Full list of topics

Additional information :
About the interviews and the DiAMOND trial
Terms used in this website

Previous pregnancy and caesarean birth :

After caesarean birth
Experiences of previous pregnancy & caesarean

Next pregnancy and birth after caesarean :

Decisions about how to give birth after caesarean
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

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

Search the whole site
Search in this condition

Making decisions about birth after caesarean

Subject index

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 19 >> There is no longer a medical reason for her to have a caesarean but after battling with herself she has decided to stick with that option because of h

Her waters broke 10 days past her due date, but contractions did not start. She was induced, didn't dilate, then had CS after 14 hours of labour. Chose to have a planned CS with 2nd child as felt pessimistic about her chances of having a vaginal birth.

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 29 >> She experienced deep pain from her scar for almost a year but was reassured by the doctor that they were normal healing pains.

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 31-35 >> Interview 19 >> Speaking to the midwife helped her to make up her mind to have a planned caesarean. The doctor said he could understand her reasons. Played by an acto

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 19 >> She would advise women to consider all available information and not be afraid to ask for a planned caesarean if that was their choice. Played by an a

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Interview 14 >> Her baby's premature birth was a shock. She did not feel like a Mum until he was able to come home. She is keen for others to know that she did not ch

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 30 and under >> Interview 24 >> She was advised to have a planned caesarean and had the operation the next day. The experience left her feeling cheated.

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 40 and over >> Interview 05 >> Because of a previous miscarriage, she did not start to think about how to give birth until her hospital appointment at 20 weeks.

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 13 >> After the caesarean, she developed heart palpitations that lasted for several months and which she thinks may have been caused by the stress of the de

1st child was breech, so had planned CS. Various complications made her keen to avoid repeat CS. Asserted herself against doctors' recommendations. 2nd child born after 12 hour labour with help of ventouse. Pleased with experience, recovered much better.

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 06 >> Doctors advised her to have a planned caesarean because her baby was big. When he turned out to be normal size, she felt angry initially.

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 31-35 >> Interview 18 >> She chose a planned caesarean to minimise the risk of her lichen sclerosus returning. It annoys her that people who don't know her reasons might think

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 30 and under >> Interview 16 >> She prepared a birth plan for her planned caesarean. She asked to have contact with the baby as soon as possible, as she regrets missing out on the fi

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 16 >> After she had booked her caesarean, she received a leaflet describing the pros and cons. It would have been good to have the information before meetin

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 05 >> Her previous birth was so traumatic that she feels very anxious about vaginal delivery. She thinks a repeat caesarean is safer for the baby and will p

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 15 >> She was convinced that she would not go into labour naturally because of her previous experience and family history. It made her confident that she wo

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 40 and over >> Interview 02 >> She had considered a caesarean but changed her mind when doctors encouraged her that there was no medical reason she could not give birth vaginally.

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 30 and under >> Interview 24 >> Her partner wanted her to have a water birth with their second child. He thinks having a caesarean is 'cheating'.

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 40 and over >> Interview 05 >> 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

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Interview 16 >> Having no choice over her first caesarean made her feel like she had failed. She is glad that she could make an informed decision to have a planned se

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 28 >> She thinks a planned caesarean will allow her to bond better with her baby because she will be far less exhausted than she was after the long labour a

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 changed her mind throughout her pregnancy and kept her options open by booking a caesarean for after her due date.

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 03 >> The anaesthetic hurt but the operation was quick and straightforward and the medical team created a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

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 03 >> She had wanted a vaginal birth but when she went past 42 weeks without going into labour planned caesarean seemed the only conclusion.

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Interview 16 >> Her second caesarean gave her a sense of achievement because she had actively chosen to give birth that way.

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Interview 16 >> She had to wait quite a long time beforehand, but the caesarean itself took less than an hour and was less scary than she had imagined.

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 05 >> She has no regrets about going private for her caesarean. The doctor told her after the birth that she would have been unlikely to deliver her daughte

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 08 >> The consultant told her that in her position she, too, would have opted for a caesarean. This helped to reassure her that she had made the right choic

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 40 and over >> Interview 08 >> She went along with her consultant's advice to have a repeat caesarean but did not feel put under pressure in any way. Played by an actor.

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 15 >> She was convinced that a caesarean was the best option for her given her previous medical history, so she wanted the doctor to book a date straightawa

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 28 >> She thinks negative media coverage of women who have a caesarean is unhelpful and could sway women in their decision when they might have very good re

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 40 and over >> Interview 08 >> The atmosphere in theatre was relaxed and professional. But it felt a bit as though she was 'a job to be done' in a queue and it was not an experience

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 28 >> She went into labour before the date booked for her caesarean. By the time the theatre was available she was in advanced labour and was advised that i

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 15 >> She feels it was right for her to have full control over the decision to have her second child by planned caesarean and thinks every woman should be o

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 13 >> The information she received on planned caesarean did not prepare her for the difficult recovery she experienced. She would have liked to be told befo

Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 07 >> The medical staff talked her through the delivery moment by moment. Having a first glance at her daughter still attached by the cord was wonderful.

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 >> Susan - Interview 01 >> Even though it wasn't what she had wanted, her planned caesarean was a much calmer experience than the first. She felt better prepared physically and

First child born by emergency CS. She felt disappointed with the process and keen to give birth to her 2nd child vaginally, but discovered at her 20 week scan that her placenta covered her cervix (placenta previa) so she would need another CS.