By-Dr.Ritu Gupta

Senior Gynaecologist & Obstetrician,Shalby Hospital-Jaipur

Giving birth to a baby is one of the most precious moments in the life of the parents. But having a baby comes with immense responsibility and decisions. From the beginning of the pregnancy to selecting a doctor, choosing the place of birth, the type of birth are just some of the questions to be considered by the parents. Every step needs to be carefully analyzed and taken. One such decision includes where the mother wants to give birth naturally or by cesarean surgery. There are multiple reasons one might be more favorable for a mother and another for another mother. But in order to understand and make the call on the type of birth the parents are leaning towards, it is necessary to acquire all the facts. The parents can only make the best decision for their baby once they are made aware of all the options.

The term ‘natural birth’ technically refers to giving birth in the natural way; without any medication. However, with the advancement of technology, people now also have the option of using medication to subdue the pain during delivery. Natural birth is when a mother chooses to let the birthing process take place in the most natural way; going through labor and possibly water breaking. Certain people believe that medication can either speed up or slow down the birthing, so they choose to not opt for it. Whereas others choose to get medications because of the intensity of the pain. Whether they select the painkillers or not, one of the reasons women choose this is so that they have more control over the process.

Natural birth reduces a lot of risks relating to delivering. It also helps in increasing the proteins in the baby thus contributing to a faster brain development. The healing time along with the amount of time required to stay at the hospital is also lesser compared to C-section. It also allows the baby to start breastfeeding pretty soon. It also gives the mother a sense of empowerment when she goes through the pain of labor and gives birth. One of the benefits of natural birth is being able to have skin to skin contact with the baby almost right away. But natural birth comes with its set of disadvantages. Usually, the labor is very painful and lasts on an average between 4 to 12 hours. It also carries the risk of stretching and tearing around the vagina while pushing the baby through the birth canal. It can also cause tearing of the perineum. A lot of women have mentioned that they experience urinary incontinence or bowel issues during or after giving birth. If the baby is large, they can be injured during the delivery. Long hours of labor along the pain can cause high blood pressure and increase the risk of hemorrhaging.

A cesarean delivery, also known as a C-section delivery, is a surgical procedure to deliver a baby by making an incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus. A lot of women may opt for cesarean surgery due to multiple reasons. A mother can plan for natural birth and end up needing a cesarean surgery due to some medical reasons. If there are complications in the pregnancy, the doctors may suggest a C-section as well. If you are someone who has opted for or needs to get a cesarean, the best way to prepare is to understand the procedure. Some of the reasons that a doctor may suggest a cesarean are:

• Stalled labor
• Cephalopelvic disproportion – The baby’s head is too big to pass through the mother’s cervix.
• The placenta ends up covering the cervix.
• The umbilical cord either loops around the baby’s neck or slips through the cervix before the baby
• The doctor notices that the baby is in distress such as having irregular heartbeat.
• You have diabetes or high blood pressure.
• You have an active herpes during the time of the labor.
• If you are giving birth to multiple babies.

Cesarean surgeries, whether planned or unplanned, have their set of pros and cons. Cesarean reduces the life threatening and health risks to the baby and the mother in the above situations. It also is pain-free and the surgery usually only takes 60-90 minutes. One of the biggest risks of C-section is that the baby may develop a breathing problem called transient tachypnea. Under rare circumstances, the baby could get nicked during the surgery. Postpartum hemorrhaging is also possible during or after the delivery. The procedure can cause embolism in the mother, which is when a blood clot breaks off into the bloodstream. The C-section surgery requires the mother time to rest and recover. It is important for the mother and baby to get checked up regularly within the first few weeks of the delivery.

Both natural and cesarean births are normal and can be opted for. Having all the information about the surgery can help the parents to understand the procedures better. It lets the parents made the choice that is best for both the mother and the baby. It also helps the mother to mentally prepare herself since the experience can be traumatising in certain situations.