As someone who has given birth to two children—one via C-section and one via VBAC or vaginal delivery after C-section—I can confidently say that there is no wrong way to have a baby. No perfect Either way because the baby is larger than the incision or vagina, but each has its pros and cons. However, many times when I see people talking about childbirth, “C-section” is considered by some to be a dirty word and a procedure to be avoided at all costs. Myths abound about C-sections, including the idea that C-sections are 100 percent a bad thing. But pelvic floor physical therapist “Doc Jen” (@docjenfitness) recently posted a TikTok about the unexpected benefits of C-sections from her perspective as a pelvic floor therapist, which I think is the inspiration many of us may need. speech.
Jen said in her caption that she’s observed women feeling bullied or guilty for not trying a VBAC or opting for a C-section, depending on who’s doing the scolding. “Both are good choices,” she wrote. “[It] Just depends on which one you want and which factors are more important to you!
“It has become a taboo to talk nice about C-sections,” she began during the walk, then continued. “I think sometimes people think a C-section is the worst thing that could happen, but there are actually some very positive things about a C-section.
“One, they’re very predictable, especially if you schedule them in advance. You stay calm, go to the hospital, you know the date, you know when it’s going to happen. Sometimes it can be a more relaxing experience. C-section There is also less risk of developing pelvic floor symptoms such as leakage or prolapse.
“Also,” she continued, “if you have a vaginal birth in the United States, there is a greater than 33 percent chance that you will experience the majority of vaginal births and then still C-section. If you schedule a C-section ahead of time, it won’t happen.
We’d like to pause here and note that this statistic is not strictly real. The national average is 32.1% Comprehensive But the situation varies widely from state to state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Alaska, the C-section rate is less than 23%. Mississippi’s rate is 38%. This number can also vary from hospital to hospital and does not take into account planned C-sections versus emergency or emergency C-sections. In other words: don’t panic about it. (In fact, TikTok account @pagingdrfran corrected the information in the comments, noting that those about to give birth have only about a 20 percent chance of having a C-section, and Jen happily admitted she was wrong.)
But the more important point remains!
“If you’ve ever felt stressed about trying a vaginal birth or VBAC, or worried that your baby might rupture,” she concludes. “I just want to show that a C-section is a viable option and really not that bad of an option.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. The best medical decision for your baby may be any type of delivery, depending on a variety of factors. And──no matter how you bring your child into this world, you are a bad guy.
