• Clip
• 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 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 05 >> After some initial difficulties, breastfeeding her daughter was not a problem. Having her husband at home with her for the first two weeks was helpful

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 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 30 and under >> Interview 16 >> Her baby had to stay in special care and she felt very ill. She was grateful to have support from her grandmother and partner, but felt low about need

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 30 and under >> Interview 14 >> She had felt very ill after her previous caesarean and wanted to avoid another lengthy recovery and the need for extra support.

Admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia, 1st child was born 6 weeks premature and had to spend 10 days in SCBU. Found it very difficult to decide how to give birth to 2nd child, worried about risks either way. Had vaginal birth assisted by ventouse.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 09 >> Her husband is keen for her to have a VBAC because he thinks she will recover more quickly and it would be difficult if she could not drive.

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.