, and I was pretty appalled. Unless it's medically risky for some reason, you should have to wait until you're in labor and/or the baby is fully developed.
GOLD / pineapple / 12662 posts
As an aside, vaginal delivery is just as *major* as a c-section . . . both can be hugely traumatic to a body . . . the risks may be different, but they are--relatively speaking--equal, all things considered!
pomelo / 5791 posts
No, same answer as last post. Not my body, situation or choice.
I technically elected to have a c-section. I have detached retinas and my doctors fears the pushing would re-detach them. So, I was given the choice for either a c-section, or so many drugs that I wouldn't do any pushing anyway and they would remove him by vacuum or forceps or whatever, I agreed to have the c-section and my doctors thought that was the right choice.
coconut / 8234 posts
@MsLipGloss: True, vaginal delivery is still major. Sometimes I wonder if I got lucky not having to push my baby out (even though I was pretty traumatized by my c-section). But I'm still in the minority on this poll, I voted yes.
honeydew / 7589 posts
@wonderstruck: Unfortunately that is not at all true. There are actually very few doctors who require c-sections to be medically indicated, most are completely willing to perform an elective c-section.
GOLD / pineapple / 12662 posts
@mrsjazz: My induction was miserable . . . 27 hours of active back labor . . . and to make a long story much shorter, I almost bled out. From my point of view, a section would have been just as tough . . . although shorter and with the possibility of fewer complications/drugs!
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