What is better to give birth. Choice of labor activity

05.03.2020 -

In the field of gynecology and among the inhabitants, disputes about what is better do not subside: natural childbirth or caesarean section - the abilities inherent in nature or human intervention. Both methods of delivery have their pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, adherents and opponents. If this concerns not philosophical reasoning, but a responsible decision on how to give birth healthy baby, this must be approached very seriously, weigh the pros and cons and choose the so-called golden mean.

Caesarean section: pros and cons

To date, the trend is such that even those women who have no indications for this operation are asked to do a caesarean section. This is an absurd situation: imagine that a person himself insists on having an abdominal incision for no reason.

The myth about the absence of pain during this method led to this state of affairs in gynecology. In fact, the question of which is more painful: caesarean or natural childbirth is very ambiguous. In the first case pain syndrome in the suture area comes after the operation and lasts about 2-3 weeks, or even longer. With the independent birth of a baby, the pain is stronger, but it is short-lived. All this can be understood if we evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.

Advantages

Is the only way out in the presence of a number of medical indications: helps a child be born with a narrow pelvis in a woman, a large fetus, placenta previa, etc .;
anesthesia makes the process of childbirth comfortable, they are easier: after all, most young mothers are afraid not to endure exactly painful contractions;
the absence of perineal tears, which means a faster return of one's sexual attractiveness, sexual life;
the time is faster: the operation usually lasts about half an hour (from 25 to 45 minutes), depending on the condition of the woman in labor and her individual characteristics, while natural childbirth sometimes takes up to 12 hours;
the possibility of planning the operation at a convenient time, choosing the optimal day of the week and even the date;
predictable outcome, unlike natural childbirth;
the risk of hemorrhoids is minimal;
the absence of birth injuries during attempts and contractions - both in the mother and in the child.

Plus or minus? Often among the advantages of caesarean section is the absence of birth injuries and injuries in a woman and her baby during attempts and contractions, however, according to statistics, there are more newborns with injuries of the cervical region or suffering from postnatal encephalopathy after such an operation than after natural, independent childbirth. So which procedure is safer in this regard, there is no definite answer.

disadvantages

Serious complications for the health and well-being of a young mother as a result of a caesarean section occur 12 times more often than during natural childbirth;
anesthesia and other types of anesthesia (spinal or epidural) used for caesarean section do not pass without a trace;
difficult and long recovery period;
profuse blood loss, which can subsequently lead to anemia;
the need for bed rest for some time (up to several months) after a cesarean section, which greatly interferes with the care of the newborn;
soreness of the seam, which makes you drink medication painkillers;
difficulties in the formation of lactation: in terms of breastfeeding caesarean delivery is worse than natural childbirth, since in the first days after the operation the baby has to be fed with mixtures, and in some cases the mother's milk may not appear;
a ban on playing sports after a cesarean section for 3-6 months, which means the inability to quickly restore the figure after childbirth;
ugly, unaesthetic seam on the stomach;
after a caesarean section, they may not allow natural childbirth in the future (more on this here);
a scar on the surface of the uterus, complicating the next pregnancy and childbirth;
adhesive processes in the abdominal cavity;
inability to get pregnant in the next 2 years ( best option- 3 years), since pregnancy and new births will pose a serious danger, and not only for the health and life of a young mother, but also for a baby;
the need for constant medical supervision during postoperative period;
the harmful effects of anesthesia on the baby;
the child does not produce special substances (proteins and hormones) that affect his further adaptation to the environment and mental activity.

Keep in mind that…
... general anesthesia in some cases ends with shock, pneumonia, circulatory arrest, serious damage to brain cells; spinal and epidural often entail inflammation at the puncture site, inflammation of the meninges, injuries of the spine, nerve cells. Natural childbirth excludes such complications.

Today there is a lot of talk about harmful effects anesthesia during caesarean section both on the mother's body and on the baby. And yet, if there is even the slightest danger to the health or life of one of the participants in childbirth (mother or baby), and the only way out is a caesarean section, you need to listen to the recommendations of doctors and use this technique. In other cases, the question of which birth is better is decided unambiguously: preference should be given to the natural course of this process.

Natural childbirth: pros and cons

The answer to the question why natural childbirth is better than caesarean section is obvious: because in the absence of medical indications surgical intervention in human body is not the norm. This leads to various complications and negative consequences. If you look at the pros and cons of self-delivery, their ratio in quantitative terms will speak for itself.

Advantages

the birth of a child is a normal process provided by nature: female body it is arranged so that at birth the baby acquires everything that he needs for normal life - this is why caesarean is worse than natural childbirth;
the child gains experience in overcoming difficulties, difficulties and obstacles, which helps him in later life;
there is a gradual, but quite natural adaptation of the newborn to new conditions for him;
the baby's body is tempered;
immediately after birth, it is better for a child if it is applied to the mother's breast, which contributes to their inextricable connection, the rapid establishment of lactation;
the postpartum recovery process for the female body as a result of natural childbirth is much faster than after a traumatic caesarean section;
accordingly, a young mother in this case can independently take care of the baby immediately after discharge from the hospital.

Scientific fact! Today, all sorts of studies are being conducted about the effect of caesarean section on the baby. It is discussed not only by doctors, but also by teachers, pediatricians, psychologists. According to the latest scientific findings, children who were born in this way adapt worse, often lag behind in development, and as adults, often show low stress tolerance and infantilism, unlike those who were born during natural childbirth.

disadvantages

natural childbirth involves severe pain during contractions and attempts;
pain in the perineum;
risk of tears in the perineum, which entails the need for suturing.

Obviously, cesarean delivery differs from natural childbirth both in the methods of influencing the female body, and in the course of the whole process, and in its consequences. You need to be especially careful when complex, ambiguous situations arise.

Which is better: caesarean or natural childbirth for certain problems

The question of which is better: caesarean or natural childbirth arises in certain cases when there are deviations from normal development fetus and course of pregnancy. If any problems arise, doctors analyze the situation and offer the woman two options - to agree to an operation or to give birth at her own peril and risk. What should a future mother do in such an exciting and ambiguous situation? First of all, you need to listen to the opinion of the doctor, but also to understand at least a little about the problem that she has in order to make the right decision.

large fruit

If an ultrasound scan showed that a woman has a large fetus (a hero weighing over 4 kg is considered such), the doctor must correctly assess her physical indicators, physique and figure. Natural childbirth in such a situation is quite possible if:

future mom she is far from small;
examination shows that the bones of her pelvis will easily disperse during childbirth;
her previous children are also all large and born naturally.

However, not all women have such physical data. If the expectant mother has a narrow pelvis, and the baby's head, according to the ultrasound, does not correspond in size to her pelvic ring, it is better to agree to a caesarean section. It will avoid complex tissue ruptures and make it easier for the child to be born. Otherwise, natural childbirth can end tragically for both: the baby is injured himself and will cause serious damage to his mother.

After IVF

Today, the attitude of doctors to childbirth after IVF (in vitro fertilization procedures) has changed. If even 10 years ago, after it, only a caesarean section was possible without any other options, today a woman in such a situation can give birth on her own without any problems. Indications for caesarean section after IVF are the following factors:

the desire of the woman herself;
age over 35 years;
multiple pregnancy;
fetoplacental insufficiency;
chronic diseases;
if infertility has been for 5 years or more;
preeclampsia;
threatened miscarriage.

If the expectant mother who went through IVF is young, healthy, feels great, the reason for infertility was a man, she can give birth if she wishes naturally. At the same time, all stages of independent childbirth in this case - contractions, attempts, passage of the birth canal by the child, separation of the placenta - proceed in the same way as after natural conception.

Twins

If the ultrasound showed that there will be twins, monitoring the condition of the mother and babies becomes more thorough and attentive on the part of doctors. The question may even arise as to whether a woman can give birth to them on her own. The indication for caesarean section in this case is the age of the woman in labor over 35 years and the presentation of both fetuses:

if one baby is located down the ass and the other is head down, the doctor will not recommend natural childbirth, as there is a risk that they can catch heads with each other and be seriously injured;
with their transverse presentation, a caesarean section is also performed.

In all other cases, if the expectant mother is healthy, twins are born on their own.

Birth of monochorionic twins

If monochorionic twins that are fed from the same placenta are expected, they rarely go naturally and without complications. There are too many risks in this case: premature birth of babies, they often get tangled in the umbilical cord, the birth itself lasts much longer than usual, which can lead to a weakening of labor activity. Therefore, in most cases today, mothers of monochorionic twins are offered a caesarean section. This will avoid unforeseen situations and complications. Although in gynecological practice there are cases when monochorionic twins were born naturally and without any problems.

Breech presentation of the fetus

If a breech presentation of the fetus is diagnosed in the last weeks of pregnancy, the woman in labor is hospitalized in order to find out the method of delivery. Natural childbirth is possible in the following cases:

if the mother's age is up to 35 years;
if she is healthy, she has no chronic diseases and at the time of delivery she feels excellent;
if she herself burns with the desire to give birth on her own;
if there are no deviations in the development of the fetus;
if the ratio of the size of the child and the pelvis of the mother will allow him to pass the birth canal without problems and complications;
breech presentation;
normal head position.

All these factors together can allow a woman to give birth on her own, even with a breech presentation of the fetus. But this happens only in 10% of such situations. The most common choice is a caesarean section. With a foot breech presentation of the baby, the risk of an unfavorable outcome is too great: loops of the umbilical cord fall out, the child’s condition is strangled, etc. Excessive extension of the head is also considered dangerous, which can lead to such birth injuries as damage to the cervical or cerebellum.

Asthma

Bronchial asthma is not an absolute indication for caesarean section. Everything will depend on the degree and stage of exacerbation of the disease. With natural childbirth, there is a risk that a woman will begin to suffocate and she will lose the rhythm of proper breathing, which means so much when a baby is born.

But modern obstetricians know how to get out of this situation and minimize the risks for both the mother and the baby. Therefore, in the presence of asthma of any kind, it is necessary to consult several specialists 2-3 months before the birth, who will determine the degree of possible risks and advise what would be better in such a situation - a caesarean section or natural childbirth.

For rheumatoid arthritis

Will a woman be able to give birth naturally with rheumatoid arthritis, only a doctor can decide, having examined the features this disease in each specific case. On the one hand, rheumatologists and gynecologists often decide on a caesarean section for the following reasons:

the load on the knees during the birth of the baby is very large;
the pelvic bones in rheumatoid arthritis can disperse so much that then the woman in labor will have to stay in bed for a month, since she simply cannot get up;
the disease belongs to the category of autoimmune, and they all differ in an unforeseen and unpredictable outcome.

At the same time, AR is not an absolute and unshakable indicator for caesarean section. Everything will depend on the condition of the woman and the nature of the course of the disease. Many natural births in such a situation ended quite well.

Polycystic kidney disease

A rather serious disease is polycystic kidney disease, when multiple cysts form in their tissues. In the absence of an exacerbation of this disease and good health, mothers may be allowed to give birth naturally, although in most cases, in order to avoid complications and unforeseen situations, doctors advise a caesarean section.

