I am a provider who delivers babies. Women need to know that the old adage of "once a c-section, always a c-section" is making a strong comeback. Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) used to be an option for many women with a history of prior cesarean section birth(s) but stricter regulations secondary to fears of lawsuits and litigation are eroding this option for almost all women in the US. So... women who desire a cesearean section for a first delivery need to understand that they may indeed not have the option to even attempt a vaginal delivery in subsequent pregnancies. Women who believe in VBAC, as many doctors and midwives do despite the pressure to discourage or outlaw them, should make themselves heard. Keeping VBAC a viable option is a movement that needs to come from women and families who desire that option. If you want it, you need to say it- LOUDLY and OFTEN. Thank you.

my motto is medically necessary cesareans only, and i think it should be the motto of doctors also. i think its terrible that they are so afraid of lawsuits and dont believe in womens bodies being able to birth babies like God intended. They like to do c sections because it's conveient, they get more money, and they dont have to risk their malpractice insurance. i had a coerced c section with my first child and i'm very upset. my whole reproductive future has been altered by this one decision this doctor made. in addition to having an impossible time finding a truly vbac supportive doctor, i've had 2 miscarriages. are they related i just dont know but i dont think anyone should be having a c section unless they really need it!

Some facts about uterine rupture that are relevant to the discussion of cesarean section by maternal request. The rupture of a scarred uterus can occur at any point in the pregnancy, not just in labor or during birth. Also, uterine rupture is a risk in the unscarred uterus as well, one that can be increased by the use of induction methods such as the use of cytotec ( a common practice) and augmentation with pitocin (likewise common).

I was present for all three days of the NIH State of Science Conference on Cesarean Section by Maternal Request. It is important to realize that there are NO studies comparing outcomes between planned cesarean section by maternal request and planned vaginal delivery and that nearly all of the data evaluated by the panel used proxies which were nearly all determined to provide weak evidence. Further, data does not indicate the level of safety of spontaneous vaginal delivery but a more generalized category that includes pitocin induction and augmentation, varied labor management practices, and sometimes instrumental delivery with forceps or vacuum. There factors GREATLY influence the safety and outcomes of vaginal delivery. Also, it was actually stated in the conference and the press conference that there is no data that clearly indicates whether there is any increase at all in the number of women requesting cesarean section becasue there is no coding mechanism in place to identify them. The "Listening to Mothers 2" survey reflects a much different picture, but it was not reviewed as evidence because the "gold standard" of research is the randomized controlled study which does measures hard outcomes only. the statement that planned C-section improves hemorrhage rates is also flawed because the standard definition of hemorrhage for vaginal birth (500cc) is different than that of operative delivery (1000cc), an unequal standard and therefore a skewed comparison. I encourage women to be informed by going to the NIH website and reading the draft statement from the committee which is available now.

My first daughter was a planned birth center birth. After her heart started skipping beats, I fought with the midwife to transfer for the cesarean. My second daughter was born at home, unassisted, as was my third, just 5 weeks ago. Both unassisted births were planned that way because of the VBAC climate where I've lived, and the regulations not allowing midwives to attend homebirth VBACs. Where's my right to choose where and how to have my babies?

In the end it's about money, fear and lack of education. Doctors want the money that c-sections bring and they fear lawsuits. Women are not educated about their options and what the truth is. The truth is that hospitals are not the safest place to have a baby, unless you are high-risk, and then thank god for them. When I tell women that, for healthy women, it is safer to have their baby at home or in a birth center with trained assistants (midwives!) they look at me like I'm crazy. But it's true! We have been so brainwashed by the medical community that we believe that they are the best equiped to handle a normal delivery. On the whole, this is not true. Medical doctors are great for emergency situations, and unfortunately not so great at attending childbirth, a normal process that mainly requires that you let it happen.

Of course, there are risks associated with any kind of childbirth. If a woman takes care of herself, eats well during her pregnancy, drinks lots of water, and is educated about the normal processes of labor so that when they start to happen she doensn't panic and start yelling for the pain meds, there is virtually no reason why she can't have a normal delivery with little or no intervention. Another important factor is that she must have the support that she needs. She needs to have people around her that are famalier with the processes of labor and delivery that can be an emotional bolster when things start getting tough for her. She also must be allowed to walk around, get in any postion she wants to, eat and drink, moan, bellow etc. etc. during her labor. Most of these things have been taken away from women. Midwives allow women to do all of these things and on average have a c-section rate of about 3%. (Keep in mind also that they screen out high risk people from the very beginning.)

