Comments on: Live c-section on the Today Show

By: Elnora Johnson

Elnora Johnson — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:30:43 +0000

I never saw this segment but am interested in the comments made by both women at the end. Dr Schniederman should know better than to have agreed with Vierra; it’s like they were promoting the cesarean. I am surprised it wasn’t edited to show some kind of intelligence.

My own single birth experience was in 1987. I had pre-existing high blood pressure but it was normal during the pregnancy (wierd, I know). After 3 and 1/2 hours of labor, I had an almost 8 pound baby without drugs, a small episiotomy, and normal recovery. At that time, there were 2 ob in our town. We had other drs who delivered as well. I wene to an ob because of my Hbp. He had the lower c section rate of the 2 obs. He was older but more progressive than the other and actually did the first vbac there in 1987 (not allowed now).sounds like things have changed alot since then. All I can say is, Shame on those 2 women for their ignorant comments

By: Katy

Katy — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:30:03 +0000

I watched and waited for them to say why she was having a Csection, then waited anxiously to find out the weight…10 lbs? I gave birth vaginally to a 9 lb 15 oz baby who was also 11 days ‘late.’ (boy people sure thought I was crazy! I avoided going to church the Sunday before he finally came because I didn’t want those ‘you’re STILL pregnant?’ questions)

Not long after getting my epidural, it was turned down to prevent my blood pressure from rising. After that it really never worked and I did feel that little boy’s big weight (and the doctor said he had a big head!). I was crying and felt like I was being more vocal than I normally am in pain and I kind of felt embarrassed for it afterward. But after seeing how some women run to the O.R. in my same situation – and minus the medical pain relief – and I choose to do as much of it alone as I could…well I felt like a superhero.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:48:12 +0000

My second baby was 10lbs 1oz and giving birth to him in our bathtub at home was one of the most exhilarating and empowering experiences of my life. I feel sorry that many women will unknowingly give up the opportunity to control their own bodies and its natural process. I truly believe that trusting your body and letting the process unfold naturally is one of the most empowering experiences a woman can have. It’s the ultimate expression of feminism. How sad that mass media has not only made us hate how our bodies look, but it has also made us distrust how they are designed to birth our children.

By: Tina

Tina — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:35:10 +0000

I felt sick just looking at the picture.

By: ellen

ellen — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:06:07 +0000

My second son was 10 lb 4 oz, 13 days late, and born vaginally. My other two babies weren’t as large. A wonderful friend of mine delivered her 11 lb 6 oz baby boy vaginally as well.

We all deserve an opportunity to let our bodies do what they were designed to do.

By: Tori

Tori — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:03:28 +0000

The “right way” is totally subjective, and should be determined by the mother, father, and medical team. The major thing women have to remember is, if it doesn’t seem right to you, in your specific life and situation, then you need to speak up. Yes, hospitals and doctors can be pushy, but ultimately it’s your body and your baby and your health, so use your voice.

My first child was delivered by c-section because he was almost 11 pounds and had a 14″ head that would not come through the birth canal. We decided to keep him and me safe was the “right way” to deliver, and that way turned out to be a c-section. I am expecting my second child in a month, and although my doctor has said it would be fine for me to try a VBAC this time, when this baby started to measure big again, my husband and I decided a c-section would be the right way again this time.

I was also upset by the way the mother was pretty much left on her own in this video, but this was also a TV moment…staged and stretched out over commercial breaks. Not reality. I agree with you that elective c-sections are too common; there is a misconception that c-section is the easy way to deliver, when no one really takes into consideration the lengthy recovery period or the dangers of a major abdominal surgery.

However, the judgment has to stop. There is such a holier-than-thou culture among women and mothers in our society — it really bothers me. Breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding. Working moms vs. stay-at-home moms. Vaginal deliverers vs. c-section births. Really? Do we need all this judgment? Does it really make you any more of a mother for pushing your baby through your vagina than it makes me for delivering a healthy baby through an incision? Nope. Ultimately, we both still have healthy children, which by definition makes us mothers. Being a woman and a mother is difficult enough in our society — how about we respect one another’s decisions, support each other, and understand that we each know what’s the “right way” for us and our family?