Caesar vs Natural
By Madelain in 
So, when finding out I was going to have a baby (yes, it wasn’t exactly a planed pregnancy), one of the many thoughts that ran through my mind was: “Ouch! That means I have to give birth?!”
I decided I was going to be prepared for this, and read all I could to learn about what was happening to my body and what was going to happen to me when giving birth. Any first-time-mom’s concern, right? I read all sorts of books; books about breast feeding, sleeping schedules, books about development and especially books about giving birth! Then I was informed by a relative that ante natal classes helped her to get informed. I decided to take it a step further and did the classes in my last trimester.
Man, we (the class members) were drilled about how breast milk is the best thing for your child, natural birth is the thing to do, and epidural was going to drug the baby and affect the sucking reflex. We were shown video clips of women who gave birth without any pain relieving drugs and told us that it was a womanly thing to do. She totally downplayed C-sections, scaring the thought from anyone’s mind who considered having a c-section. After listening to the midwife talking about her view on things, I realised that it sounded like the thing to do. She was very convincing and I made up my mind that I was going to do a natural birth without any pain relief. I even made a hospital plan on the way I’d like things to go down…
Later in the course of the ante natal class, I began to question a few things the midwife said and developed my own opinions on some of the other topics (but boy! She won me over with the birthing thing), only later sis I realise she didn’t do a very good job of remaining objective.
This is how my planned “natural” birth went down:
When time came and I was induced into labour (baby felt it wasn’t time to leave my “Oven” yet), I had to have an elective C-section (due to complications). You’d think that I’d be disappointed right? Wouldn’t you? Well, I was… for about 20 seconds. Then I thought: “AAAH! Who gives a stuff! GIVE ME THE DRUGS and wheel me off to theatre already!”
So, I had an elective C-section, I enjoyed the drugs (the fact that I couldn’t feel the pain anymore) and loved the surgery even more! I don’t know what I was thinking trying to push my son through my “YOO-HOO”! Ok, so plenty of women have done it the natural way, even without the pain killers. I decided that that wasn’t for me!
Don’t get me wrong! Having a C-section is quite a big surgery. But it is defiantly not as bad as some make you think it is.
Moral of the story: don’t let other people convince you that there is a wrong and right way of giving birth. Be open minded to both possibilities, it could go down any way in the end. I learnt a lesson to apply that to anything I do with “Mothering”.
Ante natal classes were educational in many ways and the bonus was that my husband got to come. So he learnt what was happening to me and I guess it was nice for him to feel part of it all and I enjoyed the support.
Oh, and F.Y.I. the epidural didn’t affect my child’s sucking reflex…. It seemed to me that it turned him into a mini-1000 WATT vacuum machine! LOL
Like you I bought every book there was to buy on pregnancy and related topics. I read all about the birthing options and went to the prenatal classes where the midwife also told us about how bad epidurals were… this of course did not deter me.
My original plan (since before getting pregnant – luckily I had the benefit of going into it by decision) was to see how it all goes and most likely have an epi. As it turned out, I started established labour at 1:30am (after 9 hours of contractions 8 mins apart lasting for 1,5 mins), by 5am I was 3 cm dilated with extremely strong contractions according to my midwife (I gave birth in Holland, home of no-meds! and was checked out at home before going to hospital – another huge no-no in holland!) She said it was unlikely I’d make it to hospital in time to get the epi, I was in so much pain, I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it.
Got to hospital and finally got my epidural (which pulled out about 30 mins later! and no one could figure out why I was still half dying!)
At 12 noon I was still only 5cm gone and they had to induce me. Thank heavens for the epidural then as my contractions trippled in strength! and I only gave birth (naturally) at 15h30, after a whopping 14 hours of labour!
If it hadn’t been for the epidural, I would not have made it! I was half dead from tiredness by the time they gave it to me, I could barely lift my head.
I’d also say go for it if that’s what you want, birth isn’t a competition!!!!! And we don’t have to sit around the fire one day comparing our war stories! Do what is right for you!
Wow! That is CRAZY!
I’m really glad you made it through all that Kerry!
I could not agree more with you about birthing not being a compitition!
I hated contractions and never want to feel it ever again. Now I guess we really know our limits!
Viva Epidural!
I know I’m crazy, but I’d love to have my labour all over again! After two caesars (one emergency, one planned)I really wanted to experience the natural way and I loved it (obviously at the time I didn’t think much of it). I have never before felt such an adrenalin rush – really felt like an all-powerful woman!!!
But then again, I didn’t have to try and push out a baby the size of your baba, Bron – I think I’d be begging for a caesar quick-quick!!!
Hi there…where did you have your third baby? In Cape Town? I live in Durban and have had two caesars and also would like a natural now with my third. Is there any info you could give me? The docs are all saying no…
I laughed when I read your comment! Or rather enjoyed your point of view on it.
I hope Ypu’ll not concider me cheeky when I Say that I’ll now refere to call you “wonderwomen”! LOL you are very brave Lindsay!
It’s nice to hear of the opposite. I will adore the drugs and you can fancy the rush!
hey there, I am relatively new at this pregnancy thing and am only 17 weeks. I have seen many of my friends go through pregnancy and seen a pattern that concerns me. all of them went to the same lady for prenatal classes and all had a similar experience to you….listen to the professional she knows best…then when your birth does not go according to the book, they are all ended up suffering, blaming themselves and some with post natal depression. So I just wonder how much of what you hear at classes must you take seriously and how much not. I am now hesitant to go to this particular lady and of these professionals that end up traumatising you more than helping… any advice?
