It’s caesarean awareness month and I thought that I’d write a post about it. As someone who is due to have a caesarean next month, just how aware am I about everything surrounding the procedure? I am one of those people who like to know the ins and outs of everything, so that I can prepare mentally as well as physically. However, although I know I am definitely having a caesarean and it’s going to be on a specific date, my pre-op discussion is only 8 days before.
The awareness month is designed to act as a campaign for a reduction in the amount of caesareans that women have – particularly those women who don’t need one, or won’t benefit from the procedure when they can birth naturally. The campaign also promotes VBACs (vaginal birth after caesarean) and recovery support.
There are always people who will elect to have a caesarean as their mode of delivery but I can’t say I’m happy with people who have an elective caesarean for all the wrong reasons. Here are a few scenarios that I, personally, would deem acceptable to have a caesarean (this is not exhaustive, don’t get the hump if your specific reason isn’t here).
- Your baby’s position – if they’re breech/transverse and aren’t playing ball, it may be necessary to deliver them via a c section.
- The position of the placenta. Occasionally, this can be in the way of the birth canal
- Medical conditions, either ongoing where it is safer to monitor you, or conditions arising from previous births. (This is the one I fall under)
- Unsuccessful assisted delivery using forceps or ventouse
- If you had to have an emergency section the first time and there are concerns surrounding a uterine rupture
- Your cervix doesn’t dilate correctly and thus not allowing your baby to move down
- Trauma during a previous birth
My reasons for having to elect, I feel, are legitimate ones and I have been advised by medical professionals that this is the best way for me to give birth, unless I want to end up incontinent which, at 25 years old, I would rather take a 3rd potential problem area than worsen the issues I already have. If I had the choice, a caesarean would not even cross my mind.
In fact, I think it important to put here that I am not in fact electing to have a caesarean. I have been in talks over the last 8 months with my GP, consultants and midwives and it is their decision that this is what is best for me to avoid future complications.
It should not be about convenience. Yes, for those of us who are having medically backed c-sections it’s great that we can organise childcare for existing children, or arrange our maternity leave to make the most of it, but it should not be a reason to be an elective candidate. Babies should, and will, come when they are ready and not when it’s a good day for your diary.
It should not be a choice because you want to look pretty and have your hair and nails done ahead of the birth. I’m sorry but sweat it out and look crappy like the rest of us! You and your body are going to do some pretty amazing things and the fact of the matter is, you aren’t going to look great, I looked bloody awful, unless you’re one of those lucky women who look fantastic with that afterbirth glow.
It is not an option because you’re scared of what your vajayjay could look like after pushing a watermelon out of the something the size of a cherry. Get used to the fact that minnies aren’t particularly pretty anyway, and it’s never going to look or feel the same again.
Believe me, I am in no way happy that I have to have a caesarean. For me, it is NOT a choice and should not be offered as one without good reason. However, I do believe women should be made aware of everything that a caesarean entails. Yes, there are leaflets and Google, but we aren’t being made aware beforehand that it’s a real possibility, especially with 1 in 4 births resulting in a c-section.
The only information I’ve been made aware of, are things that I have researched myself. Yes the campaign is about reducing numbers, VBACs and recovery support, but where in the campaign are they genuinely making women aware of everything it involves, possible consequences and when and why you would have one. There are so many more reasons to have as natural a birth as possible and here are the ones that stand out for me:
- A much longer recovery period (this is the big one for me)
- Risk of the wound opening and/or becoming infected
- Potentially the baby could develop difficulties with breathing and are more likely to end up in NICU
- Potential complications with breastfeeding
- Further pregnancies are more likely to end in caesarean
That’s a little bit more off of my chest. I’m absolutely petrified about having a caesarean and would really rather not do it. I feel like my body has failed me and it hurts to think that I won’t ever get the chance to push a baby out on my own, with no assistance. However, the health of the woman and baby is paramount and that is essentially the best reason for having one.
What do you think?
Jade x