If you do not know what to give preference to, it is better to rely on the opinion of a doctor, and not make independent decisions, focusing on fashion trends from the West, where surgery extraction (and not birth!) of a child from the womb has become commonplace. Weigh the pros and cons: if there is a threat to the health, and even more so the life of an unborn baby, without hesitation, trust the doctors and agree to a caesarean section. If there are no medical indications for this operation, give birth yourself: let the baby be born naturally.

The opinion of specialists and doctors about what is better caesarean or natural childbirth. What are the indications for a caesarean section, and in which cases a caesarean section is not needed.

“Natural birth or caesarean section? What to choose?" - the expectant mother timidly types in a search engine. Why does such a question arise, because a few decades ago it did not bother women. The answer was obvious: natural childbirth and only with serious threats or risks of a caesarean section.

The real boom in caesarean sections occurred at the end of the 20th century. And not always this way of the birth of a child was justified by medical indications, often expectant mothers, frightened by labor pains, which were so often written and told about, ordered an operation. On the one hand, this method is really simpler: the doctor gives anesthesia (epidural or general anesthesia) and takes the child out through the stomach. But is everything so simple?

Caesarean section pros and cons

The operation has undeniable advantages:

caesarean section can save the life and health of the mother and / or child, if natural childbirth is not possible for medical reasons;
absence of birth trauma;
the absence of a number of problems that arise after childbirth (stretching of the vagina, hemorrhoids, prolapse of organs, problems with intimate life);
no pain during childbirth.

The disadvantages of the operation include:

longer recovery, since the operation involves penetration into the uterine cavity;
severe postoperative pain;
a suture on the uterus, which can become thinner and rupture during the next pregnancy;
during surgery, there is a higher probability of bleeding, infection from the outside.

From personal experience

I had an emergency caesarean section, because at 41 weeks the baby squeezed the umbilical cord with a pen, he began to lack oxygen and had an emergency operation. It is clear that I didn’t really have a choice, but I really wanted to give birth naturally. What can I say two years later.

First of all, psychologically, in my opinion, cesarean is more difficult than natural childbirth: it’s scary to lie on the operating table and wait, it’s terribly unpleasant when you feel “hands” in your stomach (! yes, there is no pain during spinal anesthesia, but you feel everything that happens remotely ), severe nausea during the operation, hellish pain after a cesarean, and no one will let you lie down, you can’t (so that there is no inflammation)! At 19.30 I had an operation, at 5 in the morning they forced me to get up and go to the toilet myself, at 11 in the morning - to another floor and gave the child away. Because of the postpartum euphoria, the pain is of course quickly forgotten.

Secondly, the child has a subluxation of the cervical vertebrae C1, C2 in almost all "caesarean babies" and in some children after natural childbirth. I advise you to go to an osteopath immediately after the birth.

Thirdly, pain in the area of the seam, even after two years of weather, in the first days of menstruation, etc. This is the most annoying. Pain in the lower back, tk. there was a puncture spinal cord(anesthesia).

Therefore, I wish everyone easy natural childbirth and not even think about a caesarean without indications!

Obstetricians and gynecologists of our country treat caesarean section as a serious medical operation, which, as a rule, is not carried out without good reason.

Indications for a planned caesarean section are:

narrow pelvis of the expectant mother (not necessarily!). The operation can be performed if the size of the pelvis of the expectant mother does not allow her to give birth naturally;
placenta previa. The operation is prescribed when the placenta is located above the cervix and closes the baby's natural exit routes;
mechanical barriers (myoma in the cervical area);
diseases of the mother (diseases of the heart, kidneys, progressive myopia);
large size of the child, breech presentation, multiple entanglement of the umbilical cord (not necessary!);
multiple pregnancy;
genital herpes developing in the last stages of pregnancy.

After a cesarean, it is quite possible to give birth on your own. If you find an experienced doctor who knows how to deliver and can monitor the condition of the seam, then, if you wish, give birth naturally. After all, the birth of a child through the birth canal is like the birth of a butterfly. If she does not go through this difficult path of self-hatching from a cocoon, then she will not become so wonderful and beautiful.

When not to have a caesarean

Do I need surgery, or can I give birth on my own? There are a lot of indications for which doctors recommend resorting to surgery:

If the child is in the pelvic position. In such a situation, it is quite possible to give birth on your own. Mom will have to make more efforts and find an experienced midwife who knows how to take such births;
In a situation where the child is in a facial position, you can also give birth naturally. This causes severe pain on the mother's back, but is not a pathology and the need to resort to a cesarean.
Cord entanglement in very rare cases may be the basis for operating method childbirth. But you can give birth with an entanglement of the umbilical cord yourself. An experienced obstetrician should be able to carefully remove the umbilical cord right during childbirth. There are many examples when women gave birth with double and triple entanglement of healthy and strong children.
At poor eyesight doctors also recommend a caesarean section. However, this is not a prerequisite. In such a situation, it is necessary to reduce attempts, which can be facilitated by vertical childbirth. With such childbirth, the uterus itself can cope with squeezing the fetus.
With a narrow pelvis, it is quite possible to give birth naturally. It should be understood that a woman has an internal and external pelvis. During childbirth, the inner pelvis plays an important role.
It is difficult to give birth to twins naturally, but it is possible. It takes a lot of patience from the mother and good experience from the midwife. Twins are also not an indication for caesarean if the pregnancy is proceeding normally and there are no other concomitant indications.
Sometimes doctors diagnose weak labor and begin to resort to various stimulations, including caesarean section. But in practice there are many cases when contractions and opening of the uterus occurred a few hours before the birth itself. And that's okay.

Benefits of caesarean section

In the age of a population explosion, when there are sometimes no places in maternity hospitals, it has become more profitable for doctors to perform surgical deliveries.

It takes much less time and does not require specific knowledge and resources. A caesarean takes 1-2 hours, and natural childbirth can sometimes last up to 20-odd hours. In natural childbirth, qualification knowledge of the correct adoption of childbirth in different positions is needed. While in a caesarean, everything is simple - cut it, took out the child, sewed it up.

Many mothers, having not fully studied the process of childbirth and not having knowledge of pain relief during labor pains, may themselves ask for an operation. In such a situation, not every doctor can indifferently listen to screams and pleas for a caesarean section for several hours. And at the request of her mother, she decides to have an operation.

Remember that natural childbirth is the best thing you can give a child and experience yourself, even despite the pain that accompanies them. If you do not have critical indications for intervention, do everything naturally!

natural childbirth pros and cons

Natural childbirth is provided for by nature itself, so they have more positive aspects:

more comfortable emotional state of the mother;
childbirth takes place in several stages, so the child has time to “prepare” for new conditions, adapts faster;
the likelihood of complications (infection, bleeding) is lower than with caesarean section;
the recovery process is faster;
milk comes faster.

Even the natural process, laid down by nature itself, has its negative sides:

complications during childbirth or after childbirth (ruptures);
problems with genitourinary system and intimate life.

In our country, the attitude towards caesarean section is ambiguous. On various sites and forums, you can find comments that directly insult women who have become mothers as a result of a caesarean section. Of course, this approach cannot be considered correct, because motherhood is not only about the birth of a child. Now about 15% of children are born by caesarean section (approximately one in seven children). A caesarean section often helps save the life of both the baby and his mother.

The very question of choosing a method of delivery is not entirely appropriate, of course, natural childbirth is preferable, but not every woman can give birth herself without putting her health and the health of her baby at risk. Complications can arise both during natural childbirth and as a result of a caesarean section. Tune in to the best and remember that any child, regardless of the way of birth, needs love, affection and care.

Cesarean section belongs to the category of surgical intervention, as a result of which a baby is born. AT recent times it is steadily gaining popularity. The increase in the number of caesarean sections in many cases is due not to medical indications, but to the fear of the woman in labor. What are the pros and cons of this operation?

Indications for a caesarean section

Caesarean section is conditionally divided into two options depending on the time of decision. The planned one is predicted in advance, since even during pregnancy, a woman has indications for its implementation. An emergency cannot be foreseen in advance, since it is carried out in those cases when, in the process of natural childbirth, serious problems and complications.

The prognosis for a caesarean section may change throughout the pregnancy. An indication for surgery is, for example, a low-lying placenta, but over time it can migrate, rising into upper divisions. Of course, in such cases, the need for surgical intervention disappears. The fetus inside the uterus can also change its position. In order not to make a mistake and to carry out artificial birth only in case of urgent need, the pregnant woman and the fetus must be under constant medical supervision. On the eve of the caesarean section, it is recommended to undergo an ultrasound examination again.

The main goal of a caesarean section is to save the life and health of the mother and child, so it is justified when:

carrying out a caesarean section during the first birth, the seam from which inspires concern;
improper attachment of the placenta;
excessively narrow pelvis or deformation of its bones;
incorrect position of the fetus;
multiple pregnancy;
a large fetus weighing more than 4 or 5 kg;
pathological diseases of the mother.

If a pregnant woman has heart problems (severe heart failure), cervical fibroids, kidney failure, then doctors insist on a caesarean section. Even the presence of a genitourinary infection is an obstacle to natural childbirth, as the risk of infecting the child with such an infection during passage through the birth canal increases. Myopia is also a great danger, because during childbirth there is a sharp pressure drop and the retina can detach, which will lead to loss of vision of the woman in labor.

An emergency caesarean section is performed with complications that arise suddenly in the process of labor. Unfortunately, if in the process of childbirth, contractions are either completely absent or have a weak force, then it is not possible to carry out natural childbirth. Premature abruption of the placenta can become an obstacle to normal labor activity, which threatens the health of both the woman and the child. A clinically narrow pelvis may have an acceptable (normal) size, but not suitable for a particular large fetus. It is this discrepancy between the size of the fetus and the individual parameters of the pelvis that leads to prolonged labor and complications. In this case, doctors insist on a caesarean section.

The main goal of caesarean section is to save the life and health of the mother and child.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main and most important advantage of caesarean section is the provision of conditions that allow saving the life and health of the woman in labor and the child. There are pathologies that do not allow childbirth in a natural way.

In the process of childbirth, the revealed weak labor activity can lead to the death of the child, and only a caesarean section eliminates such a danger. A large fetus causes ruptures not only of the perineum, but also of the uterus, provoking dangerous bleeding.

Deciding on a caesarean section prevents a woman from acquiring many other pathologies. In particular, with a large stretching of the vagina or during an emergency episiotomy during childbirth, they can provoke the prolapse of the vagina itself, as well as prolapse of the uterus. Urination is also disturbed, turning into uncontrolled, spontaneous.

For many women, the big advantage is the absence of pain.

In complicated childbirth, special forceps or vacuum extraction are used to extract the child, which, unfortunately, can lead to traumatic brain injuries. Therefore, surgical intervention protects not only the woman in labor, but also the child from undesirable consequences.

Cesarean section belongs to the category of complex abdominal operations

A caesarean section takes about 40 minutes.. But even such a short surgical intervention belongs to the category of complex abdominal operations. Of course, both at the time of the operation and after, complications can occur that affect the health of the mother and child. Recovery period increases significantly, there are difficulties with feeding the child, the risk of developing postpartum depression.

Caesarean section (video)

This video material contains scenes that are not desirable for viewing by particularly impressionable people.

Possible consequences

After a caesarean section, some young mothers fall into postpartum depression, the cause of which, according to doctors, lies in a sharp break in contact with the fetus.

