C Section vs. Normal Delivery: Which is Good?
Most pregnant women give birth naturally, commonly known as a ‘normal delivery’ if there are no problems or other issues that might prevent a natural birth.
Nevertheless, the doctor can advise having a cesarean section if there are any possible issues with the vaginal delivery of your child. Although sometimes, it’s a personal choice, and sometimes the choice between these two methods is not in your hand
So it is best to be knowledgeable about these two delivery options and know if a c-section or a vaginal delivery is preferable. Thus, to learn about such two methods of delivering a baby, read this complete article.
Normal Delivery of a Baby
Giving natural birth to a baby through your vagina without any abdominal incision is called a normal delivery. It is a realistic procedure that requires little to no medical assistance. Thus, it lowers numerous dangers and is a good option for both the mother’s and the child's health. This kind of delivery is preferred over c-section only when it is medically needed after carefully considering your and your child's health.
Advantages of Normal Delivery
Normal birth has multiple advantages compared to c-section, but the most significant ones include:
Decreased Risk of Complications
Vaginal birth dramatically reduces the risks implicated in the c-section method. Risks associated with medical treatments during c-sections include various risks such as delayed initial growth of the newborn.
Adequate Breathing
In this kind of delivery, your body prepares a child to respire appropriately in the outer atmosphere. Labor causes various hormonal shifts in the body of your baby, which aids him in breathing optimally in the environment after delivery.
Nutritive Support
Before undergoing the c-section surgery, you will be prescribed by the doctor to stop drinking and eating. It is standard practice for any surgery that involves anesthesia.
However, in natural delivery, there are no such limitations. You will be free to eat and drink properly, and this nutritional support will also prove helpful in lowering complications during the procedure of giving birth.
Natural Pain Handling
We know that giving vaginal birth is a painful process, but during the nine months, your body was preparing you for that. Numerous hormones get released during the delivery, including endorphins. Thus, the pain is decreased by many folds.
Moreover, medical pain management is available today; you can ask your doctor and make the process less painful.
A Child with Better Immunity
Experimenters have shown that the immunity levels vary significantly between the babies delivered with vaginal delivery and those via cesarean. Infants born from vaginal deliveries are naturally less prone to different infections. In contrast, babies born via c-section might get various allergies after birth.
Prompt Recovery and Affordable
Mothers who deliver a baby naturally recover fast. Conversely, mothers who experience cesarean need a lot of time to completely heal since the incision in their abdomen takes time to cure. Further, compared to c-sections, vaginal deliveries are also more affordable.
Good Mental Development of Baby
Studies depicted that babies born from vaginal delivery have moderately better mental growth that c sections. Specific proteins and other nutrients generated during natural delivery can optimize cognitive development in your child.
Easy Breast-Feeding
Since it requires postural considerations, you can recover quickly and breastfeed your baby correctly when you give birth via vaginal delivery.
Problems with Normal Delivery
You should have complete knowledge so understanding the benefits of natural delivery and a few problems is essential. Firstly, waiting to induce labor might prove a massive stressful experience for you; it can even generate some complications.
For example, labor can cause a drop in your baby’s heart rate. Sometimes, it can become unpredictable, like it will take longer to arrive or might induce an earlier than expected date, and you might not be prepared for it.
In some dire circumstances, your doctor might give anesthesia and take you for an emergency c-section delivery.
Moreover, in a vaginal delivery, sometimes, if your baby is large and making it difficult for doctors to deliver, they might choose different techniques like using suction cups or forceps to get a baby out safely.
Further, in some cases, they might perform an episiotomy, a situation in which a surgical cut will make at the opening of your vagina during delivery. Thus, this situation will make you take a longer time to heal. Due to such techniques, the child may suffer from any injury while passing through the vagina.
Cesarean Section
A c-section is a surgical approach that concerns the birth of one or twin babies by making an incision in the abdomen or uterus. Doctors suggest this method only when particular complications can occur with natural delivery. Further, sometimes, doctors perform it due to the mother's personal choice.
