Dear Jessica Simpson, Before You Have Another C-Section...
Dear Jessica Simpson,
Congratulations!
I hear through the grapevine that you are expecting another baby. (I don't buy gossip magazines. But I do sometimes look at them in the checkout line.) And I heard your first was born by requested, scheduled c-section. And I also heard it was because (in part) you watched your sister attempt a long and painful natural birth.
There are a few things that you deserve to know about having another c-section. They are things that not all women are told.
There are risks no matter HOW you birth. But were you told about the risks of mulptiple c-sections in a real and honest way? Most women aren't. They include:
- Placenta problems (implanting improperly and causing further and sometimes dangerous problems) in future pregnancies.
- Injuries to the bladder- this surgery is major and involves more than just a uterus.
- Heavy bleeding- as with any major surgery this is a risk- and it is higher with c-section than with a natural birth.
- Weakened uterine wall- this is why there is so much talk about "rupture" after one c-section. It is often given as a reason NOT to VBAC- but what they don't tell you is that the more c-sections you have, the more dangerous it gets.
- Women after cesarean often report pain in the incision for months or even years, adhesion pain internally, and various other problems.
- In fact, cesarean can even impact future fertility (either by making pregnancy less likely or less desirable.)
- If you don't believe me, just ask Tori Spelling. Her multiple c-sections made her fourth pregnancy scary and dangerous.
(You can read all about these risks on the Mayo Clinic website.)
Jessica, you deserve to know a few things about natural birth too.
Birth doesn't have to be scary.
Birth doesn't have to be horrible.
Birth doesn't have to be suffering.
Yes, natural birth isn't free of risk or pain. And no, you can't always control the outcome. But natural birth can be amazing. Birth can be empowering. Birth can make you feel like you did something INCREDIBLE even though it is something women do every day.
You don't have to be afraid of birth. You don't have to think of birth as suffering. A woman who is supported and loved throughout her pregnancy and birth process can feel more powerful and happier than at any other time in her life.
I can't guarantee that a birth class or the right book will make a natural birth wonderful or even possible for you. But I can guarantee that there is joy in TRYING and there is power in knowing that you are capable. And there is something so much more wonderful about embracing HOPE rather than FEAR.
You deserve to make the decision yourself. You also deserve to know the risks and benefits of EVERY decision.
All the best-
Photo from-
- cliff1066™ / Foter / CC BY
Comments
Maybe Mrs. Simpson does not aspire to have a football team of children. Maybe she is fully informed, and being fully informed of both options chooses cesarean. Who are we to question that choice or assume that she is uninformed? Maybe the risk to her future child (the one she is carrying now and not some imaginary potential future child who may or may not ever come into existence) of a uterine rupture that would necessitate an emergency cesarean and would pose a serious risk of neurological damage to her child, is just one she is not willing to take.
It is her body and her choice - and the only appropriate thing to wish her is to have a healthy pregnancy and birth
Nicely done.
I am appalled that this is on this site as it is cruel, demeaning and fear-mongering.
You go, Mama!! As long as we keep educating and empowering women, we can turn the birth tide in this country!!
I keep getting this tone from people in the "natural birthing world" that radiates the "We're better because we're natural" attitude. It really annoys me because while I love the all natural route, sometimes it's just not a good idea, or possible, or something someone wants to do for reasons undisclosed.
Plus, I keep seeing posts against hospitals and medical interventions while having a vbac that results in serious trauma, bleeding, and a damaged baby is considered successful. It's so depressing that there are so many out there who consider it a success! I thought our goal was to have a Healthy baby, not push something out our vagina no matter what. I did not find it empowering, I found it horrible and am so glad I'm never doing it again. The part I find awesome is being able to enjoy my nice healthy sons.
C-sections have their problems, but so does regular birth. If you're going to list the bad things about c-sections, list everything that can go wrong with a regular vbac as well. Don't sugar coat it as if it's the best thing ever, because it's just another way to get baby out. Don't worship birth.