VAGINAL DELIVERY OR CESAREAN SECTION

With the few experiences I've had, years of studying human reproductive physiology, researches carried out with colleagues, I have come across mothers who have different preferences as concerns child birth.

Vaginal delivery or Cesarean section : Which is the better option?

To start with, I'm gonna point out the fact that we, as humans, are all entitled to our individual opinions. So I'm gonna share mine from experience and knowledge acquired in my field of study

The creativity of nature is more convincing and fascinating than the innovations of science. I am of the opinion that vaginal delivery remains a better option for our pregnant women than a cesarean section as it (vaginal delivery) exposes them to little or no harm.

Vaginal delivery is one way babies come into this world through a woman’s vaginal tract. Although accompanied with pain lasting only for that moment - except the mother experiences some sort of tear during the process - it still remains a better choice than a cesarean section which is another method of delivery involving the employment of surgical methods to carry out child delivery . In this case, a woman's abdomen is surgically cut open and the baby removed from her uterus (simply put). During this time, the woman feels no pain (as a result of the anaesthesia administered) during the surgery, blocking pain pathways, but the pain is usually felt as the anesthesia wears off after the surgery.

The pain usually lasts for days and this surgery renders the mother unable to carry out so many tasks - including eating - for some period of time.

Although recovery time may vary among individuals, those who go through vaginal delivery usually spend less time in the hospitals as they experience minimal or no complications. On the contrary, those who opt for cesarean section in the hospital are required to stay back for a longer period of time for observation, depending on the severity of complications detected by the doctors.

In spite of the risks, many would probably not see this as enough reason to make the choice of vaginal delivery but having had the opportunity to meet two women who initially underwent vaginal delivery for the first delivery and for the second delivery, as a result of slight pathophysiologic condition, had to undergo a cesarean section, I have come to understand that cesarean section should not be a choice made by mothers out of the fear of pain during delivery or fear of death.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) estimates there are about 4 maternal deaths for every 100,000 women after vaginal deliveries compared to 13 in 100,000 after a cesarean section.

The safety of the babies to be born is not left out in this decision either.

Babies born "vaginally" tend to have a boost in the immune system as a result of the microbial environment they come in contact with as they journey through their mothers' birth canals (Josef & Jona, 2011)

Also these babies are at a lower risk of suffering from breathing problems at birth (Mueller, 2015)

On the other hand, surgically delivered babies are more likely to experience breathing problems at birth and even during their childhood.

I am of a very strong opinion that a cesarean section should be as a last resort, as in the case of hormone imbalance and other complications such as when the baby is in a breech position (when the baby's buttocks or feet are at the entrance of the birth canal instead of the head). Cesarean section should not be a choice made out of fear of pain.

Steemians, God bless our women for this responsibility of child delivery with which they have been saddled. May the right choice be made at child birth.

Thank you.

Please leave comments sharing your opinions