The recovery period is aggravated by the presence of a postoperative suture. In case of non-compliance medical advice it can diverge, bringing the woman additional difficulties. For at least two months, a young mother must avoid any physical activity. For this reason, she cannot take the child in her arms, which limits the possibility of constant contact with him. Difficulties are also manifested when feeding the baby. In the first days, and sometimes even weeks (with general anesthesia during a caesarean section), the mother is not allowed to breastfeed the baby, since the milk contains the remnants of anesthesia, which negatively affects the health of the newborn.

The activity of the intestinal tract can be disrupted, which leads to chronic constipation.

Risk of occurrence postoperative complications three times higher than in women who gave birth naturally.

The child suffers from a caesarean section. First of all, from the effect of an anesthetic substance. In this case, the most negative effect is on the respiratory and nervous systems. The baby is lethargic after birth due to exposure to muscle relaxants. During natural childbirth, the child gradually adjusts to the new environment, and in this case there is a sharp contact with an unfamiliar environment for him, which subsequently affects the nervous system, and is also the cause of vascular dystonia.

The lungs of the fetus in the womb are filled not with oxygen, but with amniotic fluid, during natural childbirth, it is expelled, and the lungs are filled with oxygen. During a caesarean section, the baby is removed with the lungs filled with amniotic fluid, which is the cause of the development of pneumonia.

Caesarean section or natural childbirth?

Experts are convinced that a caesarean section should be carried out strictly for medical reasons, when it comes to saving the life and health of a woman in labor and a child, in other cases, natural childbirth should be followed. Nature has not just endowed a woman with such an ability, created the basis for a comfortable birth of a baby. According to doctors, caesarean section is not so harmless.

In addition, after the operation, you should not plan a second pregnancy and allow abortions in the next three years. A woman is shown to be especially careful to protect herself.

According to the results of the observation of specialists, it was noted that children born into the world as a result of a caesarean section subsequently have problems with the nervous system. They have a hard time coping with any stress, prone to depression, a sharp mood swing. It is not uncommon for such a birth to be the cause of autism.

Pediatricians are sounding the alarm because of the increasing cases of caesarean sections. Unfortunately, at the moment, the percentage of women who want to give birth unnaturally, and with the help of a caesarean section, is increasing. Especially many among such women are those who had their first childbirth with complications.

The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky (video)

Childbirth is the moment when a mother meets a baby, it is desirable that they take place in a natural way. If, due to certain circumstances, this becomes impossible, then in this case a decision is made to perform a caesarean section. In any case, you must believe in the best, because a lot depends on your mood. Health to you and your baby!

Any woman who is carrying a child dreams that childbirth will be painless, easy and fast. At the same time, many expectant mothers, fearing excruciating suffering during the birth of a baby, ask themselves the question: which is better - caesarean or natural childbirth? It should be noted right away: according to the doctors of maternity hospitals, natural childbirth is much safer for the woman herself and her child.

natural childbirth

Because of the fear of upcoming pain, some women on the eve of delivery persuade the doctor to perform a caesarean section. Should not be doing that. Nature has done everything so that a woman can safely bear a fetus and give birth to a child on her own. The female body is designed in such a way that when a child is born, it can adapt to later life as quickly as possible. Experts note that babies who are removed from the mother's body by caesarean section experience quite a strong shock. For a baby accustomed to the womb, this is a complete surprise. In the future, such children are more prone to emotional experiences, mental disorders, neuroses. But a long contraction of the uterus at the birth of a child naturally benefits the newborn. Moreover, the baby experiences positive stress, because the formation and preparation of all his vital functions occurs gradually.

An important advantage of natural delivery is that for a woman and a child, the risk of side effects and complications is significantly reduced, since penetration into the mother's body is most often not required. Some women subsequently note a feeling of deep satisfaction from the fact that they could independently control the process of the birth of a baby. Severe pain is a thing of the past, and the importance of the ongoing event remains for life. In addition, there are special techniques that help a woman in labor significantly reduce pain.

Finally, compared with surgery, the recovery process after natural childbirth proceeds much faster. Also, do not forget that after a cesarean section, the likelihood of a second pregnancy is sharply reduced, and there is no question of a third one at all.

Cesarean section

First of all, it should be remembered that a caesarean section is an abdominal surgical operation. Therefore, you should not take on faith the statements that a caesarean section is the easy way reproduction into the light of a child (no pain, the head of a newborn is not deformed, etc.). Not a single surgical intervention passes without a trace for the body. The doctor will never decide to perform a caesarean section unless there is a good reason for it. Indications for the birth of a child using this operation are a clinically narrow pelvis of a woman in labor, heavy bleeding, fetal hypoxia, its transverse location, placenta previa, cervical cancer and many other serious pathologies.

Like any abdominal operation, caesarean section involves the use of painkillers (anesthesia), the imposition of postoperative sutures. During artificial childbirth the woman is losing a lot of blood. After surgery, the rehabilitation process is quite lengthy. A woman in labor feels in the lower abdomen for a long time pulling pain, and in some women, pelvic pain syndrome remains for life.

There are frequent cases when a caesarean section is not entirely successful and ends with such serious complications as the divergence of surgical sutures, the formation of ligature fistulas and adhesions in the abdominal cavity, the development of hematomas, heavy bleeding. It may even rupture the uterus. Sometimes intestinal injury occurs and Bladder. Many women report violation menstrual cycle, lack of milk in the first days after childbirth.

Thus, wondering which is better - caesarean or natural childbirth, you should not deceive nature. If there is no threat to the life of the mother and child, natural childbirth is the most reliable way to happy motherhood.

Content:

Which is better for certain problems

In the field of gynecology and among the inhabitants, disputes about which is better do not subside: natural childbirth or caesarean section - abilities inherent in nature or human intervention. Both methods of delivery have their pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, adherents and opponents. If this does not concern philosophical reasoning, but a responsible decision on how to give birth to a healthy baby, this must be taken very seriously, weigh the pros and cons and choose the so-called golden mean.

Caesarean section: pros and cons

The myth about the absence of pain during this method led to this state of affairs in gynecology. In fact, the question of which is more painful: caesarean or natural childbirth is very ambiguous. In the first case, pain in the suture area occurs after surgery and lasts about 2-3 weeks, or even longer. With the independent birth of a baby, the pain is stronger, but it is short-lived. All this can be understood if we evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.

Advantages

It is the only way out in the presence of a number of medical indications: it helps to give birth to a child with a narrow pelvis in a woman, a large fetus, placenta previa, etc.;
anesthesia makes the process of childbirth comfortable, they are easier: after all, most young mothers are afraid not to endure exactly painful contractions;
the absence of perineal tears, which means a faster return of one's sexual attractiveness, sexual life;
the time is faster: the operation usually lasts about half an hour (from 25 to 45 minutes), depending on the condition of the woman in labor and her individual characteristics, while natural childbirth sometimes takes up to 12 hours;
the possibility of planning the operation at a convenient time, choosing the optimal day of the week and even the date;
predictable outcome, unlike natural childbirth;
the risk of hemorrhoids is minimal;
the absence of birth injuries during attempts and contractions - both in the mother and in the child.

Plus or minus? Often among the advantages of caesarean section is the absence of birth injuries and injuries in a woman and her baby during attempts and contractions, however, according to statistics, there are more newborns with injuries of the cervical region or suffering from postnatal encephalopathy after such an operation than after natural, independent childbirth. So which procedure is safer in this regard, there is no definite answer.

disadvantages

Serious complications for the health and well-being of a young mother as a result of a caesarean section occur 12 times more often than during natural childbirth;
anesthesia and other types of anesthesia (spinal or epidural) used for caesarean section do not pass without a trace;
difficult and long recovery period;
profuse blood loss, which can subsequently lead to anemia;
the need for bed rest for some time (up to several months) after a cesarean section, which greatly interferes with the care of the newborn;
soreness of the seam, which makes you drink medication painkillers;
difficulties in the development of lactation: in terms of breastfeeding, caesarean delivery is worse than natural childbirth, since in the first days after the operation the baby has to be fed with mixtures, and in some cases, the mother’s milk may never appear;
a ban on playing sports after a cesarean section for 3-6 months, which means the inability to quickly restore the figure after childbirth;
ugly, unaesthetic seam on the stomach;
after a caesarean section, they may not allow natural childbirth in the future (more on this here);
a scar on the surface of the uterus, complicating the next pregnancy and childbirth;
adhesive processes in the abdominal cavity;
the impossibility of getting pregnant in the next 2 years (the best option is 3 years), since pregnancy and new births will pose a serious danger, and for the health and life of not only the young mother, but also the baby;
the need for constant medical supervision during the postoperative period;
the harmful effects of anesthesia on the baby;
the child does not produce special substances (proteins and hormones) that affect his further adaptation to the environment and mental activity.

Keep in mind that…
... general anesthesia in some cases ends with shock, pneumonia, circulatory arrest, serious damage to brain cells; spinal and epidural often entail inflammation at the puncture site, inflammation of the meninges, injuries of the spine, nerve cells. Natural childbirth excludes such complications.

Today, there is a lot of talk about the harmful effects of anesthesia during caesarean section on both the mother's body and the baby. And yet, if there is even the slightest danger to the health or life of one of the participants in childbirth (mother or baby), and the only way out is a caesarean section, you need to listen to the recommendations of doctors and use this technique. In other cases, the question of which birth is better is decided unambiguously: preference should be given to the natural course of this process.

Natural childbirth: pros and cons

The answer to the question why natural childbirth is better than caesarean section is obvious: because in the absence of medical indications, surgical intervention in the human body is not the norm. This leads to various complications and negative consequences. If you look at the pros and cons of self-delivery, their ratio in quantitative terms will speak for itself.

Advantages

the birth of a child is a normal process provided for by nature: the female body is designed so that the baby at birth acquires everything that he needs for normal life - this is why caesarean is worse than natural childbirth;
the child gains experience in overcoming difficulties, difficulties and obstacles, which helps him in later life;
there is a gradual, but quite natural adaptation of the newborn to new conditions for him;
the baby's body is tempered;
immediately after birth, it is better for a child if it is applied to the mother's breast, which contributes to their inextricable connection, the rapid establishment of lactation;
the postpartum recovery process for the female body as a result of natural childbirth is much faster than after a traumatic caesarean section;
accordingly, a young mother in this case can independently take care of the baby immediately after discharge from the hospital.

Scientific fact! Today, all sorts of studies are being conducted about the effect of caesarean section on the baby. It is discussed not only by doctors, but also by teachers, pediatricians, psychologists. According to the latest scientific findings, children who were born in this way adapt worse, often lag behind in development, and as adults, often show low stress tolerance and infantilism, unlike those who were born during natural childbirth.

disadvantages

natural childbirth involves severe pain during contractions and attempts;
pain in the perineum;
risk of tears in the perineum, which entails the need for suturing.

Which is better: caesarean or natural childbirth for certain problems

The question of which is better: cesarean or natural childbirth arises in certain cases when there are deviations from the normal development of the fetus and the course of pregnancy. If any problems arise, doctors analyze the situation and offer the woman two options - to agree to an operation or to give birth at her own peril and risk. What should a future mother do in such an exciting and ambiguous situation? First of all, you need to listen to the opinion of the doctor, but also to understand at least a little about the problem that she has in order to make the right decision.

large fruit

the expectant mother herself is far from small;
examination shows that the bones of her pelvis will easily disperse during childbirth;
her previous children are also all large and born naturally.

