Why “Too Posh To Push” Is Hurting Women

A woman in the UK has been found dead in her hospital bed, 2 days after giving birth via emergency caesarean section. This is a tragedy, and feeds directly into the fears of many women the world over. But that wasn’t what caught my eye about this story, it was the comments – “too posh to push” (now deleted), “I agree it should be a last resort intervention not a time saving convenience or what ever the reason maybe.”, and others were on the facebook story on a major Australian website.

I’m sorry, what?!

A woman dies under tragic circumstances and you judge her method of childbirth? Putting aside the fact that it clearly states in the reports from the UK it was an emergency c-section, i.e. not a choice, how is the method of delivery any of your concern?

A c-section, even performed in an emergency situation, is a routine procedure and has a good success rate, thank God for that, but it is surgery and it does hold risks. Just as childbirth does naturally. We don’t know why this woman died, the hospital are looking into it, but it is a tragedy and not a forum to voice your opinion about birthing practices.

I will never understand the motivation that drives people to push their opinions, and yes, they are usually opinions not medically researched or scientifically proven facts, onto other people in any situation. If you have a medically researched and scientifically substantiated claim, then I will happily listen to what you have to say. If you were to respond to this particular story by stating that it is a tragedy, and women require better post-operative care after what is, actually, major surgery, then I am happy to listen to that. But “too posh to push”? No.

As women who have historically fought for the right to make our own choices about our lives, who stand on the shoulders of those who went before us, we should know better! How is this fight still going on?

There was an article this week on The Shake about the problem with the dialogue over what women wear, and I’m seeing the same thing at play here: Judgement.

Birthing choices should be made by the people who are giving birth and the medical professionals who are advising them. Not you, sitting at home at your keyboard, judging them on the small amount of information you have been provided, not your mother, sister, husband, friend. Not your experiences or even the medical professionals advising you.

It is not your business to judge her. Especially now that she is gone.