An article on Twitter the other day got me thinking about the lack of information given to parents in waiting at antenatal appointments, and classes, surrounding caesareans. Now, planned or not, with one in four births now resulting in this mode of delivery, I think parents to be need to be made aware of every potential outcome of childbirth – and that you can’t always expect everything to happen the natural way.
Please, don’t be fooled into thinking that I am advocating for c-sections, because I’m not. I believe that if you can give birth naturally, you should and that a c-section should purely be reserved for those with qualifying medical conditions, that require you to have one, or for situations where it’s the safest possible way to deliver the baby.
I just don’t believe parents are well enough informed that this is a very real and very possible eventuality, and surely to be prepared for that outcome is better than not having it in your birth preference at all. If you’ve read my birth story, or my post on my birth ‘plan’ you’ll know that I will now call it a preference, because plans do not always go to plan – and that is what we need to aware of, but surely knowing what you can expect, as a minimum, is better than being completely in the dark.
During all 3 of my antenatal classes, not once can I recall a conversation about the possibility of a caesarean and why I might need to have one. They were so focused around you definitely being able to give birth completely naturally, with very little intervention and very few drugs, that they completely forgot to mention that sometimes a caesarean is necessary and that it effectively should always be in your preferences as a last resort should you need to have one.
The first was more of an education surrounding the physiological changes in the body, and what our bodies do to prepare for childbirth. The second was a breathing and relaxation techniques class – definitely something I’ll be putting into practice during having my c-section though, again, they were never actually mentioned. I want to be able to feel I can allow my body to relax while everything is happening.
The third was a breastfeeding workshop where the lady running it assumed everyone would be able to breastfeed, but again with no mention of the effects of a caesarean on breastfeeding. I did breastfeed with Toby and intend to do so again, but can I expect it to be harder this time because my body isn’t naturally going through all the chemical changes that would usually happen during natural labour and childbirth? Is it delayed? Do I have to do anything extra? Who knows, because I haven’t been told anything by any of my healthcare professionals.
Caesareans are major abdominal surgery and should not be considered the ‘easy option’. They carry not only physical implications, but emotional ones too. If women fail to prepare for this possible outcome, it could be hard to process mentally. Not only can you feel like you have failed at childbirth, but as a woman. You can end up telling yourself your body doesn’t work the way it should, but this is not the case!
Personally, I have not had a caesarean but I am booked in to have one with my second baby, for medical reasons. It’s something I’ve had to process since being told that I am no longer allowed to have babies the natural way. It’s been really hard for me to come to terms with because I ended up with an assisted delivery the first time and felt like my body hadn’t done what it should have known to do naturally, and I really had set my heart on doing it myself with no medical intervention.
While I’ve been booked in, nobody has actually gone through the actual process from start to finish about what I can expect to happen. When do they do this? If you’re an elective, do they leave it until the week before at the pre-op appointment to tell you? Surely that’s not enough time to process what’s about to happen? It isn’t for me.
I put it to Twitter yesterday to find out what other people thought about the lack of ‘education’ there is about caesareans and why they’re not mentioned to us before. You can see some of the responses I had from other mums who feel there isn’t enough information being delivered to us ahead of having a baby throughout the post.
I can completely understand why they don’t want to seem like they’re encouraging caesareans and it’s one of those roads that needs to be explored with a light foot. Lots of women will probably see it as an easy option and as a choice. Yes, the cost of carrying out caesareans are much higher than those who go through birth naturally, but this should not be a factor when it comes to caring for you and your baby. However, I do feel that information on caesareans, and the reasons behind them, need to be delivered to the parents in waiting – even if it’s just a basic knowledge.
By no means am I asking for a full on antenatal class just on c-sections but to have an all round knowledge of every possible birth type, with this procedure showing to be a last resort, can only enable us mums to feel less freaked out or mentally scarred as it were if our bodies are put through it. Of course, if there is a need for an elective c-section then more information can be fed to those individuals on a one to one basis.
I know that natural labours and births are what we would all love and like, as would the healthcare professionals, but it’s just not realistic! I know this post is quite higgledy piggledy but I’m worried if I don’t get it out I might just explode! What are your thoughts on information given ahead of childbirth about c-sections?
Jade x
I have had 3 natural births, the thought of a section terrifies me as I know nothing about them, all I can think is pain and long recovery time. It was suggested I might have needed a section at 7 months pregnant as my baby had an irregular heartbeat and might not cope with labour, no one said anything else so I worried about it for weeks. in the end it wasn’t needed but yes I agree there is so little information #maternitymondays
I completely agree! I had an emergency c-section and was given about five minutes to process it. I was wheeled into the operation room in tears and panicking. I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone else. If they don’t care to talk about it then they should at least provide literature on it and the opportunity to discuss it further. Well done for raising it. Found you via #MaternityMondays
I am like you and had a nvd first time and section second because of medical reasons and I agree with all of the above. We didn’t even get offered antenatal classes second time.
