Having had four c-sections, I would do ANYTHING to have a VBAMC, however after the FIRST c-section (I was lied to in order to sign the permission to have the procedure done, and later found proof that it was most certainly a lie in our paperwork – long story!), no OB would touch me with a ten-foot pole. Each C-section was a repeat elective, although I have been researching for years about safety in all different environments and with all different interventions and assistants. Putting many MANY studies together has been done, and going in for a repeat c-section with my fourth baby knowing that I had a more than 3-fold increased risk of dying on the table than if I was attempting a vaginal birth after 3 previous c-sections was hard to deal with. On the flip side, having a vaginal birth after 3 previous c-sections has a significantly higher rate of needing an hysterectomy…

I believe that we are all so emotional about this because we all care for our babies, our births and safety and choice. Where I live in Australia – I will not be “allowed” a VBAMC, and finding a midwife willing to attend such a irth would be a rare find indeed. When we have another baby – my risk of DEATH on the operating table is increased again if I chose a c-section. Should I sign up for another c-section KNOWING that my risk of DEATH is higher than ever before on that cold operating table compared to a VBAMC – knowing I am choosing something that risk’s my children’s mother’s life significantly? Should I choose a homebirth where I am less likely to die – but then if I can’t find a midwife to care for me? What if I did a UC because there ARE no other “safe” options available to me as far as I can determine through years of searching through medical publications as well as statistics up to my ears?

Should I have my choices taken away from me? Should I be forced to have a medicalised birth although I have spent years educating myself? Should other’s be condemned for researching for themselves and deciding that the hospital is the best environment to give birth in? Should a women make the best choice she can given the circumstances she’s in (including the laws and availability of midwives, hospitals, personal health, support system etc)?

We all want the best for every mum and bub… every woman has had (or will have) different experiences, and will make different decisions based on that. If you have been hurt badly, lied to or had significant physical and emotional damage from traditional medical care – being forced back into that environment will cause fear, that will hamper labour due to how women were made (any threat the woman feels causes labour to slow until she no longer experiences that “fight or flight response”, and when she feels safe again, labour should resume) – labour slows and then interventions “have” to be done… and the cycle repeats itself – reenforcing the belief that the hospital is not the place to birth.
If a woman feels comfortable in a hospital setting, she will not feel threatened or fear, her labour should hopefully be fine as much as possible and she will hopefully have as great a birth as possible. She will feel positive, and then her belief that the hospital is the safest place to birth is reenforced.

Let’s just support the right to choose, the right for all women to be able to access any medical care she needs to support her choice for birth – and support women who are grieving all over the world at home, in hospitals and many other places for their babies who didn’t make it.

*BTW – I am not able to access my own computer atm, but I will try and find the composite of many studies I used to have, and post it up links if I can find it.

why, why, why, why, why do the vast majority of women (and men) just regurgitate what has been culturally and commercially programmed into their minds without even hinting at the necessity of evidence?

why not do some research on infant mortality rates? on home-birthing, and for that matter, unassisted birthing? on the reasons, actual provable reasons, why babies/mothers die in childbirth, and why it happened in the past?

Molly says:
“Babies die in hospitals all the time? Seriously? I’m sorry, but how likely are healthy babies to die in a hospital and how likely are healthy babies going to die during a homebirth?”

don’t be sorry molly, just look it up.

i was expecting more out of treehuggers.. read some ina may gaskin for god’s sake! let’s not open our brainwashed mouths before doing the research, or you’ll be advocating without a clue as to what is actually safest. when it comes to childbirth, that’s simply a disgusting level of ethical irresponsibility.

“many western doctors hold the belief that we can improve everything, even natural childbirth in a healthy woman. this philosophy is the philosophy of people who think it deplorable that they were not consulted at the creation of eve, because they would have done a better job.”

-kloosterman 1994

Use your critical thinking skills, please. You are making advocates of women choosing to birth however they please (within reason) stupid. Stop it.