Natural Births May Become Obsolete
October 31, 2011 9 Comments
Women have been giving birth the same way since they were Neanderthals: through good-old natural birth. However, a recent change by the National Health Service (NHS) could make these old-fashioned vaginal births obsolete.
The NHS plans to give all women the right to choose caesarean sections even if they are not medically necessary. At first glance, the words “right to choose” would make any feminist happy, especially when it concerns a woman’s own body. But this change is actually a bit chilling.
C-sections have become much safer in the last decade, and women are having them more than ever. But does that make them preferable to natural births? For one thing, caesarean are much more expensive. Some have criticized the rise in c-sections, saying that it is a way for doctors to make more money.
Maybe women are just taking the easy way out. Natural births are unexpected, long, and painful, but they are part of the miracle of being a woman. It is what our anatomy was made to do. With c-sections a mother can set a date and can be put under anesthesia — which basically makes her sleep through the entire birth. Women may also prefer c-sections because it doesn’t “ruin” their vaginas through stretching and scarring.
Now, I am not nor have I ever been pregnant. I don’t know how scary giving birth is and have no business judging women who choose caesarean sections. But it is haunting to think that the way women have given birth since the dawn of time could become outdated.
Contact the author here: jennY@morningquickie.com
This pisses me off to no end…c-sections are risky and traumatizing to the women and babies…
So many women I know have had and will continue to have natural an home births .. Sheesh all doctors care about is $$$&
What bothers me about this is the promotion of the idea that birth is too hard and scary for women to do themselves.
Birth is terrifying but there used to be a support system in place telling women that they were strong enough and powerful enough to bring new life into the world.
I had the most horrific birth with my daughter (despite having originally planned a home water birth!!) but I would never opt for a c-section. It isn’t even an easy option really as it is so difficult to look after your baby when you can barely move off the bed. Natural labour is very unpredictable but your body and mind just go with it as you haven’t really got any other choice! And you do forget the pain eventually. And it’s pregnancy that actually knackers you pelvic floor muscles, not just labour! x
Natural births will NEVER become obsolete, just the thought of that is so dumb. If c-sections are on the rise that’s because more and more women are having complications for one reason or another. Women are waiting longer and longer to have children, the foods we eat have too many pesticides and preservatives, and there are so many other things that affect our health and reproduction. I think women are smart enough to choose the natural option when given a choice, but if that’s not possible, sections are the safest options for both mother and child.
AGREED…but i would bet my right arm that 75 % of the c-sections being preformed are due to cosmetic issues and the doctors rushing women through labour.. tia watch the busniess of being born, i was an eye opener
I know at least three women, personally, who would opt for a c-section if given the choice.
That’s so sad… Were loosing the magic of birth…. The whole birth experience should be cherished and not feared … It’s a right of passage for a woman
It’s all the trend at the time, like the push for sections and formula in the 50s. That didn’t last and this wont either. I had 3 sections and can tell you that there is nothing pretty about the scars, so cosmetically, a section sucks! I can tell you that I was never rushed or pushed into having a section. I labored and when it became apparent I was not progressing it was suggested, but I always had a choice.
One of our writers has weighed in: http://morningquickie.com/2011/10/31/its-always-a-womans-choice/