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• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Susan - Interview 01 >> She wanted to be more in control than she had been with her previous birth and prove to herself that she could achieve vaginal birth.

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.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 30 and under >> Susan - Interview 01 >> She would caution women that once they have had an intervention, others are likely to follow and choice is likely to be taken out of their hands.

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.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 15 >> She thinks it is important to seek information and advice from health professionals, but in the end the decision rests with each woman individually.

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 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

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 30 and under >> Interview 16 >> Because she did not have any control over her first birth, it was all the more important to her to be able to make an active decision to give birth to

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 >> 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

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 >> Her second caesarean gave her a sense of achievement because she had actively chosen to give birth that way.

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 >> She thinks women should be involved in decision-making as much as possible but at the same time the idea of patient choice can be taken too far.

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 07 >> The experience of planned caesarean was much better than she had expected. She felt calmer, better informed and more in control than she had done with

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 13 >> She felt anxious when a growth scan at 34 weeks showed her baby to be breech as she did not want for things to be taken out of her control again.

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 30 and under >> Susan - Interview 01 >> She would have liked to be more involved in decisions about her care, but once she experienced strong labour pains the right point in time had been mi

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.

• Pregnancy & children >> Making decisions about birth after caesarean >> Aged 36-39 >> Interview 29 >> There was no continuity of care during any of her pregnancies. She found it hard having to re-tell her medical history to every new person she dealt w

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 03 >> She had wanted as natural a birth as possible, but after her labour slowed down she felt she lost control and went along with interventions she had wa

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 felt disappointed to have had a child without having gone through labour. It was very different from how she had imagined the birth.

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.