Giving Birth - News, Tips and Advice

Thank you for the very balanced and honest account of the wonders of a one of the most significant part of our life journey for babies,parents and families.
Just to add that nature or spirituality or whatever you call, is something that will be often leave us in wonder and not knowing!! I for one, value the mysteries that life and being human can be. 

I love this story. I have a 2 month old baby boy, whom we dearly love.
At about 32 weeks, we were advised that a c-section was likely to be the best option for me due to the size of our baby boy’s head (lovely genetics he has been blessed with). We monitored the head growth at regular visits, and it was often a week or two ahead of where he should be. Other than that, I had a healthy baby and a normal pregnancy.
My Ob gave me the options and advised me of the risks of both a natural and a c-section birth.
I so desperately wanted to have a natural birth, however, my baby would not engage, and my Ob would not induce me as he wasn’t engaged, the theory being that it is likely I would end up having an emergency c-section anyway due to the stress it would place him under during an induction.
So after my 40wk appointment, he gave me the option to either have a c-section 3 days later or return in a weeks time to ascertain progress. It was my call and I knew the risks - potentially suffer from bladder weakness in the future, cervical prolapse etc or lose my core (abdominals) for a few weeks.
I struggled that night knowing that my baby was still some time away and my fear of ‘being less of a woman’, however, I discussed it at length with my husband and we elected to have a c-section.
When the time came, my female anaethetist (who had had c-sections herself) talked me through her procedure before and during, as did my Obs.
The most amazing feeling came across me when we met our man for the first time. I was on such a high, the same high a woman going through natural childbirth would go through. My experience was entirely positive.
Back on the ward I did have a catheter in place for about 16 hours and I was hooked up to pethidine. I was slow to move around for about 24 hours. But, having my little man delivered safely and without stress to him and damage to me was important.
When I saw my Obs for my 6 wk check up I told him that I didnt regret my decision one bit and that I did struggle with not feeling like a woman beforehand. He summed it up nicely by saying that irrespective of your delivery method you are still your sons Mum and it doesnt make you any less of his Mum by choosing one way or the other.
I would like to have a natural birth next time, but it is unlikely that we will go down that path. However, I would expect the same situation to be just as positive next time, and that feeling cannot be explained or replicated by any other means.

Myf, you’re magnificent!

Wow - what a fantastic idea. Great for working parents to be who never have the time to get organised before the baby comes.

Great website and great gift ideas.

To Imogen - that’s okay if you have no fertility issues. For women who are no so fortunate not having children before 30 reduces their chances.

I would definitely agree it’s a mind shift after work. In order to let go of my expectations to get a million things done and keeping to a schedule, i adjusted my thinking; looking after my beautiful baby girl is my job and so if I get other things done in the day that’s great, if all I do is look after her and other jobs like dinner or laundry do not get done till my husband gets in the door, that ‘s fine!