Betsy writes:

> There ARE repercussions, and hearing things
>  like "C-sections are the *easy* way out only makes our regrets greater.

Betsy, your stories were very much to the point -- thank you for posting them.

But I think the point people were making is that, in a climate where surgical
deliveries are both quicker and more lucrative for medical providers, a lot
of marketing goes into giving mothers -- especially first time mothers -- the
impression that scheduled deliveries are in fact easier.

This is especially true because, in a first pregnancy, it's so hard to think
of the time after birth anyway.   Childbirth itself looms large as the "end"
of pregnancy.   And one result of that it that it is easier for many
first-time gravidas to imagine the pain of childbirth as something to avoid,
than it is for them to keep in mind the pain or difficulty of recovery.

Because of this I do think it is important for us to tell pregnant women all
the time:  Natural childbirth hurts for a few hours, but you have help, and
then it stops hurting when you need to take care of your child;  but surgical
childbirth, even though it eliminates pain during delivery, gives you that
pain double afterward -- just when you want to pay attention to your baby,
and your helpers have gone home...

In other words, Betsy, it's not that it's easier, but that we need to make
sure mothers -- not so much 5th timers like you but 1st timers especially --
understand why, and how, it isn't easier.

Elisheva Urbas
nyc
professional explainer

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