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• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 05 >> She felt treated unsympathetically by the consultant and was annoyed to find out she had been excluded from an initial discussion about caesarean.

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 >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 15 >> She was surprised by the speed of her recovery and was astonished that she could have a shower the day after the operation.

Went overdue with 1st child and was induced at 42 weeks, but drugs had no effect. Delivered 3 days later by epidural CS. Determined to have planned CS with 2nd child, as felt unlikely she would go into labour. Planned CS was a wonderful experience, far less tiring.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 20 >> She had no problems breast-feeding after her caesarean. Her daughter seemed to know what to do.

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 26 >> She was admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia at 30 weeks and went on to have a caesarean under general anaesthetic. She did not see her daughter un

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 36-39 >> Interview 15 >> She was fully involved in the decision to have a caesarean and was able to play her CD in the operating theatre.

Went overdue with 1st child and was induced at 42 weeks, but drugs had no effect. Delivered 3 days later by epidural CS. Determined to have planned CS with 2nd child, as felt unlikely she would go into labour. Planned CS was a wonderful experience, far less tiring.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 07 >> It was a struggle to breastfeed her daughter after the exhausting birth. She had to top up her daughter's feeds with formula milk and stopped breastfe

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 20 >> She felt fine about having had a caesarean. It didn't make her feel different about herself, though she thinks she was lucky to recover quickly and fo

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 25 >> She was grateful to have a healthy baby but couldn't help feeling disappointed about the way she had given birth. She felt her body had let her down,

Wanted intervention-free birth, but was induced when 14 days overdue. Laboured for 19 hours, accepted CS when baby became distressed. Felt involved in decision-making, but disappointed afterwards. Keen to experience vaginal birth with 2nd child.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 08 >> Her previous caesarean happened very quickly, but it did not feel stressful. She can't recall signing a consent form. Played by an actor.

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 >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Interview 23 >> She didn't care what was done to her as long as her son would be alright. The thought of something going wrong at the very end of the pregnancy terrif

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.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 27 >> It took her some time to realise she had gone into labour. Once at the hospital, staff advised an emergency caesarean. It was a very stressful and fri

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 >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 05 >> Her experience in private care was much better than her previous caesarean. Last time she had felt anxious and out of control, but this time the atmos

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 >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 27 >> The pain she felt after her emergency caesarean was much worse than after her previous section. She also felt let down by the lack of continuity in st

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 >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 05 >> She thinks the emphasis on natural birth in her NCT classes made it harder for her to come to terms with her first caesarean. Knowing in advance how c

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 >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 12 >> She was mistaken to expect a quick recovery. Not being able to drive and having no family nearby made things even harder. Played by an actor.

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.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 02 >> Her family expected her to need extra support, but she felt so well that she went shopping the day after her caesarean and was told by her midwife to

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 36-39 >> Interview 12 >> She thought her caesarean caused her problems with breastfeeding. She felt awful when her daughter had to be readmitted to hospital after losing weigh

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.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 12 >> Her recovery after VBAC was not as quick as she had expected and she had to revise her belief that her difficulties feeding her first child were relat

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.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 30 >> She feels a bit more tentative than she used to since her caesarean, but her scar healed well and she thinks being an active person helped her to reco

Wanted waterbirth with 1st child, went overdue. Induced at 42 weeks, did not dilate despite interventions. Baby delivered by emergency CS after heart rate dropped. Trusted medical team and feels no regrets, but hopes to have vaginal birth with 2nd child.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Interview 23 >> She experienced bleeding for six weeks after the birth. Sex was the last thing on her mind.

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.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 30 >> She has no regrets about her caesarean. She felt involved in decision-making at all stages and her main concern was for her baby's health.

Wanted waterbirth with 1st child, went overdue. Induced at 42 weeks, did not dilate despite interventions. Baby delivered by emergency CS after heart rate dropped. Trusted medical team and feels no regrets, but hopes to have vaginal birth with 2nd child.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Interview 16 >> Knowing more about the likelihood of birth complications might have helped her cope better with her own experience of caesarean.

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 >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 20 >> The doctor consulted her about whether she wanted to labour for a while longer and she was able to discuss her concerns about what a caesarean might m

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 10 >> She sought out as much information as she could with her first pregnancy but thinks in the end nothing can really prepare you.

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 10 >> She felt confident that she would have a natural birth because the pregnancy itself went so well.

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 09 >> The decision to deliver her twins by caesarean was made in consultation with her. It did not feel like an emergency.

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 31-35 >> Interview 10 >> When it was found that her baby was in distress there was no time to discuss options. She was very scared but her midwife stayed with her and held her

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.