I agree with all you say but I believe no one can prepare you for birth no matter how you do it. Saying that, there are practicalities which need to be addressed,
Almost 12 weeks on, I would still prefer a nvd and if I have another will beg for vbac but our bodies make us forget so we will continue having babies 😉 #MaternityMondays
Completely agree with you that as much info as possible is best. Glad you got it out there and didn’t explode and thanks for linking it up to #bigfatlinky, I think we must have been lucky with our classes because all of the options were discussed. I’m shocked by the 1/4 stat. Hope you’re well 🙂
I can think of nothing scarier than having a c-section, especially an emergency c-section when you have no idea what is going to happen. I agree, it should be discussed. What little I know if from watching shows like ‘One Born Every Minute’ which are not exactly a medically comprehensive explanation.
#Bigfatlinky
Brilliant post – I had 4 natural births in the end but c-section was suggested and I was terrified #bigfatlinky
I think there is a,lack of education in all matters surrounding birth unfortunately. I knew I was having a caesarean from very early on but no one really discussed what would actually happen on the day beyond what I’d put on my birth plan
Great post Jade! Thanks for quoting me! I can understand why someone would be absolutely scared of having a c section as you’ve already stated, there’s simply not enough information + advice about it. I’m not sure why no one has ever discussed it with me, but it’s only right to offer it – regardless of whether the person has the choice or not, as no ones birth ever goes to plan. The doctors gave me 15 minutes to give birth. Although I didn’t end up having one, I was still put on the list for an emergency just in case. Having a c section does not make you less of a woman, or a mother! The important thing is, as long as you and babe are happy, and healthy – that’s all that matters! Thanks for sharing! Good luck xx
we had a very brief chat about csections in our nct class but it was very brief! It mostly consisted of the men going outside and playing with some playmobil and the ladies having a discussion of what I cannot remember! I didn’t know at the point that little man was breach – had I have known I may have needed a csection I may have asked for more talk about it. Interestingly, out of eight of us in the class, there were six csections – mine was the only elective, the rest were all emergencies and pretty unpleasant stories. You will be fine lovely, I promise 🙂 xxx
I have had 2 elective c-sections…..My first was breech and my 2nd they said she was breech until I was 38 weeks. By then I had mentally prepared myself for a c-section. I should have gone for a normal birth….I had a terrible time. I wasn’t numbed properly and since then I have suffered with my back. So much so that I can’t walk much and when I do I end up in agony.
I was never really told about sections…..Even when I told I was having one they just skimmed over the details. More information should be provided….
Found this via #willynilly
I had a slightly different problem. My NCT class did mention C sections and go through what would happen but it was done in a way that it felt like a threat – what would happen to us if we didn’t do natural birth probably. Not at all helpful when I ended up with an emergency c section after a dreadful labour.
I definitely think C sections and all interventions should be covered fairly in antenatal education, no one can ever truely predict how a birth will go and it’s hard to take on information and make rational decisions after hours or days or labour. Better to at least think about it before hand.
One thing I can answer for you is about breastfeeding. My second baby was born by planned c section and breastfed very easily. I’d been told by some that not going the the birth process could make it problematic but when I told my midwife this she said it was utter nonsense.
SBx
I completely agree with you. My first labour ended in an emergency caesarean and was quite a traumatic experience. I didn’t even consider that I may have ended up with a section all throughout pregnancy as like you say, no one ever explains that labour can sometimes end this way.
With my second baby, it was a completely different experience. Because id already had a caesarean, albeit an emergency, they assumed I already knew what was going to happen. I didn’t have a clue! Luckily I was actually given the option of an elective or vbac and I chose to go natural. I was booked in for a caesarean in case she didn’t come naturally, but I wasn’t told anything apart from what date and time to turn up.
I definitely agree that more information should be provided to expectant mums – especially being made aware of the process of electives & emergencies!
Thank you for quoting me – although apparently I was wrong! Hubby said they did do a brief session about c-sections in our ante natal classes (we had 4 in total – the other 3 were the same as yours). He said that they explained who would be in the room with you – doctor, anesthetists, nurses, midwife etc…. but I honestly didn’t remember it! I may have blanked it out because I was planning on a homebirth. For me I think the lack of information came from not knowing when a c-section would be offered i.e. how long would they leave me to try and deliver, when would they whisk me to the operating table? All I remember now is that I was induced on 10am Thursday, but by 5pm on Friday I had only dilated 3-4 cm so they then offered the c-section or offered for me to try for another 2 hours. Because of that experience I feel like I’m better informed this time around.