Cesarean birth versus normal vaginal birth

Childbirth can be considered one of the most miraculous and mesmerizing creations of nature. While being extremely glorious and magnificent, it is equally intricate and complex.

- Dr. Richa Saxena

To visualize how the baby's head and body negotiate through the delicate narrow maternal passages after undergoing a series of predecided movements is indeed marvelous. Anybody who has seen natural childbirth can correlate with this. Since childbirth is a natural physiological process which is very carefully designed by nature, I don't consider pregnancy as illness.

Nowadays, there has been an increasing trend toward cesarean birth. You need to understand that cesarean birth may sometimes become essential either for your own safety or for your child's safety. In such circumstances, you must never argue with your doctor but trust and support them. However, you also need to consider the fact that in nearly 85% of women, natural childbirth is possible. Only 15% may belong to a high-risk category and may eventually require a cesarean delivery.

Labor comprises a series of events taking place in the genital organs, which help them expel the fetus and other products of conception outside the uterine cavity into the outer world. It can be defined as the onset of painful uterine contractions accompanied by any one of the following: rupture, bloody show, cervical dilatation and/or effacement.

Normal labor comprises three stages: First stage, second stage and third stage. The first stage of labor starts with the onset of true labor pains and ends with complete dilatation of the cervix. During the first stage of labor, you and your partner need to work very hard to deal with labor. The first stage of labor may last for 10-14 hours in primigravida and about 6-8 hours in multipara. You can be more comfortable if you use a rocking chair or a birthing ball.