Real experiences

It is a good idea to talk to your peers about their experiences. It helps prepare you for the event. Anecdotal information can give you ideas of things you might want to try (i.e. labour positions or homeopathic remedies) and can make the whole thing seem less scary.

This page includes links to a number of birth stories from mothers who have had a caesarean in the last few years. The stories should give you an idea of the experience from both an elective and an emergency perspective.

Talk to your family and friends but always bear in mind the following:

Recentness of the birth experience (practices even 10 years ago may differ radically from the norm found today)
The amount of support the friend had during and after their experience
The extent to which they were open minded about the course their birth would take prior to the onset of labour (i.e. if they were adamant about having a water birth at home and ended up being rushed into hospital for an emergency caesarean, their perceptions of the birth are likely to be far more negative than someone who hoped for a water birth but was aware of other possibilities and complications)

A study looking at mother's views of their births produced some very interesting insights:

"Women were asked to express their feelings about the birth of their baby by agreeing or disagreeing with statements. Nearly all women expressed a strong desire for a birth that was 'the safest option for their baby' (approx 90%) and that was the 'least stressful for their baby' (approx 80%) and this was considered to be the most important aspect of the birth. Their own safety, a desire for a quick recovery and a birth that would not impede breastfeeding (45%) were also strong preferences. Most women agreed that they would like a birth that would reduce the chances of urinary incontinence. However, the potential impact of birth on future sexual function had either not been considered or did not impact strongly on the birth preferences of many women. Preferences towards aspects of intrapartum [during labour] care were diverse. Feeling in control was important to most women; most also wanted a birth which was as natural as possible but most also wanted as little pain as possible. In contrast, planning the date that the baby is born was considered unimportant by most women. 5.3% reported a preference for a caesarean birth. Interestingly women who preferred a CS were more likely to place a high priority on their own safety and being as pain free as possible and of these women they were more likely to be pregnant for the first time. However, they also tended to agree with the right of a women to choose a vaginal birth." 27

Birth Stories - from the mother's perspective

Birth Stories - from the father's perspective

Your stories and feedback

If you have a story that you would like to contribute or a comment to any of the stories above then please send it in via our email page.