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Pregnancy & children
Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Additional information :
About the interviews and the DiAMOND trial
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Previous pregnancy and caesarean birth :
After caesarean birth
Recovery & complications after previous caesarean
Bonding, feeding and support after previous CS
Women's feelings about their previous caesarean
Experiences of previous pregnancy & caesarean
Women's expectations for their previous births
Information needs/sources in previous pregnancies
Women's experiences of their previous CS
Next pregnancy and birth after caesarean :
Decisions about how to give birth after caesarean
Reasons for wanting a planned caesarean
Reasons for wanting vaginal birth after caesarean
Women's experiences of making the decision
Roles of health professionals in decision-making
Roles of partners & others in decision-making
Experience of next birth after caesarean
Women's experiences of their next caesarean
Women's experiences of vaginal birth after CS
Preparing for next birth after caesarean
Women's expectations for their next birth
Information needs & attitudes in next pregnancy
Views on information from health professionals
Views on information from other sources
Taking stock of birthing experiences :
Comparing birth experiences and recovery
Women's views on choice about birth
Advice to other women facing decisions about birth
Messages to health professionals
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
Subject index
Clip
Pregnancy & children
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 27
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She did not see her midwives much in her second pregnancy and was unsure where to look for balanced and reliable information, so she was pleased to ta
1st child was breech, had planned caesarean. Struggled to breastfeed and felt low for long after. Wanted planned CS with 2nd child, but felt pushed into VBAC by clinicians. Went into labour early and had emergency CS at 38 weeks, found experience worse than previous.
Pregnancy & children
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 11
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She thinks without the extra information she got from the decision aid she might have felt overwhelmed by the task of reaching a decision by herself.
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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 30 and under
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Interview 16
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Finding out about the risks can be scary, but she thinks it's better to know than not know. Computers can make information more easily accessible.
Had emergency CS after 18 hours of labour due to 1st baby's large size and awkward position. Recovery was difficult, felt low and exhausted for one month. Same problems of size and position with 2nd pregnancy, advised to have planned CS. Planned CS was much better experience.
Pregnancy & children
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 27
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She had not been aware that she could choose to have a caesarean instead of a trial of labour. Using a decision aid gave her more balanced information
1st child was breech, had planned caesarean. Struggled to breastfeed and felt low for long after. Wanted planned CS with 2nd child, but felt pushed into VBAC by clinicians. Went into labour early and had emergency CS at 38 weeks, found experience worse than previous.
Pregnancy & children
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 36-39
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Interview 06
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Her questions changed throughout her pregnancy. She would have liked to talk to a midwife outside of formal appointments. Having web-based information
Had planned CS with 1st child due to his expected size. Felt CS was unnecessary, but stress-free way of having baby. Difficult decision with 2nd child, felt both anxious and curious about labour. Now pleased to have had vaginal birth with ventouse.
Pregnancy & children
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 09
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She found it helpful to use a decision aid that allowed her to revisit information and think about her preferences outside the hospital environment.
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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 40 and over
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Interview 05
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She found it helpful to use a decision aid that was not driven by any particular agenda and was happy that she could have changed her mind about havin
Had a very traumatic 1st birth, long labour, CS was offered only after baby went into distress. Felt excluded from decisions and treated unsympathetically. Felt pushed into VBAC with 2nd birth. Chose to go private instead and had planned CS.
Pregnancy & children
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 27
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Health professionals should inform women that there is a decision to be made and provide them with the necessary information.
1st child was breech, had planned caesarean. Struggled to breastfeed and felt low for long after. Wanted planned CS with 2nd child, but felt pushed into VBAC by clinicians. Went into labour early and had emergency CS at 38 weeks, found experience worse than previous.
Pregnancy & children
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 40 and over
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Interview 08
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She felt empowered by the information she got from taking part in the DiAMOND trial but at the same time did not want to burden other mothers with the
Keen on unassisted birth with 1st child. Slow to go into labour and dilate. Had epidural and then CS 2 days after waters broke. Felt cheated at first but adjusted with time. Had planned CS with 2nd child to avoid previous ordeal.
Pregnancy & children
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 30 and under
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Interview 23
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She thinks midwives don't encourage discussion about complications because they don't want to worry women. It is useful to have a decision aid that pr
Had lengthy labour with 1st child after being induced, taken for emergency CS after baby's heart beat dropped. Explored options early in 2nd pregnancy, decided on VBAC. 2nd child born after 10 hours, painful labour but great sense of achievement.
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