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I think that they should be an option in case they are needed. The only reason I'm alive, is because of an emergancy c-sect that allowed the doctors to get me medical treatment that I needed. But I don't understand why they are somthing a person would want to go through if it isn't needed.

Surgury, while avoiding the pain of labour, still is painful itself, and runs the risks of infection and slow healing.

I guess, I don't really understand why or think that a woman should under go surgury for something that is otherwise, usually, a natural process.

I think they should be elective. Totally utterly and completley.

I intend to have one when I have children as I prefer the idea. It has occured to me that this is likley to be for selfish reasons in that I find the idea of natural childbirth unnerving and it's not somthing I want to do , although I still want to have children. Considering there are risks to both the mother and the infant no matter which method you choose It's not somthing that would concern me and I don't see why women should be forced or legally obligated to go through what could be for them a horrific experience to have a child when there are other options available.

Furthermore I don't believe that there is as much of a "mother child bond" as people make out. I don't like how society expects new mothers to "just know" how to look after an infant and lets fathers get away without this inherent responsibility when males in the animal kingdom quite often have lots of interaction with new young. Considering how many women have postnatal depression and are too afraid to mention it because they think it makes them a bad person I doubt this bond, if it can exist before spending time with the child is as strong as the media would have us believe.

See this is a subject that in my oppinon is kinda up in the air. I have a friend that dosent have children yet but every woman in her family that she knows of (i.e. her grandmal,aunt, own mother) all had to have c-sections to deliver their babies so she is debating trying to have a vaginal birth when she dose finally have a child. So I think that with this one c-sections should be optional considering things such as family history and also weither or not the mother's body can take this stress of labor.

This is what I think as well. Just because it's a quick surgery that doesn't involve pushing DOESN'T mean it's safer or healthier, which a lot of women seem to believe.
What some women don't realize though is that c-sections aren't as fantastic as they believe.

1. Longer initial healing period. That means you need help with your newborn for a lot longer.
2. Can make breastfeeding more difficult due to the pain from the incision and placement of the infant.
3. Can have complications and result in infertility or difficulty with future pregnancies.
4. Women who have c-sections report scar pain and itching YEARS afterwards.
5. Being pushed through the vaginal canal is GOOD for the baby. It squeezes fluid out of the baby's lungs and body that otherwise has to be removed, and if done improperly after a c-section can create life-long problems. The squeeze also stimulates the baby's lungs so there's less effort after a vaginal delivery to coax the baby to breath.

While know there's also down-sides to vaginal, I find that these are some really compelling reasons to NOT get a c-section unless you have to. Anyone can tell you that ANY surgery is a risky surgery. If you can avoid surgery, it's usually better.
Plus, with all the medical tools now, not to mention drugs, vaginal childbirth isn't nearly as painful or risky as it used to be.

I personally feel c-sections should only be performed with medical reasoning... but I'm also for free choice, so go figure. However, I don't like that optional c-section rates are rising like crazy. There's no need.

Ignorance is bliss, or so they say. Educate woman, and it's a lot more likely they'll go the vaginal route.

I have to comment on this as well. I was so totally in love with my son before he was even born. Every kick (even the ones that hurt) was so awesome, and I kept my hand on my stomach practically all the time, like I could hold him that way, even if there was skin and guts between us. When he was born, my feelings for him were so strong that I even lost all self-consiousness for awhile, because I was convinced that if my body could make something as perfect as my son, my body was perfect too. (Too bad that feeling didn't last!) When he was 2 days old and we had to rush him to the emergency room, I cried until I was medically dehyrated and the skin under my eyes was red and raw from wiping the tears. I was scared he was going to die and I felt like I would die too if he did... and he was 2 days old - we'd had him out of the hospital for 10 hours before we took him back for a week. If you don't think that's a bond, then... well, I won't say what I was going to.

Society DOESN'T just expect a mom to know how to take care of a newborn. That's why there's 50 million books on infant care, classes up the wazoo, and friends and neighbors saying, "What do you need? Do you need help?" and strangers telling you what to do around every turn. More so, people assume if you're a first time mom that you have NO CLUE what to do.

Depression has nothing to do with a lack of bond with your child. It's more to do with sudden INSANE lack of sleep, combine with new confusing responsibilities, a huge tremor in your relationship with your spouse, and the sudden feeling like you never have a second to yourself and having the feeling like everyone is suddenly judging every tiny little thing you do, from the way you pick up your child to the direction you sneeze. Try having your life suddenly completely and utterly changed in a matter of hours and not feeling overwhelmed.
A lot of women also feel depressed because pregnant women get TONS of attention, especially when their tummies are HUGE. Then suddenly this baby pops out, and most people ooh and ah over the baby and don't look twice at the mother other than to give her (un)wanted advice or tell her she looks great... for just having had a baby.
Also, PPD is a hormonal imbalance that has nothing to do with the lack of a bond.

And um, since when do fathers get away without responsibility? I seem to remember throwing a dirty diaper at my husband because he wouldn't change it when I asked him to. I don't know any woman with a child now who's husband's not involved.

You must still live in the 50's and haven't ever been pregnant.