Natural or cesarean birth?
I know that all of you, future mothers, would like to know in advance what is best and safest for the birth of the baby, whether natural birth or caesarean section. It is a legitimate and understandable desire. But I don't want there to be any doubts or anxieties during your pregnancy, as I know that not even your baby in the belly would like them.
Read also: Childbirth
Does natural birth or caesarean section hurt more?
What do mothers and babies feel in natural births and caesarean sections?
- You mothers, what will you feel in natural childbirth?
Premise: I guarantee you that attending good childbirth preparation courses will put you in the best possible conditions to face all stages of labor and delivery, and therefore I really recommend them to you.
And here we are: during labor, or the period that prepares the uterus and the baby for birth, you will experience uterine contractions, the famous pains of labor, which as you go on, will be more and more frequent until the moment. defined as expulsive, birth.
Will you feel a lot of pain? Will they be bearable or not? This depends a lot from person to person and whether or not they have attended any pre-birth courses. You can also ask, if you want, epidural anesthesia (the famous "painless childbirth") which will greatly alleviate the pain (but will lengthen the time a little). Know that epidural anesthesia, if performed by expert personnel, will not involve any additional risk for your birth and for the health of your baby.
- How does your baby feel during natural birth?
During labor, she will feel the contractions of the uterus on her little body and will feel them as massages. By doing so, she will prepare for birth. This is very important to him. The fetus in fact responds to the "massages" of the uterus with positive changes in its hormones and its pulmonary fluid.
Even in the final period, the expulsive one, going down into the vaginal canal the little one will undergo a real "gentle squeezing" of his chest which will make the pulmonary fluid come out (from the mouth) (that liquid in jargon corresponds to the so-called "muchi") .
- What does mom feel in the Caesarean section?
Obviously there will be completely different feelings for you from natural childbirth. If you have a caesarean section, you will save yourself the pain of labor contractions, but you will experience the (very normal) tension that you feel before any surgery, the impact with the operating room and certainly if you are already a little anxious, the tension you will feel a little more.
After the cesarean, the pains of the surgical wound are variable from woman to woman and occurs mainly in the first 24 -48 hours. Also in this case the painkillers will help you and almost all of them, perhaps helped by the health care staff, you will be able to keep your baby attached to the breast to breastfeed him! If you are thinking that antibiotics and painkillers can pass into milk, then rest assured, there are absolutely no breastfeeding problems!
- How does your baby feel during a caesarean delivery?
Your baby will miss the whole stage of labor, so let's say that his birth will be a little quick, a little sudden, but, if well looked after by sensitive operators, he will be brought close to your face IMMEDIATELY as soon as he is pulled out, and you can pamper yourself a bit with him, reassure and reassure him. We are also working on the performing the "skin to skin" caesarean section and that is the project of placing the little naked on your breast as soon as it is born, even in the caesarean section. So… Does the little one suffer during the caesarean section? The answer is no.
The risks of natural childbirth
Is it totally safe? What if something goes wrong? I am sure that you have asked yourself at least one of these questions.
- What are the possible risks for you?
In expert hands, the risks of natural childbirth are minimized. Sometimes it involves lacerations or large episiotomies (the episiotomy is the cut that they make to facilitate the exit of the baby's head. A cut always made under local anesthesia!) More rarely there may be excessive or lack of blood loss. exit of the placenta. In all these situations it is important to know that the obstetrician and the gynecologist know perfectly well what to do, how to behave and always solve these problems.
- And what does the baby risk in natural childbirth?
In natural childbirth there are very few newborns who need assistance at birth, it is estimated about 1 in 100. The thing that must reassure you is that, in the vast majority of cases, it is already foreseeable in the delivery room that your little one will not have any. problem at birth. This is because your little one's heartbeat is tracked and monitored until the very last moment before birth. Should any changes in the heartbeat occur, the operators will promptly intervene to perform an emergency cesarean section.
Another minimal risk of natural birth is that the baby, due to its particular position, may have difficulty in being born, despite the last pushes you will give. Also in this case the gynecologist will solve by applying a small "sucker”Which will serve to bring it out softly and definitively. But can the little one in this case have consequences in the future? Absolutely not. Babies born with operative birth (sucker) are perfectly equal to others born with natural birth and above all they do not present any problems in the following years.
The risks of caesarean section
- What are the possible risks for the mother?
If you are assisted by expert personnel, the risks for you are very minimal, both for the anesthesia and for the surgery itself. It includes all the risks of surgery, i.e. wound infections, internal bleeding, lesions of the uterine vessels or urinary tract especially in emergencies. It is a surgery that requires a period of post-operative hospitalization and a later resumption of your daily activities.
- And what does the child risk?
The only risk for your little one is that, despite being born perfectly vital and healthy, you spend more time regularizing your breathing in the next 24 hours. If you do a caesarean section without having the pains of labor, the baby will be born without any preparation, without the uterine massages of contractions, and may, albeit infrequently, have more lung fluid and faster breathing. But rest assured! If this happens I guarantee that in most cases it will not be a problem and will be solved in 24 hours, exceptionally 48 hours.
What about endometriosis?
Endometriosis is the abnormal presence of uterine tissue elsewhere in the body. If it affects the upper internal area (uterus and ovaries), natural childbirth would be better because during the caesarean section, opening the abdomen, the gynecologist could be faced with dangerous "adhesions" between the uterus, intestine, abdominal walls, ovaries and tubes and this could damage the function of these organs. If your endometriosis, on the other hand, concerns the lowest area, i.e. the pelvis, a caesarean section would be more suitable. In fact, in this case the natural birth could be more difficult due to the presence of “adhesions. An entirely gynecological evaluation.
Does the milk not arrive with the caesarean?
It is a false belief that milk does not arrive or arrives in smaller quantities. The truth is instead that there may be greater difficulties in latching the baby to the breast especially in the first hours after surgery, due to your less freedom of movement and the pain of the wound of the first 24 hours.
This initial difficulty could cause a slight delay (about 24 hours) in the formation of the whipped milk. So know this and then do not be afraid that the milk supply will be lower in the following days. The milk flow will arrive as soon as your baby is attached to the breast, in fact it is the suckling on the baby's breast that triggers your production of prolactin and oxytocin, which are the lactation hormones. Within 3 - 4 days, if you overcome the first slight difficulties with some help, you will have milk exactly as in natural childbirth.
At 40 or later, is a natural birth or a caesarean section better?
Generally older age (40 years or more) is not a valid medical reason for choosing a caesarean section over a natural birth. Obstetric conditions, your general state of health, pregnancy without problems and regular checks on the good health of your baby in utero. If all these factors are normal, you can safely have a natural birth. At the age of 40 or over, the maternal factors that often guide the choice of a caesarean section are diabetes or hypertension. Now, if you are 40 years old or older, you know everything, and therefore calmly rely on the evaluation of your gynecologist and your obstetrician.
In conlusione...
Your baby's safety does not depend on whether you will have a natural birth or a caesarean section. The risks, albeit minimal, we have seen that exist in both cases. Therefore, rely on the skill, experience and competence of the healthcare staff who will show you the best and safest way for you and your little one.
So be calm and above all remember that you will be MOMS in the event of a natural birth and you will also be MOMS in the event of a caesarean section. The explanation is simple: motherhood is ONE, unique and wonderful and does not change. Only the sensations and the paths with which you get there change.
Good Maternity to all of you
