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Making decisions about birth after caesarean

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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 03 >> She felt that the relationship with her team of midwives was very basic and businesslike.

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 20 >> She bought a book but didn't actually read the section on birth and felt that other women often told her more than she needed to know.

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 12 >> Having been told that her baby was large, she would have liked to receive better information and support to prepare for his birth. 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 31-35 >> Interview 27 >> She tried various methods to turn her breech baby, but it didn't work. She found books more useful than antenatal classes and would have liked better

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 31-35 >> Interview 11 >> Her antenatal classes did not cover caesarean in detail. At the time she didn't want to ask questions, but with hindsight, more information on reasons

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 11 >> Health professionals need to be aware that women who have had a caesarean without labour may need more information about labour and pain relief than o

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 31-35 >> Interview 28 >> She thinks that sometimes it can be better not to know too much and to put your trust in the professionals instead.

Difficult pregnancy, laboured for 2 days, then found baby was double-breech and had emergency CS. Had trouble breastfeeding and felt very low for 6 months. Uncertain about how to deliver 2nd child, leaned towards planned CS but went into labour early and had VBAC as operating theatre was busy.

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 28 >> She got most of her information from books and the internet and saw the antenatal classes mainly as an opportunity to get to know other mothers-to-be.

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

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 15 >> It is important for consultants to know their patients' individual circumstances so they don't give advice that is irrelevant.

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 28 >> With hindsight, it would have been helpful to know more about the different kinds of pain relief available during labour before a caesarean.

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 30 >> She wanted to know how feasible it was for her to attempt vaginal birth and was relieved to learn that she would not be induced.

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 36-39 >> Interview 06 >> 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 >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Interview 23 >> In her experience, midwives will often gloss over the risks to reassure women.

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 26 >> She did not experience many worries during her pregnancy and was happy to leave things to professional judgement.

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 28 >> Health professionals thought that as a second time mother she needed less support, but she would have liked more information and a chance to go to ant

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 31-35 >> Interview 11 >> She would have liked to attend antenatal classes to refresh her knowledge of labour and pain relief. Women in the parentcraft classes had other intere

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 11 >> She asked to see a consultant early on in her pregnancy to find out whether the problems with her placenta that had led to her previous caesarean were

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 11 >> A book on caesarean helped her to understand better what went on during her last birth, but it could not tell her how likely it was for complications

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.

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 15 >> She was disappointed that the consultant she saw at the hospital was just going through standard advice rather than tailoring the information to her p

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 25 >> She was surprised at how little information there was available for pregnant women who have had a previous caesarean.

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.