After IVF

the desire of the woman herself;
age over 35 years;
multiple pregnancy;
fetoplacental insufficiency;
chronic diseases;
if infertility has been for 5 years or more;
preeclampsia;
threatened miscarriage.

If the expectant mother who went through IVF is young, healthy, feels great, the reason for infertility was a man, she can, if desired, give birth naturally. At the same time, all stages of independent childbirth in this case - contractions, attempts, passage of the birth canal by the child, separation of the placenta - proceed in the same way as after natural conception.

Twins

if one baby is located down the ass and the other is head down, the doctor will not recommend natural childbirth, as there is a risk that they can catch heads with each other and be seriously injured;
with their transverse presentation, a caesarean section is also performed.

In all other cases, if the expectant mother is healthy, twins are born on their own.

Birth of monochorionic twins

Breech presentation of the fetus

if the mother's age is up to 35 years;
if she is healthy, she does not have any chronic diseases and at the time of delivery she feels great;
if she herself burns with the desire to give birth on her own;
if there are no deviations in the development of the fetus;
if the ratio of the size of the child and the pelvis of the mother will allow him to pass the birth canal without problems and complications;
breech presentation;
normal head position.

Asthma

For rheumatoid arthritis

Whether a woman can give birth naturally with rheumatoid arthritis can only be decided by a doctor, having examined the characteristics of this disease in each case. On the one hand, rheumatologists and gynecologists often decide on a caesarean section for the following reasons:

the load on the knees during the birth of the baby is very large;
the pelvic bones in rheumatoid arthritis can disperse so much that then the woman in labor will have to stay in bed for a month, since she simply cannot get up;
the disease belongs to the category of autoimmune, and they all differ in an unforeseen and unpredictable outcome.

Polycystic kidney disease

If you do not know what to give preference to, it is better to rely on the opinion of a doctor, and not make independent decisions, focusing on fashion trends from the West, where a surgical operation to extract (not birth!) A child from the womb has become commonplace. Weigh the pros and cons: if there is a threat to the health, and even more so the life of an unborn baby, without hesitation, trust the doctors and agree to a caesarean section. If there are no medical indications for this operation, give birth yourself: let the baby be born naturally.

Children are increasingly being born by caesarean section. In Russia, the proportion of these surgical interventions is already 23%. Reasons for caesarean section are not always medical - many women insist on surgery due to a strong fear of childbirth. A new concept has even appeared in the world - tokophobia. Why are women afraid of natural childbirth, and is a caesarean section safe without indications?

Why caesarean section is better than natural childbirth - the advantages of the method

Caesarean section is the only choice if there is an absolute medical indication. The operation helps the baby to be born with a narrow pelvis in the mother, a mismatch in the size of the fetus and the birth canal, placenta previa, and so on.

A caesarean without medical indications also has some advantages:

Anesthesia makes the birth of the baby comfortable.
The fetus does not pass through the birth canal, which means that there are no perineal ruptures.
A caesarean is much faster than a natural birth.
The operation can be scheduled at a convenient time, day of the week.
The outcome of a caesarean section is much more predictable.
The child does not receive birth injuries during contractions and attempts.

caesarean really saves a woman from painful contractions. It is this plus of the operation that makes it so fashionable.

A big plus for a modern woman is and no perineal tears and weakening the tone of the walls of the vagina. Many women worry about whether they will remain sexually attractive after having a baby.

Faster delivery with the help of caesarean section is not in doubt. After all, childbirth takes 12-20 hours, and the operation - only 30-40 minutes. However, the recovery period after surgery is much longer than after natural childbirth.

The predictability of the outcome of a caesarean section and the absence of birth trauma in a baby could attract most reasonable women. However, just these advantages are always in question. Oddly enough, there are even more children with cervical trauma and postnatal encephalopathy after caesarean than after conventional birth.

In addition to some advantages, caesarean section without indications has obvious disadvantages.

Video: Caesarean section - pros and cons

Why is a caesarean section worse than EP?

A caesarean section is a major operation that carries certain risks for the mother and baby. It is known that severe complications for the mother are 12 times more common with caesarean section than in natural childbirth.

Anesthesia is a big risk. Anesthesia and regional anesthesia (spinal, epidural) for caesarean section can cause great harm to health.

In some cases, general anesthesia ends with shock, circulatory arrest, damage to brain cells, pneumonia. Spinal and epidural anesthesia can be complicated by inflammation at the puncture site, inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord, trauma to the spine and nervous tissue.

Other disadvantages of cesarean are not related to anesthesia

Difficult recovery period.
Greater blood loss than in natural childbirth.
The need for bed and protective rest, which interferes with the care of the baby for the first time.
Soreness of the seam, pain syndrome.
Difficulties in breastfeeding.
You can not play sports and do exercises for the press for several months.
Cosmetic seam on the skin of the abdomen.
A scar on the uterus, complicating subsequent pregnancies and childbirth.
Adhesive process in the abdominal cavity.
Danger to health and life in case of early pregnancy (earlier than in 2-3 years).
The need for regular medical supervision in the postoperative period.
The effect of anesthesia on the baby.
At the time of birth, a child does not produce proteins and hormones that affect mental activity and adaptation.

The recovery period after a caesarean section is quite difficult. Stress for the body is associated with the operation itself, and with the abrupt termination of pregnancy.

Hormonal disorders are manifested in Difficulty initiating breastfeeding. Milk appears much later than after natural childbirth. In some cases, the baby has to be supplemented from the first days of life, which does not contribute to normal lactation.

A woman has to limit yourself in food, monitor digestion, move moderately. In the first months, it is not recommended to lift weights of more than 2 kg, play sports, swim in ponds, and have sex. Due to the weakness and danger of breaking the seam, a woman cannot fully care for a newborn.

Blood loss and inflammation after the intervention can lead to the development anemia, abdominal adhesions, chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Pain in the postoperative period continues for several days. Soreness of the seam persists for a long time. Almost all women have to resort to painkillers on the first day after cesarean.

The impact of a caesarean section on a child is discussed by pediatricians, educators and psychologists. Research shows that children born as a result of the operation adapt worse, tend to lag behind in development. In adulthood, they often demonstrate infantilism and inability to overcome stress.

Latest scientific work in this direction have shown that during natural childbirth in the body of a child, the concentration of a special protein thermogenin, which affects the higher nervous activity and memory.

Which is better: caesarean section or natural childbirth: the opinion of specialists and patients

Obstetricians and pediatricians unequivocally believe unwanted caesarean section without medical indications. The operation carries too many risks, and does not make the birth of a child comfortable for the mother.

Obstetricians consider caesarean section without indications to be undesirable, since all subsequent pregnancies will be aggravated by this fact. After operative delivery, it is necessary to carefully protect yourself for 2-3 years, since both early birth and abortion are extremely dangerous for the suture on the uterus.

At the same time, with another baby, you can’t hesitate too long: Less than 10 years should pass from the previous cesarean to the next pregnancy.

Pediatricians especially emphasize the negative impact of caesarean section without indications on breastfeeding and further development baby. These problems can be overcome, but creating them for yourself unnecessarily is very short-sighted.

The opinion of pregnant women about caesarean section was studied. In Russia, every tenth woman insists on operative delivery, having no evidence. Those women who are most likely to be afraid of natural childbirth are those who have encountered complications with the birth of their first child.

The main advantage of a planned caesarean section for women is the elimination of pain during contractions and attempts. But obstetricians call a more rational solution for tocophobia civilized approach to childbirth pain relief: spinal or epidural anesthesia.

Many families are wondering what to choose - natural childbirth or caesarean section. The choice of the nature of the surgical intervention depends entirely on the decision of the doctor. Like all operations, this effect has certain indications. Modern doctors have noted that many women resort to caesarean section on their own. This is warning sign. Normally, the number of operations should not be performed in more than 10% of patients. Today this number is growing. To understand how the operation affects the body of the mother and child, it is necessary to understand its characteristics.

Etiology of surgery

The operation is performed through access in the abdominal cavity. Get the child through different kinds incisions. The main impact is carried out by laparoscopic intervention through a small incision above the pubic bone.

The technique allows minimizing injury to several layers of tissues. On the site of the pubic bone, the tissues are in close contact. This avoids rough scars and injuries to the child.

This form of the seam does not cause problems for a woman. The development of complications with this method of surgery is minimized. The recovery period does not have a long duration.

In rare cases, a more severe section is performed. It is carried out when there is a threat of death of the fetus or mother in the process of labor. This technique is performed with an incision from the pubis to the navel. A longitudinal incision gives the doctor access to all organs of the abdominal region. The doctor immediately takes the child out. This technique allows to reduce the time of access to the uterus to 10 minutes. This reduces the time of lack of oxygen in the fetus. The disadvantage of this operation is a long healing time and the presence of a rough noticeable scar. In this case, the scar does not allow the woman to wear open underwear.

As with other interventions, a caesarean section requires a woman to follow a number of rules. They allow the woman to recover.

Benefits for the patient

To understand what is better caesarean or natural childbirth, you need to consider them positive sides. Caesarean section has a number of positive effects. The following advantages of the operation are distinguished:

short temporary impact;
elimination of labor activity;
preservation of the genitals.

Caesarean section has an average duration of 30 minutes. During the operation, the patient is under anesthesia. The child is removed from the abdominal cavity and given to postoperative treatment doctors. The umbilical cord with the placenta is also removed by the doctor. The peritoneum is sutured.

2 days before surgery, the woman goes to the hospital for preparation. She does a variety of tests. The doctor examines the condition of the blood, urine. A vaginal smear is also examined for the presence of pathogens. A day before the intervention, a woman is assigned a dietary table, which allows the intestines to cleanse themselves. Before the operation, the patient stops drinking. This allows you to reduce the pressure of blood vessels.

The operation allows you to avoid the main fears - the impact of labor on the body. All patients before childbirth experience fear of severe pain from the process. For this reason, the majority of women believe that it is better to do a caesarean section, since the process is under anesthesia. Increased anxiety observed in patients who are due to give birth for the first time. The first labor activity can develop within a few days. The operation also reduces the intervention time.

There is an opinion that after natural childbirth, the vagina is greatly stretched and cannot restore its shape. Surgical intervention excludes the opening of the cervix and the passage of the child's paths. This avoids rupture of the vagina and external genitalia. Also, the vagina does not need time to recover and heal. After childbirth, the woman retains the usual forms of the genitals.

If you have to choose whether to give birth by yourself or by caesarean, then you should consider the advantages of natural activity. Natural childbirth has the following positive aspects:

timely hormonal changes;
proper preparation of the body;
quick arrival of milk;
lack of a healing period;
emergency discharge from the hospital.

An important aspect during natural childbirth is hormonal changes in the body. Throughout pregnancy, the body is driven by progesterone. This substance is involved in the development of the embryo and controls the nutrition of the fetus. If it is not enough, then the embryo does not take root. At the end of the gestation period, the progesterone content decreases. The reins are taken over by oxytocin. The hormone enhances the contractile function of the uterine body. The fetus begins to descend into the birth canal. Oxytocin also contributes to the fact that the baby will be born head down.