A recent study (see article at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060327/hl_nm/mothers_dc ) shows that “In developed countries, the leading causes of women dying during childbirth
are complications related to Caesarian section delivery and anesthesia.” And another study discussed in the May issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology revealed that “Babies born to mothers who opted for c-section were nearly four times more likely to be admitted to advanced care nursery” So why are we even talking about this? We know know the answer to the question. It’s not good for mothers and it’s not good for babies when a woman has an unnecessary surgical birth. Let's tell the truth, and stop implying that there is any question about the outcome of unnecessary c-sections. There is no actual debate.

The Dr.s where I live love to do C-sections on as many women as possible. They have alot of women with gestational dabetes who have C-sections because their babies are too large to be born vaginally. They don't even try to prevent this by treating the women with insulin or atleast having them check their blood sugar. I just had a baby in a town 30 miles from here because I didn't want to be forced into an unneccessary surgey. The Dr. I saw did treat my dibetes and had me keep track of my blood sugar. My baby was born at 38 weeks and weighed 6 lbs and 12 oz. not 10 lbs like she could have. I know that C-section babies don't get the fluid squeezed out of thrir lungs like a vaginal birth baby does. I also know that the Dr. makes alot more money for a C-Section. I think C-Sections should only be performed when neccessary-not for convenience.

HAHA! Informed consent. That's a good one. Women are not choosing so many c-sections on their own. They are scard into them by their ob's. And let's not forget all the unnecessary repeat cesareans....Many women find that on their charts it says their cesarean was elective, but they remember differently. Yes, they in the end signed the consent form, but where they truly informed of their options? Probably not!

Optional C-sections are, I believe, just a symptom of how we as a culture have chosen to live our lives. We eat food that is not nutrious (because it is faster and easier!), we drink water that is laden with cholorine and flouride, we go to doctors to fix our many ails when we should be looking at the food we are putting in our bodies (would you fill up your car with poor quality fuel and expect it to run effectively?) and how well we take care of ourselves. Most of us know what the right thing to do is...it's just SO MUCH easier to take the easy way out. And I am not excluding myself from this..every day I do things that I know are not good for me. So it is no surprise to me that many women today believe that c-sections are as safe as a vaginal birth. Whether or not you believe in a higher power, it seems that our bodies were created to function in a certain way..and if we do the simple things to take care of them, they will take care of us. This includes childbirth. 95% of women can give birth naturally with no problems if they are given the support, encouragement, education and attention that they need. With so much that we don't know about our bodies and how they work, how can we presume to say that we can supercide how we were designed to function and expect better outcomes? And unfortunately, as a country, we have poor outcomes for mothers and children. Yes, we are much better than the third world, but unfortunately, we lag far behind in the developed countries of the world when it comes to good outcomes for mothers and babies. In plane terms, this means that we lose more mother and babies that most of the other developed countries of the world. Why is this? This seems to make no sense...but if you look deeper it does. We use far too much technology and intervention in childbirth, a process that is designed to proceed naturally and beautifully. There is an amazing strength a woman gains from birthing naturally that she is stripped of when she is cut open. Of course, surgical deliveries are a gift when they save the lives of the mother or child, but they are barbaric when they interfer with a process that in most cases, can proceed naturally on it's own.

It's really a shame that so many women are opting for major abdominal surgery when their bodies are made to give birth without surgery.

One of the reasons I always hear is that they wish to avoid the pain of labor and delivery. For me, I'd much rather experience one or two days of labor and delivery pain with a few stitches, versus 6-8 weeks of pain and possible complications from having my insides cut wide open. Not only that, but think about how this woman will be able to care for a newborn. The first two days after my cesarean I was flat on the hospital bed unable to change a diaper, let alone get up to walk to the baby's bassinet when he was crying. I was totally dependent on my husband. I had major post partum depression linked to my cesarean because I was so helpless and felt so dysfunctional. I had to depend on others for so much during my recovery, and that wasn't something I was used to. I wonder if that would bother those who choose a cesarean.

One reason I wish I'd never had my first cesarean is that now that I'm pregnant again I wish to have a vaginal birth, and it's not as easy as it sounds. I found out this is called vbac (vaginal birth after cesarean), and there are restrictions on me because of my prior cesarean, and this is because of the restraints put on doctors and hospitals by malpractice insurance. Basically, the malpractice insurance companies say that the doctors and other staff have to be in attendence the entire time I labor at the hospital due to the less than 1% chance I might rupture. Because of this, the hospitals in my area don't allow vbacs. It's too costly to keep the required staff immediately available. So, I found out that in the end, the malpractice insurance company is deciding how I have my baby. The hospitals and doctors are forced to go by their rules regardless of the fact that a vaginal birth is actually recommended for me according to ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.) I have no say in what happens to me or my baby. I will be a mother of two under two years of age shortly, and the thought of trying to take care of both of them while recovering from major abdominal surgery is horrific.

