C-Section or Natural Birth: Which Is Right for You?

Babies are delivered into this world, either via a natural delivery or surgical delivery through a Cesarean Section. However, the ultimate aim of both these modes of delivery is to deliver the baby safely.

Natural delivery is one of the oldest methods of giving birth. However, with advancements in technology, it has become more sterilized and professional that ensures the safety of the baby and the mother. Vaginal delivery is preferred by most patients, is done if there are no complications.

In some cases, doctors may plan a C-section for medical reasons, if the vaginal birth is too risky. The mother is usually notified in advance if she requires a C-section, based on her approval the doctors schedule it if she is expecting twins or multiples, or if she has any disease/ disorder, like high blood pressure or diabetes.

A C-section can also be scheduled much ahead of time if the woman is diagnosed with an infection that she could potentially pass along to the baby during birth, like genital herpes or HIV, or if the mother experiences complications with the placenta within her pregnancy timeline.

Complications of Selecting a Mode of Delivery

All females struggle with deciding the appropriate mode of delivery during their pregnancy. And as decision making is the most complex mechanism of our human thought system, which can be influenced by several factors.

Pregnancy takes the women through physiological evolution, and as we know, its end is associated with anxiety, pain, distress, and even the fear of death for some mothers. Child delivery is a type of multi-dimensional process that involves physical, social, emotional, cultural, & psychological dimensions. Certain mothers can face complications or have a very painful experience with childbirth.

Pain is always associated with medical condition or procedure that adversely affects the ability of a person to adhere to it that often leads to anxiety and fear.

A patient’s attitude towards labor pain may be associated with psychological, physical, environmental, and other supporting factors, that can greatly affect the choice of the mode of delivery.

Labor pain is a major determinant of a pregnant woman’s decision about which technique she prefers for the delivery. These things are usually discussed throughout the pregnancy checkups with the doctors. The pain tolerance of the mother to be is determined, by the level and their reaction to the pain. Some patients might want natural delivery but may lack the tolerance, that can lead them to have a C-Section eventually.

Normal Delivery VS C-Section

Medical teams, dealing with childbirth, focus on the safety of the mother and baby.

C-section was initially introduced for reducing the risks involved in delivery for the fetus and the mother. However, today, C-section is used for delivering the baby without experiencing the intensity of labor pain.

Many people believe the myth that C-sections are painless, much safer, and healthier compared to vaginal delivery, that has helped it in becoming more prevalent among women. In fact, 50 percent plus women voluntarily select C-section as their preferred mode for delivering the baby.

When is Caesarean required?

A C-section may be opted in certain situations, in which the woman with a small pelvis is delivering a large baby, or if the baby is not positioned in heads-down position and efforts to turn him/her in this position during childbirth have been unsuccessful.

Sometimes the obstetrician makes the decision to perform a Caesarean section for emergency reasons for the safety of the baby and the mother. This may occur due to any problem during pregnancy or when the woman is in labor, such as if the baby is unable to get enough oxygen or the labor is happening too slowly.

Some C-sections are elective, meaning the mother requests if before getting into labor. Usually, people choose C-Section if they want to plan the delivery, or if the female has experienced a complicated vaginal delivery in the past.

Although C-sections are considered safer and, in some cases, life-saving, they involve more risks compared to vaginal births. It is a major surgical procedure, involving operating the patient’s abdomen, from where the baby is accessed from the uterus and taken out of the body. It involves longer recovery time and a higher risk of infection.

Performing C-sections on first-time mothers can lead to the requirement of repeat C-sections for their future pregnancies, making vaginal birth a preferred method. In the USA, every two in three babies are born via the natural delivery process.

In general, women feel that vaginal birth feels like a more natural experience. Regardless of how a woman chooses to give birth, they should be educated and informed about these childbirth options, so they have a voice, and they advocate for their wants while making an informed choice.

Benefits of Vaginal Birth

For the mother:

Going through labor and giving childbirth via vaginal delivery can be a long process which requires a lot of hard work and physically grueling for the mother. But one of the biggest benefits of vaginal birth is that it requires a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time compared to a C-section.

Although state laws may vary, typically women have to stay in the hospital for 24 to 48 hours after giving vaginal birth. The woman can even elect and leave the medical center much sooner if their doctors deem them fit to do so.

By electing for vaginal births, women can avoid major surgery and the risks associated with it, like scarring, severe bleeding, infections, and long-lasting pain etc. Without surgery, mothers can recover faster and begin breastfeeding much sooner.

Vaginal birth cons for the mother:

During a vaginal delivery, the mother has a high risk of damaging her vaginal skin and tissues as it can stretch while the fetus moves out of the birth canal. The mother can also require stitches on the pelvic muscles after the delivery.

According to some studies, mothers who deliver their babies vaginally have a higher chance of experiencing urinary and bowel incontinence or urine leak.

Vaginal delivery is associated with pain, that can travel between the vagina & Anus.

Vaginal birth pros & cons of for the baby

Pros:

Vaginal birth allows mothers to be in early contact with their newborn baby, and initiate breastfeeding much sooner.

During a vaginal delivery, the pressure of the muscles involved in the procedure squeeze out fluids found in the baby’s lungs that is beneficial as it makes the newborn less likely to suffer from breathing problems. Babies born vaginally gain access to good bacteria while traveling through the birth canal that may have a positive impact on the baby’s immune systems

Cons:

Delivering large sized babies vaginally may put the baby at risk of injury or result in bruises or fractures.

Benefits of C — Section

For the Mother

Pros:

If a woman can deliver the baby vaginally, then there is no particular advantage of opting for a C-section.

However, if the mother requires C- section, the surgery can be scheduled before the due date, making it convenient and more predictable than a natural delivery.

Cons:

Women have to stay longer at the hospital post-C-section that can typically range between 2–4 days.

Being an operation, a mother can be at risk of developing an infection on the surgical wounds.

The patient is also more likely to have more physical complaints after C-section due to extensive pain or long-lasting soreness. Surgery may also include the risk of blood loss or may injure the bladder or bowel.

Patients will take longer to recover from the surgery. And as during the recovery time, the mother will be on medications; she won’t be allowed to breastfeed before 1–2 days.

For the baby

Pros:

Babies with big heads or size are able to get delivered safely with a C-section.

During a C-section, babies have a very small risk of being nicked.

Cons:

Babies born using C-section are more likely to experience breathing problems during their birth and even childhood that might cause asthma.

Note: This information might not be applicable in every case. The results derived from studies might vary for each women’s pregnancy. Both these delivery techniques are efficient and safe if done by an experienced medical professional in a sanitary environment. Patients should consult their doctor, who will suggest them the best option according to their condition and the baby’s position.

Overview

It is seen that different cultures and countries prefer a varied technique for the delivery of a child. These variations can be a result of orthodox beliefs, cultural values, the technology available in the geographical location, lack of awareness or mere preference.

While advancements in technology have reduced the ratio of the natural delivery system, there are still people who opt for it. It is important for medical world and doctors to understand the perceptions of women surrounding different modes of delivery as it is influenced by their culture that can help in promoting medical programs and policies for supporting vaginal delivery.

The initial selection of the method of delivery can be made based on the parent’s preference. However, they should be open to surgery if any complication arises for the safety of their child.