Not everyone’s birthing experiences are identical. That much is obvious. What isn’t as obvious is that the current popular feelings, that Caesarean births are somehow less than standard labor/vaginal births, are very much incorrect. A Caesarean birth is exactly the same as any other birth insomuch as the end results are identical: A baby now exists. If you’re faced with the option of a Caesarean birth, here are some things to consider.
First, as has already been mentioned, do not assume that a Caesarean birth is somehow “less” than a vaginal birth or that it’s “cheating” in any way. There are instances during birth where a mother has planned for a vaginal birth, yet the baby has caused complications that lead to a Caesarean delivery. There are also instances where the mother has planned for a Caesarean delivery from the very beginning. Coming to accept your birth, whatever it may be, is crucial. You don’t have to defend it to anyone else. This is YOUR birth, and no one else’s.
Going hand-in-hand with the last point, since this is YOUR birth, YOU have to be the one to make any decisions. While your doctor or midwife may suggest something, you have to be the one to make the final decision. This is important so that you never feel that you’ve been forced into an unwanted conclusion. If you feel strongly against a Caesarean birth and your doctor pushes you into one, it is natural to feel regret. Stand up for yourself in situations, but remember to listen to advice and your instincts to know if an alternate method is best.
The most important thing to consider is your attitude. Are you thinking positively or are you thinking negatively? This will affect your overall birth, plus your memory of the experience. If you are thinking positive thoughts and actively working with your baby to help it be born, even if it comes to the point that you have to have a Caesarean that you didn’t want, you can look back on the day and feel that it was a net positive rather than a purely traumatic event. Having birthing skills can come in handy to help reduce stress and make surgery go smoother in most cases, plus, the recovery period becomes far simpler.
Caesarean births are very common these days, and the feeling that they “don’t count” is just plain wrong. Whatever birth you have is whatever birth you have, and in the end, there’s a baby where there previously wasn’t, so who cares what others think of it? As long as you can find happiness and contentment with your child’s birth, that’s all that matters.