After the end of the process, oxytocin does not stop its action. The hormone helps the uterus to gradually return to its original size. Also oxytocin causes mouth prolactin. It serves as a lactation activator. For this reason, against the background of natural childbirth, milk comes in 2-3 days. Hormonal changes are the reason why it is better to give birth on your own.

The undoubted advantage is the absence of a healing period. Minor tears do not occur in all women. For this reason, the patient needs little time to rest after natural childbirth. After a few hours, the woman can make the usual movements. Eating is also allowed.

If a woman does not have any problems during childbirth, she quickly recovers. The absence of problems gives a chance for a quick discharge. Most perinatal centers the mother is discharged home after 3 days.

Negatives for a woman

To decide what to choose - natural childbirth or caesarean section, you should study their negative sides. Caesarean section has such disadvantages as:

postoperative period;
hormonal imbalance;
anesthesia;

The main difficulty with caesarean section is the presence of the postoperative period. A seam requires a woman to follow certain rules. The wound does not allow the patient to make sudden movements. Physical activity after the operation is prohibited. You should also carefully monitor the healing of the seam. The initial processing is carried out by a specialist.

The seam needs to be wiped antiseptic solutions and treat with drying drugs. The surface of the wound is covered with a sterile bandage, which does not allow the penetration of pathogens. Further processing is carried out independently.

There is a risk of developing various postoperative complications. Often there is such a problem as the divergence of the postpartum suture. Pathology is diagnosed 5-7 days after caesarean section. The fault of its manifestation is non-observance of physical rest. In this case, the time the woman stays in the hospital increases.

There is also a risk of developing a fistulous canal. The fistula is formed due to the incomplete dissolution of the medical thread applied to the muscle fibers. The process begins with the appearance of a small seal on the surface of the seam. After some time, the seal opens, purulent fluid appears from it. When cleaning the fistulous canal, the doctor detects the remnants of threads. In order for the canal to heal, it is necessary to remove necrotic tissue and apply a new suture.

The operation also harms the condition of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity. The wound healing process is accompanied by the formation of scar tissue. It can penetrate deep layers and affect organs. A spike forms on the affected area. The adhesive process is often the cause of a woman's further infertility.

Caesarean section excludes timely restructuring of the hormonal background. The woman is operated on before the onset of labor. The section must be made later than the end 38 weeks. In this case hormonal background women are preserved as in pregnancy.

Oxytocin in the body begins to be produced only at the beginning of breastfeeding. In rare cases, lactation after surgery is not possible. Since the hormones are rebuilt for a long time, the start of the menstrual cycle in the patient is delayed. The first menstruation after the operation may begin in a few months. If they do not start, the fault may lie in hormonal disorder. The woman will need long-term therapy.

Another unpleasant moment of caesarean section is anesthesia. Women believe that the absence of childbirth is good. In fact, anesthesia has a negative effect. The pathological effect of anesthesia extends to nervous system and brain function. No more than 5 deep anesthesias are allowed during a lifetime. Also, anesthesia has another unpleasant consequence. The first hours after surgery, the woman experiences severe headaches, dizziness. There is nausea and vomiting. This state can last no more than a day. During this time, the patient cannot eat. Digestion is difficult.

Patients experience severe stress. It is associated with the lack of preparation of the body for motherhood. In natural childbirth, the interaction between mother and child is established. This allows you to quickly establish the process of feeding and care. During the operation, this preparation for motherhood does not occur. The incompleteness of the process causes postpartum depression.

Natural childbirth also has its downsides. The main disadvantage is the duration and pain of labor. A woman who has given birth knows this feature. But the paths for such patients are already prepared. Repeated births will be faster. If the birth is the first, then they can last up to several days. The opening of the cervix is accompanied by pain. The syndrome intensifies with the onset of contractions. Attempts account for the peak of pain. This scares many firstborns.

Second negative point is the appearance of discontinuities. Stormy labor activity is accompanied by the rapid passage of the child along the paths. The paths do not have time to expand to the required size. For this reason, the fetus paves the way with its head sharply. Against this background, ruptures of the cervix, labia minora and vaginal walls occur. Such injuries can lead to the development of further complications of sexual life.

Rapid natural childbirth also has a negative effect. Such activity can cause rapid hormonal changes. As a result, background disturbance may occur. Restoration of the system is carried out with drug therapy.

Pros and cons for a child

When choosing between childbirth or having surgery, the condition of the baby should be taken into account. The choice should be what is best for the child. A caesarean section has such advantages for the baby as:

application at any size;
rapid birth;
lack of stress.

Should a large fetus be caesarean or natural childbirth? Operations should be preferred. A large fruit is considered from 4.5 kg. With this weight, the child can get stuck in the lower birth canal. The problem is exacerbated by the development of hypoxia. There is intrauterine strangulation of the child. Caesarean section avoids unpleasant complications.

Also, the operation allows you to give birth to a baby that has an incorrect location in the uterine cavity. A caesarean section is prescribed for transverse localization of the child or attachment of the placenta to the anterior wall of the uterus. Natural childbirth will not allow this.

During surgery, the child does not need to make his way. It retains its normal shape. The bones of the skull are not deformed. The fetus is removed from the uterus in a few seconds. He does not get tired during childbirth.

Natural labor activity also has a number of positive effects. During fetal development, the baby's lungs are filled with fluid. When passing through the paths, it is excreted from the lungs. The baby is born with a fully prepared respiratory system. This avoids the development of postpartum pneumonia.

In natural activities, the baby experiences a psychological connection with the mother. This helps the baby avoid stress at birth.

The disadvantages of caesarean section are considered. An anesthetic substance has a negative effect on the condition of the fetus. It enters the fetus through the placenta. After the operation, the child remains under anesthesia for a long time. The drug causes the baby to refuse to take the breast. The child sleeps for a long time. Physical activity is restored only after the drug is removed from the body.

The disadvantage of surgery is the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. After the operation, the lungs are cleaned with a special apparatus. The rest of the liquid is preserved. After a while, they cause inflammation. Fluid builds up in the lungs again. Pneumonia develops.

Natural childbirth can also have a negative effect on the child. If the fetus is mallocated or large, there is a risk of hypoxia. The fetus cannot move forward. There is a decrease in oxygen. The child begins to choke. Hypoxia negatively affects the further development of the child.

There is a risk of intracranial pressure. It appears when the fetus passes through the birth canal incorrectly. In this process, the bones of the skull are narrowed for easier passage of the child. The bones put pressure on the brain. With strong pressure, fluid accumulates between the bones and the brain. Pathology requires drug treatment. If it does not help, surgical intervention is prescribed. This problem has been occurring frequently in recent years. This is due to poor environmental conditions.

Before childbirth, a woman must choose how they will pass. To facilitate the choice, you should carefully study all the positive and negative aspects of both types of childbirth. It is also necessary to consult a doctor. Only then can a decision be made.

The opinion of specialists and doctors about what is better caesarean or natural childbirth. What are the indications for a caesarean section, and in which cases a caesarean section is not needed.

“Natural birth or caesarean section? What to choose?" - the expectant mother is timidly typing in a search engine. Why does such a question arise, because a few decades ago it did not bother women. The answer was obvious: natural childbirth and only with serious threats or risks of a caesarean section.

Caesarean section pros and cons

The operation has undeniable advantages:

caesarean section can save the life and health of the mother and / or child, if natural childbirth is not possible for medical reasons;
absence of birth trauma;
the absence of a number of problems that arise after childbirth (stretching of the vagina, hemorrhoids, prolapse of organs, problems with intimate life);
no pain during childbirth.

The disadvantages of the operation include:

longer recovery, since the operation involves penetration into the uterine cavity;
severe postoperative pain;
a suture on the uterus, which can become thinner and rupture during the next pregnancy;
during surgery, there is a higher probability of bleeding, infection from the outside.

From personal experience

Thirdly, pain in the area of the seam, even after two years of weather, in the first days of menstruation, etc. This is the most annoying. Pain in the lower back, tk. There was a puncture of the spinal cord (anesthesia).

Therefore, I wish everyone easy natural childbirth and not even think about a caesarean without indications!

Obstetricians and gynecologists in our country treat caesarean section as a serious medical operation, which, as a rule, is not performed without good reason.

Indications for a planned caesarean section are:

narrow pelvis of the expectant mother (not necessarily!). The operation can be performed if the size of the pelvis of the expectant mother does not allow her to give birth naturally;
placenta previa. The operation is prescribed when the placenta is located above the cervix and closes the baby's natural exit routes;
mechanical barriers (myoma in the cervical area);
diseases of the mother (diseases of the heart, kidneys, progressive myopia);
large size of the child, breech presentation, multiple entanglement of the umbilical cord (not necessary!);
multiple pregnancy;
genital herpes developing in the last stages of pregnancy.

When not to have a caesarean

Do I need surgery, or can I give birth on my own? There are a lot of indications for which doctors recommend resorting to surgery:

If the child is in the pelvic position. In such a situation, it is quite possible to give birth on your own. Mom will have to make more efforts and find an experienced midwife who knows how to take such births;
In a situation where the child is in a facial position, you can also give birth naturally. This causes severe pain on the mother's back, but is not a pathology and the need to resort to a cesarean.
The entanglement of the umbilical cord in very rare cases may be the basis for the surgical method of childbirth. But you can give birth with an entanglement of the umbilical cord yourself. An experienced obstetrician should be able to carefully remove the umbilical cord right during childbirth. There are many examples when women gave birth with double and triple entanglement of healthy and strong children.
In case of poor eyesight, doctors also recommend a caesarean section. However, this is not a prerequisite. In such a situation, it is necessary to reduce attempts, which can be facilitated by vertical childbirth. With such childbirth, the uterus itself can cope with squeezing the fetus.
With a narrow pelvis, it is quite possible to give birth naturally. It should be understood that a woman has an internal and external pelvis. During childbirth, the inner pelvis plays an important role.
It is difficult to give birth to twins naturally, but it is possible. It takes a lot of patience from the mother and good experience from the midwife. Twins are also not an indication for caesarean if the pregnancy is proceeding normally and there are no other concomitant indications.
Sometimes doctors diagnose weak labor and begin to resort to various stimulations, including caesarean section. But in practice there are many cases when contractions and opening of the uterus occurred a few hours before the birth itself. And that's okay.

Benefits of caesarean section

In the age of a population explosion, when there are sometimes no places in maternity hospitals, it has become more profitable for doctors to perform surgical deliveries.

natural childbirth pros and cons

Natural childbirth is provided for by nature itself, so they have more positive aspects:

more comfortable emotional state of the mother;
childbirth takes place in several stages, so the child has time to “prepare” for new conditions, adapts faster;
the likelihood of complications (infection, bleeding) is lower than with caesarean section;
the recovery process is faster;
milk comes faster.

Even the natural process, laid down by nature itself, has its negative sides:

complications during childbirth or after childbirth (ruptures);
problems with the genitourinary system and intimate life.

The dream of every woman is a quick, easy, painless birth. Therefore, today many mothers who are expecting their first baby and are afraid of natural childbirth would like to give birth by caesarean section. However, in our country, a pregnant woman does not yet have the right to choose the method of delivery, the decision to perform the operation is made by the doctors of the maternity hospital. And yet, let's figure out which is better - a caesarean section or natural childbirth.

