When I gave brith to my son vaginally in 1986 the doctor advised me if I had another baby I would have to have it by c-section because I am so tiny inside. During my pregnancy as my son grow inside me I had very little room, I was throwing up 4-5 times a day and had to be very careful about not wasting room on empty calories. My son weighed five pounds and got stuck in the birth cannal, if he had been ounce more the only way to get him out would have been to break his ribs, as it was they had to cut an episotomy in both directions and were near breaking my pelvis in order to free him (it took 2 months to be able to stand and resume my life after his brith). He spewed so much mercounium during that time me and my husband thought he had green skin when he was born coated in it. Thank god he was okay. I never felt the urge to push, my uterus had already ruturpted by then. Three years later I was preagant with my daughter. I walked into the doctor office saying I wanted a c-section because I am very tiny inside. He took one look and told me it couldn’t be true. So I went into labor this time I was ready, screamed for drugs and threatned to hurt the doctor if he wouldn’t give them to me. I felt as my uterus rip open again and I knew that my eight pound little girl could not be born naturally. I watched her heart rate tanking on the moniter. My husband was outside with the doctor very upset. To make a long story short my daughter was born by c-section and I had lots of stiches, when she came out there was a loud popping sound, like a cork from a bottle. The problem with my daughters bith was that the insurance company didn’t want to pay for a c-section. 21 years ago we had manage care, I had just given brith and my doctor left me on the table to go and call my insurace to get permission for the procedure.

Many of us recognize that things did not go as baby/mother friendly as they could have during birth and are asking our doctors to do things differently.

Doctors could easily say “no” and refuse to do things in a more natural way. Sticking to standard procedures is easier than accomadating a women asking to do things differently. Thankfully, though, they are starting to listen to us and are realizing that even though the birth is not “natural”, there are things that can be done to make the birth better for Baby and Mother.

I am currently pregnant with a complete and central placenta previa and I *have* to plan a ‘C’ for my delivery. Words can’t express how badly I am upset by this, especially having already had a quite negative ‘C’ experience. When I read about Dr. Fisk, I was really Happy that someone out there is indeed giving a **** about those of us who value natural birth but are not able to have one! I am appalled that I have found someone KNOCKING him for it!!!

Even though Dr. Fisk won’t be able to help me directly, I intend to carry printed articles about his theories to my doctors to use as ammo/backup in begging for just a little kinder consideration than c-section patients are typically given around here. Thank goodness someone out there cares.

A baby is a blessing NO MATTER how he/she is brought into the world!

Its time to get over the “Im better than you because I used my vagina to give birth” or “c-sections are ok, but only under these medical complications that I have decided on” stigmas!

Thats my little rant I am excited for my elective scheduled c-section knowing that it will be done in calm, stress-free environment and in about an hour or less.

I used your quote (with credit) in my presentation at this past weekend’s ICAN conference. It elicited a vey “knowing” laugh and was a terrific shorthand way of pointing out that women who accept Platt & Fisk’s extortion to schedule their “respectful cesareans” aren’t getting any respect at all!

I have complete peace about that surgery.

My second. Woah mama. I went into the hosptial at 36.4 weeks having some mild, but consistant contractions. We live 3 hours from the nearest relative, so we called them to give them a heads up, but assumed we would just be sent home.

Nope. They checked me and I was 3 cm dialated. At this point, although no one made any mention of fetal distress, they began treating me as an emergency and told me they would be delivering my baby within 30 minutes. My husband and 3 year old son had to wait outside, and I went into the OR alone. I had never met the doctor who delivered my baby and no one could give me an explanation as to why everything was such an emergency. I was so overwhelmed by the urgency that I didn’t fight for myself or my baby.

I was told after the surgery that I was not in true labor. To this day, I have no idea why they forced the c-section. This was less than a year ago so I haven’t been back for my yearly exam. I’m planning on requesting my medical records to try to figure out what happened. Honestly, the subject has been too raw for me to examine until now.

My baby was taken away after being shown to me for a few minutes.

I’m all for making the c-section experience better, but I think we should really try to figure out how to reduce situations such as mine.