C-sections ARE a miracle, and save millions of lives. They ARE routine and safe; safer for the baby than vaginal birth, in fact (and only very slightly more risky for the mother). C-sections are only "major surgery" because the abdominal muscles are severed; otherwise they are no more "major" than a tonsillectomy, and are usually performed under only local anesthesia. I spent weeks recovering from ulcer surgery: being fed through tubes, unable to walk, feeling awful; I was in a bit of pain for a couple of days after my c-sections but felt otherwise fine and was able to get up and walk around and eat and everything else. And c-sections are FAR from "mandatory." Women still do not have the right to simply request one and have that request simply be granted. The "natural childbirth movement," which hates women and is determined to make us all suffer, fights hard to prevent women from having a choice in how their child is delivered. Thousands and thousands of women every day are forced into "trying" vaginal birth against their wishes, and women and babies die because hospital policies often mandate c-sections as a last resort. I'm very sorry your c-section was so traumatic for you and that your doctor apparently broke the law and operated on you as you protested. But one case of an irresponsible pig did not affect c-section policy worldwide, c-sections save millions of lives including those of myself and my own daughter(s), and your experience does not mean c-sections are the devil's work and women should be forced into vaginal births they do not want, vaginal births that have killed far more infants than c-sections, just because you do not like c-sections. And by the way, this: "Healthy people can have as many children as they want and if one doesn't make it (which is unfortunate but it happens, only very rarely for healthy people) they can concieve another one." ...is not correct. Look at the rates of perinatal death/stillbirths/maternal deaths presided over by homebirth midwives, to see just how common it is for infants to die for lack of c-sections. These are healthy babies and healthy mothers killed by the process of vaginal birth, and it's not uncommon for these women to be so badly damaged that they cannot conceive again. Either way, a baby is lost forever, and babies are not replaceable.