MY BIRTH, MY CHOICE

With my first pregnancy, I was like a deer in the headlights. I didn’t do nearly enough research about pregnancy and birthing options. I was induced at 39 weeks, and the induction quickly lead to an emergency C-section – the one thing I wanted to avoid. After my baby was born, I remember feeling like I had been robbed of my chance to actually give birth, and not have my baby surgically removed from my body. Three years later when I fell pregnant again, I decided to look at the pregnancy with new eyes; to educate myself until I was blue in the face, so that I could make better, more informed, decisions. That’s when I found my favourite magazine, Your Pregnancy. I found a wonderful gynaecologist who supported my decision to have a VBAC (vaginal delivery after caesarean), and guided me along the way. I had a perfect natural delivery, so thank you YP! JENNIFER NAIK, CAPE TOWN