Hi Lisa. How exiting those first few months are. I understand your concern seeing as I’ve had much time to think about my birth and how it didn’t go according to “my plan” either. I think it’s important to know what you want to do. Natural, caesar? It’s also important to communicate these thoughts and your fears to your OBGYN.
When I look at Kerry’s situation and another Uk friends birth story, it seems you’re “allowed” to be in labour for a lot longer in European countries than you are here. Given there are no complications, natural is just that, it’s the natural way of giving birth and only in extreme cases should C-sections be done (10% of births according to WHO). Here in SA it seems you either hurry up and give birth or your have a c-section. C-section is a huge and often encouraged option in this country- hence although your antenatal class insists that natural is the way to go- Private hospitals and medical aids may not always agree. I can only stress the importance of trusting your gynae so that if you decide natural and in labour he/she says caesar, you trust he/she is doing what’s best for you and your baby and not what’s best for his/her schedule.
Having done natural birth (no epidural) and emergency caesar, i prefer the natural.
i feel that sometimes the staff at private hospitals want you to just have the baby as quickly as possible (i.e. caesar). i was almost pressured into a caesar first time around, but luckily my little boy decided to drop (when i got up to go to the loo)!
I am so pleased that there are midwives out there promoting natural birthing options. By no means should a woman feel guilty if a caesar is the safest option for her and baby in the end, but in my humble opinion we should enter into this process with natural birth as the ideal, and caesar as an option if things don’t go according to plan. Most women can give birth naturally without complications, if they are empowered to do so.
After 3 wonderful drug-free births, I promise I know what I’m talking about. All of my babies have been over 3kg, my son was 3,9kg. I had a private midwife who made me feel like a champion, and the support of my gynae too.
Its a personal choice, but one that should be made with all the facts at hand. A caesar isn’t safer, unless there is a real medical reason for it.
I say PUSH – the natural high and benefits to your body and baby make it so worthwhile!
I am a first time mom to be, and very confused regarding the ceasearian vs Natural birth. The second I realised I was preggos, I thought that natural was the way to go, no hesitations, no questions…but after doing some research on everything, and taking heed of other’s experiences, I am not so sure anymore. Yes having a ceasar is less painful than going through natural birth and surely less complicated, as the doctors all know what they are doing and its pretty straight forward, but I am also a planner. And i take to having an easy conscience due to the fact that a Ceasarian is all so planned, and specific, and fuss free as opposed to waiting to go into labour, and having to endure all that pain for however long it may take for your baby to be born on the big day. I probably sound like I have convinced myself here, but still…I remain confused. Advice anyone???
Hi Jessica
Honestly I think it is such a personal decision and no one should be made to feel bad for the decision that makes them more comfortable. The bottom line is that childbirth, whether natural or Caesar, is painful. And as woman we should stick together because of our wonderful ability to bring life into the world.
I am 16 weeks pregnant and I have opted for a caesar (elective), my very good friend is 15 weeks pregnant and she is insisting on drug free, natural. You will hear good and bad stories about both options. I personally want the ease and fuss free experience that comes with a caesar and I do not feel guilty in the slightest. I come from a family (and family in law) that consists of 5 specialist doctors – they all recommend caesars and have had caesars themselves. Why? Because they say it is the safer (not to mention better for your sex life in years to come). But…at the end of the day its your choice. Please just dont feel bad or guilty either way. Good luck with your birth and all the best!
Hi there Jessica!
My personal experience of having one emergency caesar, one planned caesar and then one natural delivery really gave me the chance to consider each option! And I am all for natural!
Yes, it’s more inconvenient because you never know when the day is going to be and yes, it is VERY painful, but for me there was nothing more amazing than pushing my little boy out and holding his little naked body against mine (yes, all covered in muck)! I didn’t get that experience with my older two kiddies. Half an hour after delivery, I had a lovely bath and walked happily down to my room (feeling like wonderwoman). My caesars left me sore for weeks after although I’ve noticed a lot of moms seem to recover so much faster these days. Well, some of them!! In the end, it’s a decision you will have to make and be comfortable with. Don’t be scared by other people’s birth stories – don’t do too much research because I think that can also scare a girl! Talk to your gynae and weigh all the options. I wanted to be more involved in the birth of my 3rd child – I hadn’t felt included in the birth of the other two which bothered me for years! I’ve probably just confused you more, but in the end you need to make your decision and stay happy with it!!! Good luck!
Hi Lindsay,
Tell me, how did you plan giving natural birth after caessrean?I gave birth to a baby boy four years ago and it was not my plan to go c-section and now I feel like I was presured to do.I really want to give a natural birth to my second born next year,but now I am also scared/thinking about age.I mean giving birth for the first time naturally.If you do not mind were you after thirty when you go natural birth after two caesareans or around that age?
I hate the scare it took me time to see the big tommy gone….infact not compltely gone.How is/was yours (belly)after two c-sections.
I think we would all reduce our anxiety levels if we accepted that a natural birth cannot be planned or anticipated. No-one know how the labour is going to progress and how painful you are going to find it. The pain depends on so many things: baby positions, individual pain threshold, length etc etc. Why not go into the hospital with an open mind? Knowing that if you need pain relief you can get it but that there is no point deciding before hand. I took this approach and gave birth naturally with no painkillers. The labour was short but intense. Next time I may have a long labour and request and epidural. Who knows? Let go and live in the moment.