After my previous post about how The Force is breech and, if he doesn't turn, I'll need to have a c-section, I feel like I should clarify my point of view about c-sections.
I would never want to state or imply that c-sections, as a whole, are bad. They're certainly not. My brother, my sister, and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for c-sections. As far as I know, my mother was told her birth canal was too small for any of us to fit through. Obviously I have no way of knowing if this was the case, but they did far fewer c-sections in the 70s and early 80s, so I take it on faith that this was true - unlike today, where many reasons are given for c-sections when one isn't necessary. My nephew, TJ, and niece, Brooke, were also born via c-section and since my sister's OB is also mine and he's spoken about unnecessary c-sections several times, I trust that those c-sections were also necessary and I'm eternally grateful that the procedure and accompanying technology exists.
I do believe it's a woman's choice to have a c-section or not because I believe in choice. However, I also believe that a vaginal birth is the best option if it's a feasible option (i.e. if the mother and/or baby aren't in danger). There's a lot that happens during the birth process that nature intends to help both mother and baby survive and thrive.
But my reluctance about a c-section is still only second about that. Primarily, I don't want a c-section because I want another child some day. Because I've already had two abdominal surgeries (gastric bypass, abdominoplasty), I was advised that having a third abdominal surgery (i.e. a c-section) is going to greatly increase the risk of significant complication if I ever want to have a second child. In addition, not going into labor makes recovering from birth more difficult because the birth hormones don't go through their as-nature-intended cycle. C-section mothers also have a harder time starting breastfeeding, and I'm already expecting difficulty with that due to my breast reduction. I really don't want something else stacked against me.
So while I wholeheartedly agree that sometimes a c-section is absolutely the best solution, and I will have one if The Force doesn't turn around, I will go into it wondering if I'll ever be given the chance to have another child. It's not a guarantee that I wouldn't be able to successfully have a baby again, but there'd be concerns due the scar tissue. As it is, the scar tissue from my abdominoplasty made it more difficult to see the baby during some sonograms (and resulted in me needing to go to a specialist for a fetal echocardiogram around week 20).
All of that, I'll deal with. I'll go to any appointment or specialist they want me to go to, no question. But my OB has concerns about stressing the abdominal muscles during a vaginal delivery or further cutting into the existing scar tissue next time. I'd like to avoid those concerns.
So, I'll be spending some time with my butt in the air, which is less amusing and more difficult than it seems. If you're familiar with yoga, it's like the downward dog position, but on your knees. No problem ordinarily, but when 9 months pregnant? The baby squishes the lungs and the extra blood flow to the head doesn't help. But if it helps him flip, so be it. I'm also going to look into a chiropractic visit, since that may help (but is controversial, as with nearly anything chiropractic). Some lights and music at the bottom of the belly are rumored to help, as well. (As my bloggy friend Brittany wrote, you basically give them a light at the end of the, well, tunnel. LOL) We'll see. Whatever it takes.
Additional reading from BlogHer (if you're interested): Cesarean Awareness Month: Why Is It So Hard To Get A Vaginal Birth These Days?
