Natural Birth Vs Caesarean: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Natural Baby Delivery Or Delivery Using Surgery?

Welcoming a baby into the world is a joy that cannot be put into words. As soon as the early signs of pregnancy start showing up, a mother starts planning for the whole course of pregnancy and the journey afterward. But, there are a lot of things that need to be considered when it comes to the method of delivering a baby.

As an expecting mother, Caesarean/C-section sounds like a convenient method, but are you aware of the side-effects that tag along with it? Or, the gamut of irreversible physical changes that your body might encounter after the surgery?
On the other hand, delivering a baby naturally is also not a piece of cake

So, Caesarean or Natural Birth, what should you opt for?

1. Conditions : Vaginal birth is the natural way of delivering a baby which is preferred by most expecting mothers. While caesareans are mostly planned for medical reasons such as diabetes or high blood pressure that may make natural delivery too risky. A C-section may also be necessary if the baby is not in the head-down position and efforts to turn the baby before the delivery have been unsuccessful.
2. Recovery time : Having a natural delivery shortens the recovery time and the mother is usually discharged from the hospital after a day or two. But, in the case of caesareans, recovery time extends up to days as it is a major surgery that involves opening up the mother’s abdomen and removing the baby from mother’s uterus.
3. Delivery time : In case of a natural birth, the delivery time is never fixed as it completely depends on the baby and the mother; sometimes the labor pain can extend up to a couple of days. While a Caesarean eliminates the element of uncertainty as the time is planned by the doctor in advance.
4. Consequences : During a vaginal delivery, muscles involved in the process squeeze out amniotic fluid out of the newborn’s lungs making it easier for them to start breathing. While Babies born by Caesarean are more likely to have breathing problems at birth and also at a greater risk for stillbirth.

In the present scenario, C-sections have become more of a trend than a necessity and also an opportunity for doctors to earn big bucks. Therefore, knowing the pro and cons of both the methods becomes of utmost importance for you to make a wise decision.

Consult your doctor from the early pregnancy symptoms itself and meet for a regular check-up to ensure that everything goes smoothly. We wish you a safe and healthy pregnancy!