To C or not to C...

...section, that is. I’m sure most women come to a point in their pregnancy where they are faced with this decision. For some it’s an easy one: they want to be able to have control over the birth of their child, for example, maybe even a say in the child’s birthday, so they opt for a C-section. For others, the decision is made for them: they have low blood pressure, a history of stillbirths or their baby is breach.

For me, it was never even a question. I wanted a natural birth, and a water birth at that. Which would mean no epidural, which is just fine by me as I have a serious needle phobia (yes, still! Even after numerous blood tests and fertility treatments [read: lots and lots of needles].). Call me insane if you wish, but the mere thought of an epidural completely freaks me out! Why, oh why would I want someone poking needles into my back, risking the off chance of paralysis if something goes wrong?

So many woman fear normal birth, which I can totally understand, it’s a scary concept (even with an epidural). But get this: I gave birth to my (big!) girl, and half an hour later I got up, took a shower and walked to my room. From what I’ve heard of C-sections, you are in pain for days after the birth. I just don’t see the logic! Normal birth = a few hours of pain vs. C-section = days of pain.

I am so thankful though that we live in a modern world with advanced technologies. This meant that I could give birth to my baby the good old fashioned way, in a first class hospital, with a trained doctor and nursing staff at my side, sterilised equipment, only the best medical care at hand should anything go wrong... None of that ‘giving birth on the bed the cat was just lying on with a person calling himself a doctor digging a 9 pound baby out of me with something that bares a frightening resemblance to the braai tongs my husband made dinner with 2 hours ago’! Mmm, the good old days that weren’t quite as good...

As you can gather, I am not keen on scheduled C-sections, neither am I keen on inductions. I believe that God made us so that our bodies will know when baby is ready to be born and that tampering with the process is as good as tampering with God’s plan. Having said that, this is just my opinion and everyone has the right to make their own decisions.

Don’t ever let anyone bully you into doing something that you do not want to do. If you want a normal (even a medication-free, ‘natural’) birth, that is your choice (you wouldn’t let anyone else choose who you should marry, would you?). Remember that the mind is an incredibly powerful thing. My biggest fear was never about the pain of labour, I decided that I will handle that as it comes, my biggest fear was that I was going to feel nauseous during labour. However, I decided beforehand that I will be calm no matter what comes my way, I popped 2 or 3 rescue tablets during labour and I put my mind to just going with the flow.

Barring any complications, I will have a natural, medication-free birth with my next child as well. It was the most amazing experience ever, and I was so proud of myself to be able to say that I was an active part of ‘giving birth’ to my girly, as opposed to just lying there and the doctor literally taking my baby out. Oh, and the admiration I still see in my husband’s eyes is so worth it! I know that I gained a deeper level of respect from him and I know that he is also proud of me.

An interesting story: my sister had water birth with both her sons. With the second one, they had arranged that as soon as my sister’s labour starts, my dad would drive from Jo’burg to Bloem to help with the eldest brother. She phoned my parents to say she was on her way to the birthing clinic and when my dad got to Bloem approximately 4 hours later, she came out to the car to meet him, her and baby already back home from the clinic and on her feet!