Pregnant women often wonder which delivery method is safer and easier. While natural birth or vaginal delivery is the most common way to deliver a baby, c-section has become increasingly popular. Most women choose a hospital for normal delivery in Navi Mumbai to increase their chances of having a natural, less complicated birth.
However, cesarean delivery might be necessary in some cases. In this post, we’ve explored both delivery methods and their pros and cons. Keep reading to know which is better for you.
C-Section Delivery
Doctors usually advise a normal delivery unless you have a high-risk pregnancy or you experience an unexpected complication during labor. For instance, a c-section makes sense when you have placenta previa, baby in the breech position, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other medical issues that make normal delivery unsafe.
Procedure of C-Section Delivery
Your doctor will administer anesthesia into your body through the spine. Once it’s in effect, they will make an abdominal incision, either a vertical cut that runs down from your navel to above the pubic bone or a horizontal incision above your pubic bone. The doctor will then make an incision on your uterus, pull the baby out, and close the site with sutures.
Advantages of C-Section Delivery:
- It’s the safest method of delivery for the mother and the baby.
- You get control over the timing of delivery
- Less painful than vaginal birth
- Reduced risk of damage to your pelvic organs
Disadvantages of C-Section Delivery:
- Longer recovery
- Possible complications in the subsequent pregnancies
- Surgical risks
Normal (Vaginal) Delivery
Normal delivery refers to the childbirth through the vagina. If you don’t have any complications during pregnancy and your labor initiates and progresses well, you can deliver normally. Normal delivery can be done without pain medication or with an epidural, a spinal block, and other pain relief medications.
Procedure of Normal (Vaginal) Delivery
For a vaginal birth, the mother has to endure strong menstrual-cramp-like pain during labor. If the labor doesn’t start on its own, induction can be considered. Contractions during labor ripen your cervix and dilate it to create room for the baby to pass through the birth canal. Once you are fully dilated (10 cm), you need to push to get the baby out. Sometimes, assisted birth methods, like epidural for pain relief and forceps or vacuum during delivery, are used.
Advantages of Normal (Vaginal) Delivery:
- Shorter recovery period
- There is less risk of respiratory issues in the baby
- Future pregnancies will be easier
- You can resume work within 2-3 weeks
- Affordable
- Support immediate mother and the baby bonding
Disadvantages of Normal (Vaginal) Delivery:
- Intense labor pain
- Perineal tear
- Risk of uterine prolapse
Factors to Consider
C-sections are recommended when your baby is not in a good position to be delivered vaginally, or they seem to be in distress. It’s also a good choice if the mother has existing medical conditions that make vaginal birth unsafe for the mother and the baby.
Sometimes, prolonged labor can exhaust the mother, or the baby’s heart rate might fluctuate, requiring a c-section. It’s best to discuss the best delivery method with your gynecologist and obstetrician in Navi Mumbai.