Medical reasons for preferring a c-section delivery include:
- long labor is a leading cause in one-third of c-section patients
- birth of more than one baby like twins or triplets
- to avoid difficulties in pregnant women with chronic illnesses
- the peculiar position of a baby
- to evade additional complications in the delivery of a baby with any flaws
- the earlier history of c-sections
- An uneven position of the placenta
Advantages of C-Section Delivery
Planned Delivery
Usually, cesarean delivery is planned according to your and your baby’s health conditions. Your doctor might suggest your due date when your baby is entirely ready to come into this world safely. And this procedure is primarily under control.
Less Pain
Since it is a surgical method, you don't need to go through labor or experience the pain you would otherwise have in vaginal delivery.
Reduced Delivery Time
Nowadays, cesarean methods are more streamlined and take less time than natural birth. It does not cause more blood loss, is completed in a shorter time, and give you higher satisfaction.
Less Threat Incontinence
In a c-section, there will be no stretching or tearing in a vaginal area you will have decreased risk of pelvic prolapse and anal and urinary incontinence.
Fewer Risk of Infection Transfer
Analyses have shown that your baby will have a lower risk of getting hepatitis B virus or any other infection in a cesarean procedure.
Relieve in Trauma of a Baby
Since in c-section, your baby doesn’t have to go through the birth canal so, there will be no stress or trauma will cause to the baby. He will be safely taken out of your womb.
No Threat of Injury
Cesarean deliveries have rarer or almost no chances of injury to you and your baby. Sometimes, the baby comforts him in the mother’s womb in specific strange positions like transverse lies or breaches. And sometimes, mom might have a placenta previa condition. In these cases, natural delivery might prove risky, and only a c-section can ensure the baby’s safety.
Problems with C-Section Delivery
Anesthesia Related Issues
The dangers are not caused by the anesthesia used before the cesarean. A few difficulties after anesthesia injection include lack of expertise, inexperience, poor care, and the patient's health.
Breast Feeding Related Issues
Mothers who have undergone c-section encounter a high risk related to breastfeeding, for example, slowed milk maturity, inadequate milk production, and even earlier cessation of breastfeeding.
Risk for Future Pregnancy
With a cesarean delivery, hazards may be associated with your future pregnancies and fertility, which are not present with natural delivery.
Breathing Issues in a Baby
In a cesarean delivery, your baby could have a threat of transient tachypnea (TTN), which is the construction of fluid in the baby’s lungs, making breathing problematic.
Health Issues in a Baby
There might be a chance for babies to get any long-term conditions like asthma, diabetes, allergies, and bowel diseases if they are born via cesarean.
C-Section vs. Normal Delivery: Which is Good?
After reading the pros and cons of both kinds of deliveries, you must understand that it entirely depends on your and your baby’s health by which procedure you will bring him into this world. Yes, it is also true that you can make your personal choice to have a c-section to avoid pain.
But based on years of research, it has been discovered that normal birth is a realistic way of delivering your baby. In fact, for roughly 85% of pregnant women, natural birth is an entirely attainable and desirable objective. The other 15% require a cesarean section because of health issues that place them in a high-risk category.
Further, natural deliveries are comparatively a more straightforward and inexpensive procedure. Natural deliveries are generally preferable, even though c-sections are occasionally unavoidable.
Additionally, if it is unavoidable, try not to panic. Current hospitals and medical technology are pretty advanced, and your doctor is in the best position to choose the wisest choice for you.
Conclusion
After reading this article, we hope you understand the benefits and risks of normal and c-section deliveries. So decide on the delivery method after consulting your gynecologist.
Moreover, if you have more doubts regarding this matter, you can speak to our Fertility Proficient & Gynecologist, Dr. Shesha Sinha, and get rapid medical suggestions. Also, if you see this article valuable, share your opinions and questions with Antenate.
