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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
Subject index
Topic
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Comparing birth experiences and recovery
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Comparing birth experiences and recovery
Comparing birth experiences and recovery
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Comparing birth experiences and recovery
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Comparing birth experiences and recovery
Comparing birth experiences and recovery
Pregnancy & children
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Comparing birth experiences and recovery
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Comparing birth experiences and recovery
Comparing birth experiences and recovery
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 26
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She felt scared when she first looked at her scar but it healed very well and eventually faded.
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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 13
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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
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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 40 and over
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Interview 02
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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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 36-39
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Interview 15
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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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 36-39
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Interview 12
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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
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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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She felt very ill after the operation and took a good month to fully recover. She hadn't realised she would not be able to drive for 6 weeks and had t
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 13
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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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 36-39
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Interview 29
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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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 40 and over
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Interview 30
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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
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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 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
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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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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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 19
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She felt very let down by the lack of support she experienced on the hospital ward. It was hard to be dependent on people that seemed unwilling to hel
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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 20
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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
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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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Her reasons for wanting a vaginal birth after caesarean were mainly practical - a quicker recovery so that she would be able to drive and look after h
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 30 and under
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Interview 14
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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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 40 and over
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Interview 02
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Her main concern in making the decision for a VBAC was to recover as quickly as possible rather than a great urge to do it 'naturally'.
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
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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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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.
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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Compared to her caesarean, vaginal birth felt lengthy and drawn-out. She had a lot more pain before the birth and found she was not offered the same l
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 36-39
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Interview 06
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She felt uncomfortable after her VBAC, but it was minor compared to the pain she experienced after her planned caesarean. It was great to come home an
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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Her vaginal birth was painful, but she was back on her feet much more quickly and able to hold and feed her daughter comfortably.
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 31-35
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Interview 20
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She found recovery after her forceps delivery more painful than after her caesarean. It took 10 days before she could sit down without thinking about
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
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Aged 30 and under
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Interview 14
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She had worried about things going wrong during VBAC, but looking back she thinks bonding with her baby and getting into an independent routine was a
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
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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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After her first caesarean she didn't feel like herself and found it harder to bond with her baby.This time, having had the choice, she felt really wel
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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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.
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Recovery & complications after previous caesarean
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Recovery & complications after previous caesarean
Recovery & complications after previous caesarean
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Recovery & complications after previous caesarean
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Recovery & complications after previous caesarean
Recovery & complications after previous caesarean
Pregnancy & children
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Making decisions about birth after caesarean
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Recovery & complications after previous caesarean
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Recovery & complications after previous caesarean
Recovery & complications after previous caesarean
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