Forced C-Section

[laundry_queen]

27. Oh yeah

I agree with a lot of what you say. And now that I have some distance from my birthing experiences (my oldest is nearly 17 *sob*), I can concur that is really is only the blink of an eye in a child's life and having your child here, alive and healthy is what really matters.

However, I did have PTSD after my first daughter's birth and I used to be really upset when people would invalidate my experience by telling me it didn't matter in the long term because my baby was healthy, as if she was healthy because of the experience instead of despite it, you know? I think we can have both - a good experience AND healthy babies. And I always used to think, when told that, "Do they think I would choose my experience over my baby?" Of course I wouldn't so the very comment I found insulting. All women want healthy babies. That's a given. I do think that a women's experience does matter though, too. It can have a huge impact on things like post partum depression and breastfeeding rates. I think there needs to be a different approach to maternal care.

As for making appointments for a baby - totally BTDT. My last 2 babies were scheduled C-sections. It WAS weird. (I didn't WANT the C-sections by the way, it's just the way it turned out due to certain circumstances that would take quite awhile to write out...) But, it WAS much better than 30 hours of labor and THEN a C-section! I think that's why women choose it - they are terrified of going through all the pain only to end up with a C-section anyway. And it WAS nice to plan it so I could have someone look after my other kids. After my wide variety of experiences, I try not to judge anymore too...but when I hear of someone scheduling a C-section 3 wks before their due date along with a 'mommy tuck' so they can avoid stretch marks...well....(rumors about celebrities, LOL).