THE ONE WITH THE VAGINAL DELIVERY VS. C-SECTION DELIVERY

Since I talked in my labour story about trying to encourage more women to go through natural vaginal delivery, I thought I'd make a post to summarize the pros and cons of both vaginal and elective C-section. And here I stress one more time about ELECTIVE C-section, as I am not talking about necessary C-section, because in fact in some cases C-section can be life saving to both the mother and the child. Here I am talking about women who choose a C-section just because they think it's easier and pain free or they are just to posh to push.

Vaginal delivery:

Pros for mum:

• Shorter hospital stay and shorter recovery period.
• Avoiding major surgery and it's associated risks (will be discussed with C-section)
• Easier to get back to your old shape, as the abdominal wall muscles are still strong and intact.

Pros for Baby:

• Earlier contact with your baby and initiate breast feeding sooner.
• Muscles involved in the process and more likely to squeeze the fluids in the baby's lungs, so the baby is less likely to suffer from breathing problems.
• Babies born vaginally receive an early does of good bacteria as they travel through birth canal, and so that boosts their immune systems and protect their intestinal tracts.

Cons for mum:

• Tears my develop in the vagina or perineum (area between vagina and anus)  and so my require suturing. (usually minor)
• More likely to suffer from urine or anal leakage due to weakened perineal muscles ( rarely happens and if does usually resolves after a while and get better with perineal exercise)

Cons for baby:

• if labour is prolonged or the baby is too large, the baby might get injured during the birth process itself, such as bruised scalp or a fractured collar bone.

C-section:

Pros for Mum:

• There are not a lot of advantages of having C-section if a woman is eligible to have a vaginal delivery.
• However, if a pregnant woman knows that she will NEED ( I say again NEED) a C-section, a surgical birth can be scheduled in advance, making it more convenient and predictable than a vaginal birth and going through a long labor.

Pros for baby:

• None

Cons for Mum:

Scar of C-section

• Longer hospital stay 2-4 days on average.
• Longer recovery period.
• More physical complications such as pain at site of incision and longer soreness.
• Higher risk of blood loss.
• Higher risk of infection.
• The bowel or bladder can be injured during the operation or a blood clot may form.
• A review study found that women who have had a C-section are less likely to begin early breastfeeding than women who had a vaginal birth.
• Women are three times more likely to die during Caesarean delivery than a vaginal birth, due mostly to blood clots, infections and complications from anesthesia.
• Once a woman has had her first C-section, she is more likely to have a C-section in her future deliveries.
• Greater risk of future pregnancy complications, such as uterine rupture, which is when the C-section scar in her uterus ruptures, and placenta abnormalities. The risk for placenta problems continues to increase with every C-section a woman has.  

Cons for Baby:

• Babies born by Caesarean section may be more likely to have breathing problems at birth and even during childhood, such as asthma.
• Greater risk of still birth (means baby dies in the womb, and born dead)
• Small risk that a baby can get nicked during the surgery.
• Some studies have also suggested a link between babies delivered by C-section and a greater risk of becoming obese as children and even as adults for reasons that remain unclear. One possibility is that women who are obese or have pregnancy-related diabetes may be more likely to have a C-section. 

Every word written in this article is based upon scientific facts. And as I said, I am not against a C-section when it's needed cause sometimes it can be truly life saving, but other than when absolutely necessary, a vaginal delivery can be by no debate the safest and best option for you and your baby, and the pain scares you that much, you can always go for an epidural once the pain hits you. 

For those of you who don't know what epidural is, it's the anaesthesia of the lower half of the body same used for the C-section. It makes the area from your uterus and below completely numb.

That's it for today ladies :)
Hope I was of benefit :)