Giving birth…

So I was curious to know what others think. When I was pregnant with my first son I had gestational diabetes and after having him via c-section I retained high blood pressure and have to take medication to control my blood pressure. I had a planned c-section but my water broke early and I had an unplanned c-section rushing to the hospital I was already 4 cm dilated and I had only been in labor for 30 minutes when the nurse put a monitor on me while I waited for the doctor to verify with the on call doctor about my c-section I had major contractions I hadn’t felt. I wasn’t in pain and it was more like a tightening sensation on my stomach.

Well I am now expecting my second baby and the only thing bugging me now is that I was previously told after my son was born that I didn’t actually give birth or do anything and that he was just cut out of me and I didn’t go through labor so I didn’t give birth. I know this was coming from someone who had never had a child before but it really hurt me. I am worried now that when it comes time for this one what I should do. My doctor stated it was safe for me to have either a vaginal or c-section but he’d really like to monitor my heart closely if I delivered vaginally.

I don’t want to be told I’m not an actual mother because I didn’t endure labor. But with my son I did go into labor a week before my c-section and I did have contractions and I was dilating. Even though he didn’t come out of me via vaginal delivery I still feel like I gave birth.

I’m concerned of if I plan a c-section and this being my last baby people will say I never gave birth and that I’m not an actual mother because of it. What should I do? Deliver vaginally and take the risk on my heart having high blood pressure and blood sugar or schedule a c-section and always be told I didn’t give birth and I’m not an actual mother because of it.