Today I was talking with another pregnant woman about her upcoming birth. She said she was scared to give birth vaginally and had chosen a scheduled c-section. I must have looked at her like she had three heads. I explained that I am petrified of a major abdominal surgery. What is it about our culture that makes women fear what is normal and natural? How can staples and sutures in your belly be a better alternative?
Luckily, this did give me a chance to discuss my views on elective cesarean sections and clear up a few of her misconceptions. Then I went on to tell her a few things that my husband and I are doing to avoid an unneccesary surgery.
For example:
*Attending a good childbirth class series.
* Hiring a doula.
* Choosing a practitioner who believes in the power of a woman's body to birth without intervention.