Indications and contraindications for caesarean section

The operation of caesarean section is planned (when the impossibility of natural childbirth is known during pregnancy) and emergency (when serious complications arise during natural childbirth).

Indications for a planned caesarean section are the following factors:

anatomically narrow pelvis or anomalies in the structure of the pelvis;
gastrointestinal and genitourinary fistulas in a pregnant woman;
severe varicose veins in the vaginal area;
complete placenta previa;
scar on the uterus;
breech presentation or uncorrected position of the fetus;
large fruit;
presentation of loops of the umbilical cord;
severe fetoplacental insufficiency;
diseases in which natural childbirth is contraindicated (heart disease, myopia, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, etc.);
post-term pregnancy with unprepared birth canal;
abnormalities in the development of the uterus, scars or tumors of the cervix, vagina or perineum.

An emergency caesarean section is performed in the following cases:

premature effusion amniotic fluid or fetoplacental insufficiency in the absence of the effect of labor induction within 2-3 hours;
premature detachment of a normally or low-lying placenta;
beginning uterine rupture or its threat;
acute fetal hypoxia;
incorrect position or presentation of the fetus;
eclampsia of pregnant women or an increase in preeclampsia that is not treatable;
discrepancy between the size of the pelvis of the woman in labor and the head of the child during childbirth;
weak or discoordinated contractions.

The main contraindications to caesarean section are intrauterine fetal death, life-threatening malformations of the baby, and the presence of severe infectious diseases in a pregnant woman.

The consequences of caesarean section for the mother

Even if you are very afraid of pain in childbirth, you should not persuade the doctor to give you a caesarean section. By nature, a woman is destined to give birth to a child in a natural way, through the birth canal. Every day, thousands of mothers go through this, of course, difficult, exciting and such a wonderful path.

Caesarean section appeared as a way to save a child who is in the womb of a dying or just dead woman. Despite the fact that caesarean section has become widespread in modern obstetrics, and abroad this operation is often used as an alternative to natural childbirth, any obstetrician-gynecologist will advise you to give birth on your own (of course, if there are no indications for caesarean section).

A caesarean section is an operation during and after which serious complications can occur: bleeding, infection or adhesions in the abdominal cavity. Is a caesarean section dangerous? In this case, as with any operation, there is always a risk of injuring the internal organs, and in very rare cases, the baby.

After an operative delivery, a woman's body recovers longer than after a natural birth. When are they discharged after a caesarean section? This usually happens within 6-7 days. In the early days, it is difficult for a newly-made mother to move, it is difficult to feed the baby, to take him in her arms. In addition, subsequent natural childbirth after a caesarean section is not always possible. And natural childbirth after two cesarean is a huge risk, which not every obstetrician will agree to take on.

So which is better: caesarean or natural childbirth? Of course, the last one. However, if you have any indications for a caesarean section, you should not risk your life and health and refuse the operation.

There are only two types of obstetrics - natural, provided by nature itself, and caesarean section - operational childbirth. Disputes about how good they are both, how safe and comfortable, how they affect the child, do not stop not only among pregnant women and women in labor, but also among doctors and scientists. In this article, we will tell you what are the pros and cons of each of the birth methods and whether you can choose one of them yourself.

Advantages and disadvantages of childbirth

The natural birth of a child was foreseen by nature itself. All the mechanisms and biomechanisms of the birth of a new person are regulated at the most subtle level, which, alas, neither science nor medicine is yet able to fully understand.

Undoubtedly, it is better for a child to be born that way, naturally. When passing through the birth canal, the baby gradually and smoothly adapts to the outside world, acquires the skills necessary for survival. He meets bacteria for the first time. Adaptation to new living conditions occurs evenly and in stages, as the child moves along the mother's birth canal. High adaptive abilities make the baby more viable in the first days after birth, and also have a positive effect on the formation of his immunity.

Natural childbirth begins when the organisms of the woman in labor and the baby are completely ready. The correct hormonal background at the time of birth, as well as the ability to immediately attach the baby to the breast after it is born, contribute to the establishment of fast and normal lactation, the child will be able to receive the nutrition he needs earlier.

Yes, childbirth is more painful, it requires more strength, patience, endurance, knowledge from a woman, how to behave correctly so as not to injure the child and not injure herself, but the postpartum period proceeds more easily and gently. Within a few hours, a woman can take care of her baby herself.

The disadvantages of childbirth are mainly in labor pain, as well as the likelihood of the baby getting some kind of injury during this process. No one can know in advance how natural childbirth will take place, what complications may occur. But a competent approach to their management and an experienced obstetric team will always find an opportunity to save the lives and health of the child and his mother.

Natural childbirth always lasts longer than operational. They can take from 4-6 to 24 hours, while a caesarean section, including anesthesia, is completed in 35-40 minutes.

Pros and cons of operative delivery

From the point of view of a possible birth injury, a caesarean section is considered safer for a child than an independent birth. With it, the baby will not have to make his way through the narrow birth canal. It will be removed by the surgeon's caring hands through incisions in the anterior abdominal wall and uterus. Accordingly, head and spine injuries are unlikely. But this factor also has negative consequences.

Numerous experiments and studies have shown that the absence of childbirth experience is undesirable for a child. Such babies grow weaker and more painful, their immunity is worse than that of their peers who appeared naturally. "Kesaryata" is already in adolescence less stress-resistant than their peers. According to child psychologists, they are not so purposeful, more cowardly, they are more difficult to make important life decisions.

It should be noted that for the most part this information is not confirmed in practice, and children born by caesarean section and babies born naturally do not differ much in childhood.

Therefore, the conclusions of psychologists and anonymous researchers regarding the detrimental effect of the operation on the child, expectant mothers should be treated with healthy share skepticism. The most ridiculous myths are:

"Caesarites" lag behind in physical development, sit down later, begin to crawl and walk;
children born through an incision in the abdomen scream more in infancy, cry and worry more often;
Caesareans are hyperactive and have a lot of neurological problems.

All these statements are not true, and there is no reason to refuse an operation for which there are indications, only because of fears for the child's physical development in the future. The well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky claims that the method of delivery, in fact, has nothing to do with children's health, and even more so, it cannot form a weak and depressed, passive personality out of it.

The undoubted advantage of operative childbirth is the absence of labor pain. A woman is anesthetized, she either sleeps in a deep medical sleep, or is conscious if she has been given epidural anesthesia. But any anesthesia has its own adverse effect on the human body, and in this case two people fall under it at once - a mother and partly her child. These drugs depress the central nervous system of the crumbs, cause severe lethargy and increase the likelihood of developing respiratory failure after birth.

If a woman is under general anesthesia, then she will not be able to see her child immediately and will meet him only a few hours later.

The probability of the spread of infection, bleeding, adhesions at the end of the operation is always ten times higher. The woman herself recovers longer after a cesarean, spends more time in bed, gets up harder, she cannot lift weights for a long time, and even caring for a child after discharge from the hospital will require the mandatory participation of assistants. Within two years, a woman should not become pregnant, because it is unsafe for her, while after a natural birth, a woman can plan a second child earlier. The scar on the uterus should become quite strong, and the process of formation of connective tissue takes at least two years.

The advantages of the operation are the absence of contractions, childbirth without ruptures. But the pain that you have to endure in the recovery period is quite comparable to the sensations during childbirth. In addition, after surgery, there is always a scar on the uterus that needs to be addressed. Special attention when planning the next pregnancy and childbirth. The external scar, if the operation was performed as planned, is usually located in the region of the lower uterine segment, that is, the scar is almost invisible under the linen.

Of course, a caesarean section helps save the lives of a woman and a baby if natural childbirth is impossible for some reason. But operational childbirth is a necessity far from natural processes, and therefore, like any phenomenon that contradicts the laws of nature, they have much more unpleasant consequences.

Is there a choice?

In Russia, there is usually no choice. By default, all pregnant women should give birth naturally. Caesarean section is done only if there are contraindications to independent childbirth. These include:

narrow pelvis;
narrow pelvis and large fetus;
twins with the wrong position of one of the babies;
twins after IVF;
singleton pregnancy as a result of IVF;
two or more scars on the uterus from previous operations;
severe gestosis;
placenta previa;

polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios (with complications from the fetus);
genital herpes;
HIV infection in the mother in the absence of treatment during pregnancy;
suspicion of placental abruption;
weakness of tribal forces at any stage of childbirth and the absence of the effect of stimulation;
state of fetal hypoxia (acute, threatening).

According to bioethics, childbirth should take place in the way that is the safest in a given situation. Therefore, the decision on whether a woman can give birth herself or whether it would be better to have an operation is made by doctors, based on anamnesis, tests, and objective examination data.

In many countries of the world there is a practice of the so-called elective caesarean section or surgery at will. She implies that a woman herself can choose surgical method delivery, regardless of medical indications, or rather, their absence. In Russia, such a caesarean section can only be done for a fee in private perinatal medical centers. The cost of the operation is in the range of 360-560 thousand rubles.

Maternity hospitals and state perinatal centers operating under the system of compulsory health insurance, do not imply a surgical operation without clear indications, since such an intervention is risky and can have serious consequences.

Any risk must be justified. If there is no reason for it, then the doctor has no right to take a known risk.

But a certain freedom of choice can be given to a woman whose first pregnancy ended with an operation. Subject to certain conditions, the consistency of the scar on the uterus, the elimination of the causes that led to the first delivery on the operating table, doctors can allow natural childbirth during the second pregnancy. And here the patient will have to choose. If there is fear and psychological discomfort, she may refuse natural childbirth in favor of a second operation.

If a caesarean section is indicated and strongly recommended, do not persist, this can lead to irreversible and even tragic consequences. The risk factors should be summed up and the right adult decision made. If a woman is going to give birth for the first time at the age of 39, becomes pregnant after an IVF cycle, and even childbirth is due against the background of thrombophilia, then a planned caesarean section will be much safer, which will save the lives of the mother and baby.

Expert opinion

Most doctors, both obstetricians and pediatricians, tend to consider natural childbirth to be preferable. With a woman and her child in this process, nothing happens that could be regarded as an intervention in the body, recovery is easier to bear. Every woman has enough resources in her body to bear and give birth to her baby.

At the same time, the proportion of operative deliveries in total number grows every year and today in Russia every fifth child is born not in the delivery room, but on the operating table. The Ministry of Health believes that the list of indications for surgery is expanding due to the fact that women have become physically weaker. This is facilitated by a sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition, lack of adequate physical activity, some even go to the store for bread by car, refusing to walk at all.

Careful preliminary preparation will help get rid of the fear of natural childbirth. A woman should understand all the stages of this process well, be aware of what is happening, master the techniques of proper breathing and massage, which will help her to more easily endure labor pains and attempts.

If there is no indication for surgery, it is not necessary. But in the case of their existence, this cannot be ignored. Experienced obstetricians know situations in which a woman desperately resists surgery even when there is no other way out or the alternative is too risky. In this case, severe complications for the mother and fetus, alas, are not uncommon.

Some researchers point out that after a cesarean section, a woman experiences psychological discomfort caused by the incompleteness of the process, many suffer from guilt, are ashamed that they were able to inform the child, but not to give birth in the traditional way. Psychologists and psychiatrists note more high level anxiety in women in labor after surgical delivery, a greater tendency to severe postpartum depression and psychosis.

