I agree, some C-sections are unnecessary. I agree, some doctors schedule them needlessly. I, however, have had 4 C-sections. This was the only way by which I could safely hold my babies.
With my first pregnancy, the plan was to have all things happen the way God intended. I was scared out of my mind, but knew I could do this, as many women had done before me. Then there was the 39 week sonogram revealing an (estimated) 11 pound baby, whose head was SMALLER than her belly. My well-seasoned and highly respected doctor, admitted that she did not feel comfortable safely delivering such a large baby. She also said, "Once we get the head out, I am concerned about getting the rest of her out." I whole-heartedly agreed. We scheduled the C-section for the following morning because the next available date was the following week, putting me closer to going into labor.
Being "scared out of my mind" escalated with the thought of surgery. The only other surgery I had was getting my wisdom teeth removed. Now I was to be completely numb from the chest down, while my 11 pound baby was to be taken out of my belly. That night, while packing and trying not to panic, a dear friend called, who had a little experience in the area. She had several C-sections due to complicated deliveries. She completely put my mind at ease, reassuring me that there was nothing to be concerned about, and everything will happen very quickly.
And she was exactly right. While this was far from my "Birth Plan", my 10lb 7oz baby girl was delivered safely. As a result, her shoulder was lodged in my pelvis, which would have made a regular delivery very dangerous for both of us.
I have since had three more C-section deliveries. I wouldn't have chosen to deliver any of my babies this way, however large infants and scar tissue are a serious combination. Too much pushing on scar tissue can cause many more problems, which I did not want to experience.
I have 4 beautiful children and a nice horizontal scar as a result. In a way, I feel sad that I was never able to experience real labor or contractions. I was not allowed to cuddle my babies immediately after birth (our hospital was not large enough to accommodate this). Yes, I missed out on these birth experiences, but I have four healthy babies. I nursed and cared for my babies while recovering from major surgery. They made me a stronger and braver mother than I could have ever thought I could be.
Leah
For more info on C-section Awareness, visit http://www.ican-online.org/
"The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a nonprofit
organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing
unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean
recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)."
organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing
unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean
recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)."
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