Other Sources of Information

Websites and books

Some websites and books have proved to be particularly informative and we have included their links here. We cannot be held responsible for the content and accuracy of these sites.

www.electivecaesarean.com - a good source of up to date news and research on the issue of caesarean delivery
www.naturalchildbirth.co.uk - information about many alternative birthing techniques
www.childbirth-bristol.co.uk - information about the use of hypnotherapy in preparing for birth and avoiding a caesarean
www.independentmidwives.org.uk - information on fully qualified indpendent midwives for continuous labour support
NICE guidelines - the UK guidelines for caesarean procedure
www.guideline.gov - a medical document highlighting all the caesarean related NICE guidelines elements 27 - useful if you really want to go into detail with your consultant about the procedures, drugs etc. which they will be using during the course of your surgery
Optimal Foetal Positioning by Jean Sutton & Pauline Scott (NZ) 2nd edition, 1996. - a book about helping to align the baby in your pelvis prior to labour. Useful if your baby is in a position that is forcing you into a caesarean that you would rather avoid
www.activebirthcentre.com - provides a lot of information about alternative therapies to help you with labour, breastfeeding etc.
www.rcmnormalbirth.net/ - an excellent website by the Royal College of Midwives. It is aimed at midwives and shows a very positive approach to midwife led birth and the options and techniques that you can hope to have presented to you should you proceed through a midwife led birth
www.csectionrecovery.com - a useful list of resources and a useful "tips" section
www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk - a good source of support if you have experienced a traumatic delivery in the past

Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) organisations

www.vbac.co.uk is a good on-line source of information
VBAC Information And Support is an organisation whose aim is to help women who wish to avoid unnecessary surgery for the birth of their babies. They offer support by telephone and can, for a small fee, provide very relevant information leaflets - for details email them at vbac.information@ntlworld.com

Antenatal classes

Antenatal classes, including those run by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) offer instruction and an opportunity to meet a network of women all at the same stage of pregnancy as you. This can be particularly useful when you are going to be at home with your baby for several months. These events can provide you with a lot of information about birthing options (including caesareans). It is worth bearing in mind that to many, caesareans are still viewed as an intervention best avoided. This may affect both the perspective that you are given about the caesarean experience and the amount of information provided. Contact your local hospital or NCT representative for information about antenatal classes and hospital visits.

Your NHS antenatal classes will tell you a hospital birth is best. Other antenatal classes will tell you a home birth is better if you want to avoid medical intervention. However unless you have particularly progressive educators it is highly likely that caesareans will be represented as the last resort.

An alternative view of antenatal classes was given by a midwife reporting on the Association for Improvements in Maternity Services (AIMS) website stating that she was "rather fed up with women who have had extensive classes. I used to be an avid NCT teacher, many years ago; however, they dupe women into believing that they can easily get through. Tell them the truth for a change, tell them it is damned painful, tell them they will need resilience, tell them breastfeeding is flipping well hard work for six or so weeks, and they will feel like a prize dairy cow for months! But tell them it is all worth it and they will have support - they will have a midwife who will help them through the whole process, because most of us will, given the chance. A registrar once said to me that the NCT was the cause of many problems in midwifery. I argued with him then; I now agree with him and just wish they would stop trying to portray childbirth as something you can join the dots with!" 34

Hospital visits

Hospital visits are really worth taking as, for many women, their birth will be the first time they have been in hospital since their own arrival in the world. A visit can help to dispel fears and answer questions about how your birth will be conducted. Again it is worth bearing in mind that even in hospitals, caesareans are still viewed as an intervention best avoided and that this may affect both the perspective that you are given about the caesarean experience and the amount of information provided.

Yoga

Yoga is an excellent and safe way to keep fit both in pregnancy and following your birth. Classes specifically tailored to pregnant women teach you all about positions and breathing techniques that will help during labour. It is also useful if you are choosing to have a caesarean as it teaches you how to calm your mind while also gently exercising your body. The Active Birth Centre 30 runs courses in London and searching the web will no doubt turn up local courses.

Caesarean belt

A caesarean belt may provide extra relief, support and confidence for some women. Theraline Caesarean belt is a typical product which offers this www.bumpto3.com.