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• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 26 >> She always wanted to experience vaginal birth for herself. The support of her partner made her feel confident and secure enough to attempt it.

1st child born prematurely at 30 weeks by emergency CS due to preeclampsia. Had good physical recovery but felt 'in shock'. 13 years later felt keen and confident to have VBAC with 2nd child. Had short but intense labour, birth was painful but 'amazing experience'.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 20 >> She felt that having a caesarean without medical necessity was wrong, though it would have suited her to bring the birth date forward. She also wanted

Went 8 days overdue with 1st child, laboured for 48 hours. Had epidural and then emergency CS when child became distressed. Easy recovery but felt wrong about having planned CS with 2nd child. Considered it during labour but persevered and had vaginal birth assisted by forceps.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 20 >> She didn't make a detailed birth plan - while she hoped to avoid interventions, she didn't feel that strongly about it.

Went 8 days overdue with 1st child, laboured for 48 hours. Had epidural and then emergency CS when child became distressed. Easy recovery but felt wrong about having planned CS with 2nd child. Considered it during labour but persevered and had vaginal birth assisted by forceps.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 07 >> She decided against writing a birth plan because she thought her vision of an 'ideal birth' was unrealistic.

Went 14 days overdue with 1st child, was induced, then had CS after 2 days of labour. Advised to have planned CS with 2nd child, booked for 10 days past due date, still hoping to go into labour. Surprised by her positive experience of 2nd caesarean.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 03 >> She had wanted as natural a birth as possible, but after her labour slowed down she felt she lost control and went along with interventions she had wa

Very keen to have intervention-free birth with 1st child, laboured to 9cm, then had CS when baby passed meconium. Felt cheated and upset long after. Wanted VBAC with 2nd child but opted for CS when 2 weeks overdue. Planned CS was much better than expected.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 29 >> She does not think there is much point making a birth plan for a planned caesarean. It's more important to have her husband there to support her on th

1st child delivered with forceps and ventouse. Had bad tear, lost lots of blood. Planned caesarean with 2nd child 16 months later on advice of doctors. Struggled to decide how to deliver 3rd child, pessimistic about her chance of having VBAC, feels planned CS is the safer option.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 29 >> After a very difficult first birth and a comparatively easy planned caesarean, she feels safer leaving things in the hands of medical staff from start

1st child delivered with forceps and ventouse. Had bad tear, lost lots of blood. Planned caesarean with 2nd child 16 months later on advice of doctors. Struggled to decide how to deliver 3rd child, pessimistic about her chance of having VBAC, feels planned CS is the safer option.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 02 >> Her main concern in making the decision for a VBAC was to recover as quickly as possible rather than a great urge to do it 'naturally'.

Laboured to 8cm dilation with 1st child. Cord wrapped round baby's neck, had emergency CS under general anaesthetic. Chose VBAC for next birth because of quicker recovery. 2nd child born in 2½ hours, though had to have epidural afterwards to remove placenta.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 11 >> She knew that her chances of having a repeat caesarean were higher than those of other mothers, but she wanted to know what vaginal birth was like.

Rushed to have CS after baby passed meconium and stopped moving. Had quick recovery. Keen to experience vaginal birth with 2nd child, laboured for 66 hours. Some complications afterwards but glad to have experienced giving birth both ways.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 03 >> Other women's reactions to her decision to attempt vaginal birth made her reconsider for a short time, but she decided to give it a go anyway.

Very keen to have intervention-free birth with 1st child, laboured to 9cm, then had CS when baby passed meconium. Felt cheated and upset long after. Wanted VBAC with 2nd child but opted for CS when 2 weeks overdue. Planned CS was much better than expected.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 10 >> After worrying a lot about the birth of her first child, she made a conscious effort not to get too worked up in her next pregnancy, because it is jus

Reached final stage of labour with 1st child, cord wrapped around baby's neck, had last minute CS. Felt cheated and experienced postnatal depression. Determined to have vaginal birth with 2nd child. Had easy labour and 'perfect' birth experience.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 11 >> She thinks it is good to have a plan but remain flexible at the same time. Experiencing vaginal birth does not make you a better person.

Rushed to have CS after baby passed meconium and stopped moving. Had quick recovery. Keen to experience vaginal birth with 2nd child, laboured for 66 hours. Some complications afterwards but glad to have experienced giving birth both ways.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 03 >> She wanted to keep things as natural as possible and thought a water birth sounded ideal for mother and baby.

Very keen to have intervention-free birth with 1st child, laboured to 9cm, then had CS when baby passed meconium. Felt cheated and upset long after. Wanted VBAC with 2nd child but opted for CS when 2 weeks overdue. Planned CS was much better than expected.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Interview 24 >> She was keen to keep things natural and have a water birth.

Had planned CS one week pat her due date when it was found that baby had stopped moving. Mother experienced rupture and needed a blood transfusion. Wanted a water birth with 2nd child but advised to have planned CS due to previous complications.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 18 >> She felt scared about vaginal birth and was relieved that being pregnant with twins meant that her request for a planned caesarean was granted without

Chose to have planned caesarean with 1st pregnancy as expected twin. Felt fully involved and had 'stress-free' birth experience. Found decision difficult with 2nd pregnancy but decided on repeat CS to avoid complications with lichen sclerosus.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 09 >> She assumed that after her first caesarean she was likely to need another one. Once she learned that she could attempt vaginal birth she wanted to kno

Pregnant with twins, had CS when she did not dilate beyond 9cm. Felt happy with her care and recovered well but disliked need for support after the operation. Keen to have vaginal birth with 2nd child. Went two weeks overdue, then delivered very quickly after being induced.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 12 >> She thinks information to women should be provided by midwives instead of doctors, because birth has become too medical and midwives have a more posit

Keen on vaginal birth with 1st child, felt she lost control at hospital, had various interventions and emergency CS. Decided to have VBAC with 2nd child against consultant's advice, but supported by doula and midwife. Very pleased with unassisted birth.