Using the Emergency Exit
By Bronwyn in 
It hasn’t been long since my son was born so the day is still fresh in my mind. The images from that day have been looked at so frequently which is probably aiding keeping the memories fresh. Being one of those who tried it all- attempted natural, received oxytocin, eventually went with epidural because my “epidurance” was wavering, received more oxytocin and landed up with my emergency exit having to be used after many hours of labouring. The only thing missing from this birth equation is gas and a pethidine shot (which a friend assures me, I missed out on because the world is wonderful when looked at through the eyes of a pregnant “pethidinist”)
Caesar wound in hand, baby in the other arm, I marched (slowly) out of that hospital after realising I’d just done the most remarkable thing regardless of how he arrived. I know some choose C-sections and some who have given birth naturally don’t regard C-sections as childbirth but rather that the child gets pulled out, regardless I’m glad for modern medicine and its miracles or I, like many before me, may have died in childbirth. Sounds dramatic but true. Thank goodness for emergency exits!
i second that…
I knew from early on that I would need a c-section – placenta previa and all that (low lying placenta – my daughter was using it as a pillow instead of a foot stool)…
but at around 32 weeks my doc said that it looked as though the placenta had moved up slightly, so if I wanted to, we could entertain the idea of natural. By this stage I had researched everything about ceasarians… from complications to expected reactions to how its done etc, etc… and I said to him – If you still think that the big C is the way to go, then lets do that…
Turns out it was the right thing after all. When doing the C-section, and handing me my beautiful baby girl, all the doc said was “I’m so glad you didn’t go natural, this placenta was a lot lower than it looked”… So I would have gone into labour and well, the complications with a low lying placenta are rather large (I’m sure you know what happens if the placenta pulls loose before the baby is out…), I would have ended up having an emergency ceasar anyways.
I must say – i wouldn’t recommend a ceasar. It certainly wasn’t the most fun I’ve had… not for weeks – and being on pain medication for weeks after… Not enjoyable.
But, I look at my beautiful girl and I couldn’t be more happy to be a mom. She is the most precious creature – regardless of how she entered this world. And, thankfully, all I have to remind me of the birth are a few stretch marks and a small scar…