Pediatricians are less categorical. They do not indicate direct consequences for the child. And they are interested in the method of delivery not because the baby needs some special development program after birth by caesarean section, as many mothers think, but because it is customary to draw up medical card. Data on the early neonatal period must be included in it. At the same time, a child - a "caesarean" is not put on any special dispensary record.

The closer the date of birth, the stronger the woman is overcome by fears. Each has its own: someone is afraid of pain during natural childbirth, someone worries about the health of the child, and someone has an operation due to their condition and well-being. Many women start to panic and make bad decisions due to lack of information. In order to be calm and properly prepare for the birth of a child, you need to know how natural childbirth and cesarean section go, what complications and indications for each type of delivery can be. Which is better: caesarean or natural childbirth?

natural childbirth

Nature intended to carry a child for 9 months and give birth naturally through the birth canal. This process is very important for the baby and with the right attitude of the expectant mother, it will pass with minimal pain.

Positive sides

At 9 months, the baby grows and prepares for the birth. He adopts the correct physiological posture to pass through the birth canal of his mother, his skin is covered with lubricant for the best possible glide. Why natural childbirth is better for baby and mom:

A baby is considered full-term if it is born between 38 and 40 weeks. At this time, all functional systems work quite well and the baby can already live independently outside the mother's body. Each child chooses his own individual date of birth. And this date depends on the readiness of the baby for birth. And if he is not in a hurry to appear, then there are reasons for this and you need to give him time.
During birth and movement through the birth canal, the baby's skin, its mucous membranes are populated by the mother's microorganisms. A child in the womb of a woman is absolutely sterile. It is very important that the necessary and beneficial bacteria get into the crumbs, which will populate the skin, mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tract. Otherwise, less beneficial bacteria may attach, which can lead to skin diseases, indigestion, and so on.
No less important is the adaptation of the baby when passing through natural paths. During the break of the waters and the beginning of labor, the child understands on an instinctive level that the difficulties of birth await him ahead and gradually prepares for them. Further advancement is not a shock and surprise for him, even with sufficient strong pressure and contraction of the uterus.

During natural childbirth, a woman's body produces a huge amount of hormones. They are needed to reduce the uterus and pain relief, to stimulate lactation. Part of the hormones also affects the fetus, which prepares the newborn baby for life separately from the mother's body.
It is very important to attach the baby to the mother's breast early. This, as mentioned above, will help him acquire the right microflora. But most importantly, early application will start the lactation process, which will facilitate the further establishment of natural feeding. And also the baby will get the first and most useful milk - colostrum, will not get acquainted with the bottle and the mixture, which means there will be no difficulties later with the wrong grip of the mother's nipple.
Colostrum. The first milk is very useful for the crumbs. It contains a large number of antibodies, vitamins and nutrients. Even a small drop of colostrum can satisfy a child's first hunger. Such milk is not only nutritious, but also perfectly prepares the gastrointestinal tract of the newborn for further feeding, which in the future can reduce the likelihood of childhood intestinal colic.
Since childbirth is conceived by nature, then the woman is restored with an uncomplicated process quickly enough. Under the influence of hormones, there is a rapid regeneration of tissues and the healing of possible wounds.
After a difficult birth process, a woman receives a well-deserved "reward" - a child. From a psychological point of view, this is the correct and logical conclusion of the gestation process. After natural delivery, under the influence of a huge amount of hormones, a woman begins to experience strong feelings for the baby, the maternal instinct wakes up.

Natural childbirth is always the best and priority for both the woman and the baby. This is true only when gestation and delivery proceed without problems.

Possible Complications

Despite the fact that childbirth is a physiological and natural process, a woman and a child may face certain complications. Most often, during delivery and the passage of the baby through the birth canal, injuries and ruptures of soft tissues can occur. Sometimes an episio- or perineotomy is used - a surgical dissection of the tissues of the perineum with ineffective attempts and difficulties in the birth of the head. This situation may result from:

Wrong behavior of a woman in childbirth, when in a panic she does not hear the recommendations of doctors and does not follow the necessary commands.
With a large fetus or a large head of a child.
With improper advancement of the fetus through the birth canal, for example, prolapse of the handle.
With rapid childbirth.

On the part of the child, certain problems can also arise at birth.

example, birth trauma or hypoxia. These conditions occur when the baby is "stuck" in the birth canal and the weakening or extinction of labor activity. Then, to save the life of the baby, radical techniques are used that can inflict various injuries on him. And a long stay of a child in a spasmodic uterus is fraught with serious hypoxia, which will affect neurological problems in the future. Often, when problems arise in natural childbirth, doctors, having assessed the risks for the mother and child, still perform an emergency caesarean section.

Childbirth is a difficult and painful process. Being afraid of pain is absolutely normal and natural for a person. But this is physiology and billions of women have given birth and are giving birth to children. You need to tune in to easy childbirth, but be prepared for strong pain.

It is impossible to predict the occurrence of certain complications in childbirth. If there are no health problems, then natural delivery should definitely be chosen.

Cesarean section

The caesarean section has been used for a long time. The tactics of its implementation are being improved every year. The time of extraction of the child and the volume of surgical access are progressively reduced. This operation saved millions of lives. But no matter how effective it is, it is still an operation that carries certain difficulties and features.

Positive sides

Despite the fact that this is a serious abdominal surgical intervention, it is carried out for the good. And in some cases, it is vital for the birth of a healthy baby and the preservation of a woman's life. What are the advantages of the operation:

With operative delivery, there is no risk of birth injury to the baby. Compared to the natural method, surgical delivery is safer for the baby.
This operation is urgently indicated for life-threatening complications in childbirth, both on the part of the child and on the part of the mother.
A planned operation will allow you to safely deliver a woman who has contraindications for active labor for health reasons with minimal complications.
A caesarean section significantly increases the chances of having healthy babies in multiple pregnancies.
The absence of a period of painful contractions and attempts. A more "easy" way to get a baby, bypassing the long and painful period contractions. But do not forget about the postoperative period.

Of course, if the life and health of the baby and the opportunity to give birth on her own lie on the scales, then the choice is obvious.

Possible Complications

Despite the prevalence and apparent ideality of the method, of course, there are complications, disadvantages and difficulties of the postoperative period. What to expect:

Any surgical intervention is a huge trauma for the body and carries all the dangers inherent in surgery and anesthesia. The outcome of the operation, as well as natural childbirth, no one can predict. Complications can be very different, up to death. Fortunately, this is very rare. One of the common complications is postoperative anemia, which is corrected with iron preparations.
The action of the drug. With general anesthesia, no matter how quickly the baby is removed, some amount of anesthetic still enters his bloodstream. This is manifested in the inhibition of the child, drowsiness, and the absence of a sucking reflex. Fortunately, CNS depression is transient and will disappear as the anesthetic is removed from the baby's body. The effect of anesthesia on a woman's body is also difficult to predict, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and disorientation in time are possible. Spinal anesthesia is more preferable and safer for the child, but it also has disadvantages. There may be insufficient loss of sensation, headaches and increased intracranial pressure, back pain and even paralysis. lower extremities. Of course, such formidable complications are not so common, but you need to know about them.
Postoperative wound.
There is a seam after the operation and it looks small and neat, it will still hurt. In this case, it will be necessary to combine recovery after a caesarean section with caring for a baby, which is quite difficult. To relieve pain, the doctor will prescribe painkillers, which will inevitably enter the child's body with milk. Very often lactation-compatible antibiotics are prescribed after surgery to prevent bacterial infection. Wearing a postoperative bandage significantly relieves pain. Possible loss of skin sensitivity in the area of the postoperative wound, such changes in most cases are reversible and recover within six months. Of course, the recovery rate and pain threshold are different for everyone, but you need to be prepared for difficulties.
Late breastfeeding. With general anesthesia, breastfeeding after surgery is not possible. This is carried out after the woman regains consciousness after 8-10 hours. Before this, the child is laid out on the father's chest and supplemented with artificial milk mixtures. With regional anesthesia, they are applied to the chest immediately, but still the woman needs more time to recover and have full contact with the child. Lactation begins, as a rule, a couple of days later than with natural childbirth.
From the point of view of psychology, it is better and “more correct” for a woman to give birth herself. Many mothers feel guilty before the child, they are disappointed that they have not coped with the main female task. It is noticed that the maternal instinct after cesarean wakes up a little later.
Recovery after surgery is much longer than after natural childbirth. Muscles and skin regenerate longer and slower. Possible sagging and formation of a skin fold over the seam. For a long time, physical exercises on the press area are contraindicated. Therefore, you can go in for sports only 4-6 months after the approval of the observing gynecologist.

A caesarean section is a major operation that requires indications. Any surgical intervention is dangerous for the body, including childbirth through a caesarean section.

How to choose?

In our country, the law does not provide for the possibility of independent choice of the method of delivery. For all healthy women recommended natural childbirth. If there are indications for the state of health of the mother and fetus, the question of the advisability of operative delivery is decided. Absolute evidence is needed to make a positive decision. If there are relative indications, the decision on the operation is made at the medical consultation, after evaluating all possible complications and the advantages of the method in each particular case.

Natural childbirth is the best in a physiological way the birth of a baby. Therefore, you need to think about this aspect first of all.

At the same time, if there is a threat to health, then you should not rely on luck. You need to listen to the doctor and choose the most optimal method of delivery, even if it is an operation.

If you know for sure that you will have surgery, then you should not be afraid. It is advisable to get acquainted with the surgeon and anesthesiologist before the operation, to discuss all the exciting moments. The main thing is the result - a healthy mother and baby.

If there are health nuances, but there is a great desire to give birth on their own, then in some cases a woman can be allowed into natural childbirth, but with a ready-made operating room in case of complications. It should be remembered that elective surgery is always preferable to emergency surgery in terms of complication rate and severity.

In any case, you need to take into account all factors and listen to the recommendations of experts. Only a doctor can determine whether natural childbirth or caesarean section is better in each case.

Which is better for certain problems

Caesarean section: pros and cons

The myth about the absence of pain during this method led to this state of affairs in gynecology. In fact, the question of which is more painful: caesarean or natural childbirth is very ambiguous. In the first case, pain in the suture area occurs after surgery and lasts about 2-3 weeks, or even longer. With the independent birth of a baby, the pain is stronger, but it is short-lived. All this can be understood if we evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.

Advantages

It is the only way out in the presence of a number of medical indications: it helps to give birth to a child with a narrow pelvis in a woman, a large fetus, placenta previa, etc.;
anesthesia makes the process of childbirth comfortable, they are easier: after all, most young mothers are afraid not to endure exactly painful contractions;
the absence of perineal tears, which means a faster return of one's sexual attractiveness, sexual life;
the time is faster: the operation usually lasts about half an hour (from 25 to 45 minutes), depending on the condition of the woman in labor and her individual characteristics, while natural childbirth sometimes takes up to 12 hours;
the possibility of planning the operation at a convenient time, choosing the optimal day of the week and even the date;
predictable outcome, unlike natural childbirth;
the risk of hemorrhoids is minimal;
the absence of birth injuries during attempts and contractions - both in the mother and in the child.

