Caesarean section (C-section) is the delivery of the foetus and placenta through an incision in the abdomen and uterus. There are various medical reasons why this procedure is performed, either as an emergency or a scheduled operation, as in some instances a vaginal birth can harm the baby and/or the mother. C-sections do, therefore, save lives, and we are all grateful, I’m sure, to the medical advancements of western medicine.

But more and more women are electing to have a C-section, not for medical reasons, but because they fear the pain and distress of a natural delivery. They feel it is their right to choose how their baby is delivered.

On one level I can understand this argument. Giving birth is painful and this pain can be terrifying. No pain comes close to that of a strong contraction, especially when compounded by back pain due to the baby pressing on the spine.

But this pain takes the soon-to-be mother on a journey of self-discovery and realisation. I truly believe that ‘normal’ childbirth, whether it goes to plan or if extra intervention is needed, teaches us many truths about ourselves.

My two births were completely different; the first was long and drawn out, beginning in the birth centre and ending in the hospital with epidural, episiotomy, forceps, and finally, after 30 hours, a vaginal delivery and a beautiful baby girl.


The second was so quick I almost had my son in the car on the way to the hospital. But the pain was incredibly intense and the sense of achievement when I pushed him out with no help from drugs, just the steady encouragements from the midwife, was immense. I was the strongest, bravest, most beautiful person in the world and not even the doctor stitching up the tear bothered me.

At the time of my first delivery, I was afraid, timid and shy. I didn’t surrender to the experience; I held back and I believe that had a bearing on the whole delivery. The second time around I was much more focused, confident, and I knew that my body had the strength to carry out this huge task.
It makes me sad to think that women may be missing out in this life-changing experience unnecessarily. I have no right to assume that women who have C-sections don’t bond with their baby as fast, or that they are somehow cheating their babies (although there is evidence that babies born by elective C-section might miss out on hormonal and physiological changes during labour which help mature the lungs.)

It is themselves they are cheating out of an empowering experience that will turn them into a Goddess for a while and give them the belief that they can do anything.