My friend/X Boss was like that. She had a perfectly healthy pregnancy but chose an elective C/S under general with both her children (the last one in November 09) because she feared all things child birth!! It's not what I would want personally... but I suppose she was paying for it (private cover) and it was her ideal birth so that's up to her!!

Why you would choose to have major abdominal surgery when there are other alternatives is beyond me but each to their own!!!

DD1 was an emergency c/s after 15 hours of labour and due to the cord strangling her every time I contracted. The next morning, I could hear just about every stage of labour that another woman on the ward was going through and I really did feel a bit sad about not getting to experience all that.

I have since had two VBACs and the recovery is so much better than have a c/s. I would have another c/s if it was absolutely necessary but I will try for a VBAC every time!!

Ive had an emergency and an elective c/s...

DS was breech - he was booked for the c/s on the 7th and decided to come one the 3rd - therefore it was emergency and I had to be knocked out so that was in whole a horrible experience.

DD was transverse - I was booked in on the 14th and that is when she came... ive never had a natural to compare to... but DD's birth was much better then DS's!

Absolutely!! I was completely knocked out for my emergency c/s so I was in and out of it all day long the day that DD1 was born. Although, I never felt like I didn't bond with my girl as I was still able to successfully BF her and she was pretty groggy too for that first day so she slept most of it as well!

Also, yes the recovery is different for a ECS and an elsective... because with emergency you have been in labour for god knows how many hrs and with an elective you are fresh as a daisy so of course you feel great afterwards. I know that was the case for me anyhow

My doctors were talking about the possibility of a C/S at 34 weeks which is when I was admitted to hospital with pre eclampsia. When the pre eclampsia was at dangerous levels at 36 weeks (still in hospital) and the early stages of HELLP Syndrome were present it was inevitable as my bed resting blood pressure was 185/120!!! They told me natural childbirth would lead to seizure, stroke or death. I never made it to my elective C/S though and ended up having an emergency C/S in the middle of the night due to complications with pre eclampsia.

Being told I was having a C/S was like being issued a get out of jail free card after having a hideous labour and 3rd degree tear with DS1. I was nervous but at the same time really relieved!!

As far as the procedure itself, there were no problems at all and loved that I bipassed labour pains and tearing!! I recovered faster short and long term from my C/S then I did with my 3rd degree tear during natural birth. I was able to sit and walk more comfortably in the hours, days and weeks after C/S and had very light bleeding, was able to pass #1's and #2's with ease and pain free... and I did not experience incontinence post C/S either!!

After birthing DS1 I recall saying to DH that I would NEVER EVER EVER do that again!!! After my C/S I told him I could do that again no problems!! The only problem is that the following weeks and months I started to feel cheated and ripped off. I revisit in my mind that euphoria and bliss that I felt after pushing my first son out and compare that the the flat, underwhelming and undeserving feeling I have delivering a baby surgically.

Even though I found a C/S experience to be a breeze compared to a natural delivery (during the birth and recovery) I would go through labour and a 3rd degree tear again just to feel that euphoria one more time.

Edit: Meant to say that if I had never experienced giving birth naturally, then I am pretty sure I would definitely be ''Too Posh To Push!!'' I didn't find the C/S procedure as horrible or painful as many people do.

Well I've had an emergency c-section and an elective c-section - no vaginal births so I can't compare them to a natural birth.

The emergency c-section was done after a long labour and various complications, the recovery from that one was hard and for the first day or so I was so out of it just from exhaustion and all the drugs etc. I had no problems bonding with DS1 so there was no problem there.

DS2 I had the option to go c-section or have a "trial of labour" , in the end after alot of thinking and agonising over it I chose the elective c-section, something in me just kept telling me to go that way. I was booked in at 39 weeks but my waters broke a week earlier. The whole process was so much better, it was calmer, I wasn't on drugs or anything so I knew what was going on and I was up and about the following morning. We had great breastfeeding attachment etc. Afterwards the Obs told me thank goodness I did have the c-section because my scar was very thin and most likely would have ruptured during active labour and the cord was wrapped around his neck so in the end I was so happy I'd listened to my instincts and made that choice.

This baby, I will have a c-section regardless of whether they give me the option for a vaginal birth. Maybe I come under the "too posh to push" catergory, but I'm doing it because I feel it's safer for the baby and I am more comfortable with the idea of a c-section then a vbac.

I had an elective c-section due to breech presentation. I can honestly say that my actual c-section and recovery was fine, no problem. I can't compare it to a natural birth though. My next bub will be a c-section, not because i'm "too posh to push" but because after my situation with Brandyn I don't want even a tiny risk of rupture etc. Yes I am aware that c-sections also pose a risk but I guess I just feel more comfortable going this route.

I am thankful to have had 2 natural vaginal births....the thought of a c-section freaks me out! Why anyone would choose to have major surgery if they didn't have to, is beyond me...but each to their own....