How did you work out the delivery???

[Lurker]

Absolutely when it wants to come it comes...but I don't know about over there in the US but out here, C section is seen as the less risky option...natural labour is deemed to have more potential liability than C-section and more potential risk to the mothers health (short and long term).
I guess you have to do what feels ok with you when it comes down to it.

[Kristie]

that's interesting!!! can you explain little more about how they see natural labor as being more difficult & risky for the mom?

[ILoveMyPilot]

C-section? NOWAY!!!!!

I use to apprentice with a Midwife. Natural birth is the safest way. Or even vaginal delivery. There are so many complications that can arise with a c-section that can be avoided by a vaginal delivery.

I had 4 children natural and 1 c-section. I could not even function after the c-section. (first twin natural 2nd was c-section) I could not lift my older child and no family to help either. I also developed a serious infection after the c-section. And to top things off I lifted items over 10 pounds to early and got a hernia. (it took me over 3-4 months to recover with all the things that went wrong)

Anyone who has suggested this method for convenience was misinformed. Do the research on complications. C-sections is a major surgery and should only be used in a medical emergency not out of convenience. (I used to be a nurse and I will not even use an OB that has a high C-section rate) Scary!

[Lurker]

C section is a pretty routine op out here. It obviously circumvents problems that can arise from protracted labour, rupturing, difficulties in the birth canal and certain post partum issues. Not all hospitals out here have emergency facilities either so if anything goes wrong with a natural labour, you may well end up needing to be transferred to another hospital - potentially endangering life and also risking costly litigation.
I guess things are just different out here and the relative ease and convenience make a c section preferable all round. There are also a number of additional social and cultural factors that contribute to this too - hence Asia has (if I'm not mistaken) the highest rate of elective c sections in the world.
But I've never been with child or given birth so this is what I learned through my sisters pregnancy out here...I know what I would choose too - but horses for courses.

[Kristie]

I find it pretty amazing that you don't have emergency facilities all over the place over there! Why is that?

I would think that a big concrete city like that would have emergency clinics within walking distance since not many drive over in HK.

[ILoveMyPilot]

Where are you from?

[Lurker]

From the UK but live in Hong Kong.

[Lurker]

Its because there is no welfare system out here there are a handful of state subsidised public hospitals, then totally private hospitals, then not for profit public and private facilities and then a university hospital. Not all of them have emergency facilities and too many people use the state run hospitals because its cheaper than visiting a doctor (which at its very cheapest is USD50 per visit and very few people have healthcare - me included).

You are right that not that many people drive here (although we have the highest number of Ferrari's and Rolls Royce's per head than anywhere in the world) but healthcare is patchy and there aren't that many good facilities. You must remember that many people here still put more store in TCM, bone setters, acupunture, reflexology etc than in western medicine - of which they are sceptical.

[ILoveMyPilot]

My Husband is from the Netherlands and most births are home births if the pregnancy is okay. I would say about 65%.

[Lurker]

Yes it used to be that way in the UK - my sister and brother were born at home.

Just something to think about here that is often forgotten whilst we are on the subject of babies...I'm right next to Mainland China where thay are only allowed to have one child (unless they can afford to buy the right to have more!) Imagine...no aunts or uncles. How weird is that!