Have you all talk to doctors vaginal vs c-section birth?

Question

I have recently came across research that seem to suggest that c-section are done at an alarming high rate and done unnecessarily. 
It sounds like when medically appropriate of course it should be done but I’m today’s culture it seems like c sections are too common when they shouldn’t be. Doctors should encourage vaginal birth but it seems that it’s convenient to do a c section. I’m so scared. How did you advocate for yourself?  I don’t have a doula and I’m scared to scared one because they might not let her in due to covid.

Answer

Know your doctors cesarian rate. My OBs was 8%. If your OBs rate is super high, find a new doctor.

Answer

Do you have any local Facebook groups for moms in your area? Mine is very resourceful as far as recommendations and reviews of drs. 
The red flags I hear about are drs who suggest c section because "baby may be too big to fit" unless it's super obvious eg your super petite and you had GD and your baby is clearly very huge on the ultrasound. Otherwise, I would question that. The other is "failure to progress" when you and the baby are both doing just fine in labor and there's no real medical concern.  If those things happen, you and your birth partner should be prepared to ask questions and advocate. But it didn't happen to me. My first c section was very clearly necessary as I had preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome and baby was showing signs of distress with the induction. The dr showed me the heart rate pattern and explained why it's concerning and that we cannot continue with the induction for it sake of the baby, and can't stop labor for the sake of my health. So I 100% understood why the c section was being done, and that's the experience I hear most often, that the c section was necessary and it was well explained. But the best way to know is through reviews, because a dr can tell you whatever, but others experiences can be telling. My drs have a very good reputation on my Facebook moms group, and I concur.

Answer

Mine’s a little different because I had twins, which is high risk and more likely to end up in a c-section because of the risks to the babies.
I spoke to my doctor about vaginal vs c-section odds very early in my twin pregnancy. He said that in his experience I had about a 50/50 chance for either delivery method. We discussed my fears and after we agreed on some terms that would necessitate the need for a c-section. (I had the lowest risk type of twins and had an easy vaginal birth previously). We agreed that we would attempt vaginal but the “goal” was to have two healthy babies and an healthy mom on the other side of delivery. Things worked out in my favor and I was able to get my vaginal delivery 😊

Answer

I’ve had 3 natural births, two different hospitals, all different obgyns. Maybe it depends on where you live? I’ve never had a section suggested and I’m high risk due to epilepsy. If I DID have a doctor say I had to have one of probably just laugh and leave.

Answer

You’re correct. Some doctors haven’t ever even seen a natural birth without any interventions or drugs. They’re trained to see risk everywhere and are often poorly trained on how our bodies are designed perfectly for natural birth. 
Read as much as you can like Ina May Guide to Childbirth and do a hypnobirthing class if you can. 
It’s great you want to advocate for yourself. Learn to challenge them and not be scared. They’re meant to get your INFORMED consent but often forget to inform you (or present the information in alarmist ways eg. the risk doubles - which may be true but it doubles from a risk of 0.1% to 0.2% not 20% to 40%). Ask about alternatives, risks, basis of those risks (actual percentages), quality of research on the risks, ask for time to do nothing. 
Labour is the body working at its healthiest but it’s delicate. The hormones in birth can be easily swayed off track if you have people come in, noise, bright lights, exams. Imagine someone coming in while you’re trying to poop and telling you that your doing it wrong or too slowly. It’s the same thing. Your body will go into fear mode and protect your baby from being born into what it fears is a dangerous situation. It’s an important mechanism from when we were in the wild but our body can’t process if we are being chased by a lion or just being told something scary by a doctor.

Answer

Have you had a csection before or are you just worried about having one in the long run?

Answer

My OB started discussing it when we realized my first was going to be huge. He said normally it would not phase him, but he said I was too narrow and the risk of injury to baby and emergency cesection was high. Around 36/37 weeks they set the date for 39 weeks, and at 38 weeks I had a finally scan and they said he was measuring over 10lbs. He was born at 39 weeks 3 days and weighed 11lbs2oz. He was a big boy. My second we just opted for a csection even though he was on the smaller side at 9lbs13oz. My OB will also do his best to avoid a csection if you plan to have more than 2 or 3 kids.

Answer

Lean on your nurses. I had a four day induction and labor that ended in csection because I couldn’t progress. My nurses (and most doctors) were amazing and listened when I suggested things. They tried to push csection on day two and I asked that we stop and restart the Pitocin after I gave my body a break. The nurses researched the idea and backed me up when the doctor wanted to say no because it wasn’t a common thing. Well, neither is a four day labor with induction 😂

Have you all talk to doctors vaginal vs c-section birth?

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