Choosing c-section - It's horses for courses

FACT

Up until very recently in human evolution, babies arrived into the world through just one door (or rather corridor), and that is, the vagina.

MYTH

Natural birth is a process that is desired and enjoyed by all women.

FACT

Although originally designed as a life-saving procedure (and indeed successfully so if you look at historical national mortality rates), cesarean delivery now offers babies an alternative route into the world; an alternative that is gradually gaining favor with increasing numbers of women.

MYTH

Mothers whose children are born by cesarean (where the cesarean was wanted as opposed to not wanted) are less likely to bond with them, and will miss out on the greatest experience life has to offer. As a consequence, they are not real women, and should be sympathized for their vaginal failure or chastised for daring to avoid a natural rite of passage that is the long established prerequisite to motherhood.

High horses

Let me say first, that thankfully, I think there are a number of women and health professionals involved in maternity care who agree with equal access to the full spectrum of birth choices. However, some really do need to get off their high horse when it comes to giving birth; parading vaginal delivery as the superior thoroughbred of births, immune to the possibility of false starts or of falling at the first hurdle simply ignores what can be a very stressful reality for many in the human race.

Picking a winner

True, the birth of a child (especially your own) is an amazing, wonderful, beautiful thing, but it is also an unpredictable, risky and often frightening process. This is because unfortunately, it's impossible to guarantee how any birth plan will turn out, and all you can hope to do is put in place the best preparations for the delivery of your choice. It's a personal decision whether those preparations are for vaginal delivery or cesarean surgery, and after careful deliberation and research, and with the right support and expertise (...a visit from Lady Luck wouldn't go amiss too), you'll give yourself (and your baby) the very best chance of entering the final winner's enclosure.

A finish line with starting blocks

This has been said before I know, but in the end, what most of us would describe as a successful birth outcome is the safe arrival of our healthy baby (or babies). What I would add, is that while pregnancy can sometimes make us feel as though the birth is the ultimate finish line, in fact it's only really the starting line. Raising a child is (hopefully) a long journey and there will be so many more decisions to make regarding their health and wellbeing besides their delivery route into the world.

Horses for courses

Me, I would choose a cesarean delivery every time. One of my best friends would choose a vaginal delivery every time, albeit with the further decision-making layer of whether to opt for home, hospital, water, epidural, gas and air (etc.) to consider. We have so many other things in common in life but not our method of delivery, and that's fine. She respects my choice; I respect hers. Why other women waste time and effort chastising each other for their personal birth preference, particularly when it has nothing to do with their own, utterly perplexes me.

Analogy disclaimer

I've taken the liberty of employing a rather equestrian theme in my blog today, but I'd just like to clarify that the analogies above are not designed for further expansion. That is, I am not implying that childbirth is like a day at the races, akin to irresponsible gambling or any other negative connotation. No offense is intended and I hope that none is taken.