I would have to say to those who think they would prefer a cesarean: be careful what you wish for. If you think it's easier, you're wrong. It's not easier on you and especially not any easier for your sweet, innocent baby. Do some serious research. Honestly, I wouldn't wish a cesarean on my worst enemy.

My first 2 births were vaginal.Than an etopic.My fourth I was in labor and they induced me with petocin. Iwent into shock .It ended up whats called Placenta abruptus. Which the end result was emergency c-section.After being induced with petocin the contractions went to fast. Iwent into shock and the placenta seperated from the uterus,then I hemoraged.In the process of the C-section the baby got cut on the edge of his eye. there was no time for puting me out or nothing. They would of lost both of us.Thank GOD for a fast acting doctor.He didn't wait for nothing. So all in all ,If you can go natural do it . Don't try something that may bring a risk.When Gods act of life is brought upon us in a little miracle It will come when he's ready. There's enough risk when a c-section is needed .Don't risk it to speed up lifes process.be thankfull to be able the chance at a blessed experience.

I believe that every woman should research what option she feels is best for her, discuss it with her doctor, and pending physician approval... to support her on the decision. I know people that have had vaginal births and required full on rectal surgery and also some that had major complications. I know people that have had c-sections and had no complications and some preferred their c-section to their first vaginal delivery. My point is any birth has risks via natural or c-sections. This world is about freedom and c-sections are legal. I have not had a child as of yet, but when I do I will research, discuss options with my doctor, and come to whatever conclusion I feel best. The only thing I can say to people is EDUCATE yourselves. It is your body and your baby. .. and not listen to opinions of strangers on message boards who think they can tell you what is best for you. Everyone's experience is different...every birth has risks no matter which way you choose. Educate yourself...knowledge truely is powerful.

I had four children. One vaginal with no meds, another vaginal that was induced with pitocin. One emergency c-section and one scheduled c-section.

Hands down, I prefer the c-sections!!! However, my doctor encouraged a VBAC; it didn't work out. My fifth? scheduled c-section again due to medical reason. Thank God! Whew.

I just had a catastropic uterine rupture in December. My son was stillborn. My previous c-section scar opened up. I coded and was brought back. I still have physical repercussions. While I still believe in VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)and a WOMAN'S CHOICE to VBAC or not...women are not being truly informed of the risk of a c-section. If they are scared of natural birth, they need to do some research. Most complications of vaginal delivery are caused by unnecessary interventions prescribed by doctors. The whole medical community needs a major overhaul of how birth is handled. Doctors are practicing defensive based medicine rather than EVIDENCE-based and are therefore risking the lives of mothers and babies, or the quality of their lives. When is the public going to listen and get enough!?? Does the c-section rate have to go up to 50% or higher??? If so, we will see more and more women with uterine ruptures, dying and losing their babies.

I had a scheduled c-section in October. For all I know, I could be one of these women that "elected" to have a c-section, as I remember signing a form that said my c-section was elective (I asked if insurance would cover it because of that wording). I was coerced into this c-section by a doctor when a late term ultrasound showed a big baby. My doctor told me that my daughter had a 20% chance of getting stuck and could die if I tried to have her vaginally. I have since found out that he lied to me by doing my own research of the medical literature. He even admitted that the reason for it was because he was afraid of a lawsuit if something went wrong. Now I am suffering from post partum depression and post traumatic stress disorder. I regret my c-section every single day.

I think more & more women are scared of a natural child birth. So they opt for a c-section. I don't feel that it's safe for the women or child if the mother is perfectly healthy & capable of having a natural birth. A lot more women look @ it as having a c-section is convienent. But it's not, you're down longer after a c-section than if you had a natural birth. I had to have a c-section, it wasn't planned. I was in labor for 27 hours & my body just wasn't capable of having my daughter naturally. I'm still going to try w/ my next child to have a v-back, but I have been told that it's dangerous because my uterus can rupture. That's the danger aspect. You still have no control over when you're body decides it's time to birth the baby. So if you've had a c-section the 1st time & are having a 2nd child, you're body could decide to deliver that baby quickly, you & your baby could end up in serious trouble if you're uterus ruptures or something worse. I feel that c-sections are only necessary for a medical reason only. I don't feel that doctors should give women options when it comes to birthing. If you can have a baby the natural way, then do it, it's better for you & your child. You heal quicker, have better breast feeding (because your body went through it naturally) and you don't have an ugly scar.

It can be a very risky alternative to vaginal birth. I almost lost my life when I hemorrhaged following a c section in 1988. I then experienced an intra abdominal hematoma approximately 10cm x 12 cm in my left pelvis. I developed an ileus and was taken back to the OR. In the five years following the c-section I had five more surgeries to clean up the adhesions I developed due to the bood outside my uterus. I still experience pain on my left pelvic area almost 18 years later.