Plus or minus? Often among the advantages of caesarean section is the absence of birth injuries and injuries in a woman and her baby during attempts and contractions, however, according to statistics, there are more newborns with injuries of the cervical region or suffering from postnatal encephalopathy after such an operation than after natural, independent childbirth. So which procedure is safer in this regard, there is no definite answer.

disadvantages

Serious complications for the health and well-being of a young mother as a result of a caesarean section occur 12 times more often than during natural childbirth;
anesthesia and other types of anesthesia (spinal or epidural) used for caesarean section do not pass without a trace;
difficult and long recovery period;
profuse blood loss, which can subsequently lead to anemia;
the need for bed rest for some time (up to several months) after a cesarean section, which greatly interferes with the care of the newborn;
soreness of the seam, which makes you drink medication painkillers;
difficulties in the development of lactation: in terms of breastfeeding, caesarean delivery is worse than natural childbirth, since in the first days after the operation the baby has to be fed with mixtures, and in some cases, the mother’s milk may never appear;
a ban on playing sports after a cesarean section for 3-6 months, which means the inability to quickly restore the figure after childbirth;
ugly, unaesthetic seam on the stomach;
after a caesarean section, they may not allow natural childbirth in the future (more on this here);
a scar on the surface of the uterus, complicating the next pregnancy and childbirth;
adhesive processes in the abdominal cavity;
the impossibility of getting pregnant in the next 2 years (the best option is 3 years), since pregnancy and new births will pose a serious danger, and for the health and life of not only the young mother, but also the baby;
the need for constant medical supervision during the postoperative period;
the harmful effects of anesthesia on the baby;
the child does not produce special substances (proteins and hormones) that affect his further adaptation to the environment and mental activity.

Keep in mind that…
... general anesthesia in some cases ends with shock, pneumonia, circulatory arrest, serious damage to brain cells; spinal and epidural often entail inflammation at the puncture site, inflammation of the meninges, injuries of the spine, nerve cells. Natural childbirth excludes such complications.

Natural childbirth: pros and cons

Advantages

the birth of a child is a normal process provided for by nature: the female body is designed so that the baby at birth acquires everything that he needs for normal life - this is why caesarean is worse than natural childbirth;
the child gains experience in overcoming difficulties, difficulties and obstacles, which helps him in later life;
there is a gradual, but quite natural adaptation of the newborn to new conditions for him;
the baby's body is tempered;
immediately after birth, it is better for a child if it is applied to the mother's breast, which contributes to their inextricable connection, the rapid establishment of lactation;
the postpartum recovery process for the female body as a result of natural childbirth is much faster than after a traumatic caesarean section;
accordingly, a young mother in this case can independently take care of the baby immediately after discharge from the hospital.

Scientific fact! Today, all sorts of studies are being conducted about the effect of caesarean section on the baby. It is discussed not only by doctors, but also by teachers, pediatricians, psychologists. According to the latest scientific findings, children who were born in this way adapt worse, often lag behind in development, and as adults, often show low stress tolerance and infantilism, unlike those who were born during natural childbirth.

disadvantages

natural childbirth involves severe pain during contractions and attempts;
pain in the perineum;
risk of tears in the perineum, which entails the need for suturing.

Which is better: caesarean or natural childbirth for certain problems

large fruit

the expectant mother herself is far from small;
examination shows that the bones of her pelvis will easily disperse during childbirth;
her previous children are also all large and born naturally.

After IVF

the desire of the woman herself;
age over 35 years;
multiple pregnancy;
fetoplacental insufficiency;
chronic diseases;
if infertility has been for 5 years or more;
preeclampsia;
threatened miscarriage.

Twins

if one baby is located down the ass and the other is head down, the doctor will not recommend natural childbirth, as there is a risk that they can catch heads with each other and be seriously injured;
with their transverse presentation, a caesarean section is also performed.

In all other cases, if the expectant mother is healthy, twins are born on their own.

Birth of monochorionic twins

Breech presentation of the fetus

if the mother's age is up to 35 years;
if she is healthy, she does not have any chronic diseases and at the time of delivery she feels great;
if she herself burns with the desire to give birth on her own;
if there are no deviations in the development of the fetus;
if the ratio of the size of the child and the pelvis of the mother will allow him to pass the birth canal without problems and complications;
breech presentation;
normal head position.

Asthma

For rheumatoid arthritis

the load on the knees during the birth of the baby is very large;
the pelvic bones in rheumatoid arthritis can disperse so much that then the woman in labor will have to stay in bed for a month, since she simply cannot get up;
the disease belongs to the category of autoimmune, and they all differ in an unforeseen and unpredictable outcome.

Polycystic kidney disease

Why caesarean section is better than natural childbirth - the advantages of the method

A caesarean without medical indications also has some advantages:

Anesthesia makes the birth of the baby comfortable.
The fetus does not pass through the birth canal, which means that there are no perineal ruptures.
A caesarean is much faster than a natural birth.
The operation can be scheduled at a convenient time, day of the week.
The outcome of a caesarean section is much more predictable.
The child does not receive birth injuries during contractions and attempts.

caesarean really saves a woman from painful contractions. It is this plus of the operation that makes it so fashionable.

A big plus for a modern woman is and no perineal tears and weakening the tone of the walls of the vagina. Many women worry about whether they will remain sexually attractive after having a baby.

In addition to some advantages, caesarean section without indications has obvious disadvantages.

Video: Caesarean section - pros and cons

Why is a caesarean section worse than EP?

Anesthesia is a big risk. Anesthesia and regional anesthesia (spinal, epidural) for caesarean section can cause great harm to health.

Other disadvantages of cesarean are not related to anesthesia

Difficult recovery period.
Greater blood loss than in natural childbirth.
The need for bed and protective rest, which interferes with the care of the baby for the first time.
Soreness of the seam, pain syndrome.
Difficulties in breastfeeding.
You can not play sports and do exercises for the press for several months.
Cosmetic seam on the skin of the abdomen.
A scar on the uterus, complicating subsequent pregnancies and childbirth.
Adhesive process in the abdominal cavity.
Danger to health and life in case of early pregnancy (earlier than in 2-3 years).
The need for regular medical supervision in the postoperative period.
The effect of anesthesia on the baby.
At the time of birth, a child does not produce proteins and hormones that affect mental activity and adaptation.

The recovery period after a caesarean section is quite difficult. Stress for the body is associated with the operation itself, and with the abrupt termination of pregnancy.

Blood loss and inflammation after the intervention can lead to the development anemia, abdominal adhesions, chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Pain in the postoperative period continues for several days. Soreness of the seam persists for a long time. Almost all women have to resort to painkillers on the first day after cesarean.

Recent scientific work in this direction has shown that during natural childbirth, the concentration of a special thermogenin protein, which affects higher nervous activity and memory, increases in the child's body.

Which is better: caesarean section or natural childbirth: the opinion of specialists and patients

At the same time, with another baby, you can’t hesitate too long: Less than 10 years should pass from the previous cesarean to the next pregnancy.

Pediatricians especially emphasize the negative impact of caesarean section without indications on breastfeeding and the further development of the baby. These problems can be overcome, but creating them for yourself unnecessarily is very short-sighted.

Many families are wondering what to choose - natural childbirth or caesarean section. The choice of the nature of the surgical intervention depends entirely on the decision of the doctor. Like all operations, this effect has certain indications. Modern doctors have noted that many women resort to caesarean section on their own. This is a worrying sign. Normally, the number of operations should not be performed in more than 10% of patients. Today this number is growing. To understand how the operation affects the body of the mother and child, it is necessary to understand its characteristics.

Etiology of surgery

The operation is performed through access in the abdominal cavity. The child is taken out through various types of incisions. The main impact is carried out by laparoscopic intervention through a small incision above the pubic bone.

The technique allows minimizing injury to several layers of tissues. On the site of the pubic bone, the tissues are in close contact. This avoids rough scars and injuries to the child.

This form of the seam does not cause problems for a woman. The development of complications with this method of surgery is minimized. The recovery period does not have a long duration.

As with other interventions, a caesarean section requires a woman to follow a number of rules. They allow the woman to recover.

Benefits for the patient

To understand what is better caesarean or natural childbirth, it is necessary to consider their positive aspects. Caesarean section has a number of positive effects. The following advantages of the operation are distinguished:

short temporary impact;
elimination of labor activity;
preservation of the genitals.

Caesarean section has an average duration of 30 minutes. During the operation, the patient is under anesthesia. The child is removed from the abdominal cavity and given to the doctors for postoperative treatment. The umbilical cord with the placenta is also removed by the doctor. The peritoneum is sutured.

The operation allows you to avoid the main fears - the impact of labor on the body. All patients before childbirth experience fear of severe pain from the process. For this reason, the majority of women believe that it is better to do a caesarean section, since the process is under anesthesia. Increased anxiety is observed in patients who are due to give birth for the first time. The first labor activity can develop within a few days. The operation also reduces the intervention time.

If you have to choose whether to give birth by yourself or by caesarean, then you should consider the advantages of natural activity. Natural childbirth has the following positive aspects:

timely hormonal changes;
proper preparation of the body;
quick arrival of milk;
lack of a healing period;
emergency discharge from the hospital.

If a woman does not have any problems during childbirth, she quickly recovers. The absence of problems gives a chance for a quick discharge. In most perinatal centers, the woman in labor is discharged home after 3 days.

Negatives for a woman

To decide what to choose - natural childbirth or caesarean section, you should study their negative sides. Caesarean section has such disadvantages as:

postoperative period;
hormonal imbalance;
anesthesia;

The seam must be wiped with antiseptic solutions and treated with drying drugs. The surface of the wound is covered with a sterile bandage, which does not allow the penetration of pathogens. Further processing is carried out independently.

Caesarean section excludes timely restructuring of the hormonal background. The woman is operated on before the onset of labor. The section must be done no later than the end of the 38th week. In this case, the hormonal background of the woman is preserved as during pregnancy.

Oxytocin in the body begins to be produced only at the beginning of breastfeeding. In rare cases, lactation after surgery is not possible. Since the hormones are rebuilt for a long time, the start of the menstrual cycle in the patient is delayed. The first menstruation after the operation may begin in a few months. If they do not start, the fault may lie in a hormonal disorder. The woman will need long-term therapy.

Another unpleasant moment of caesarean section is anesthesia. Women believe that the absence of childbirth is good. In fact, anesthesia has a negative effect. The pathological effect of anesthesia extends to the nervous system and brain function. No more than 5 deep anesthesias are allowed during a lifetime. Also, anesthesia has another unpleasant consequence. The first hours after surgery, the woman experiences severe headaches, dizziness. There is nausea and vomiting. This state can last no more than a day. During this time, the patient cannot eat. Digestion is difficult.

The second negative point is the appearance of gaps. Stormy labor activity is accompanied by the rapid passage of the child along the paths. The paths do not have time to expand to the required size. For this reason, the fetus paves the way with its head sharply. Against this background, ruptures of the cervix, labia minora and vaginal walls occur. Such injuries can lead to the development of further complications of sexual life.

Pros and cons for a child

application at any size;
rapid birth;
lack of stress.

In natural activities, the baby experiences a psychological connection with the mother. This helps the baby avoid stress at birth.

There is a risk of intracranial pressure. It appears when the fetus passes through the birth canal incorrectly. In this process, the bones of the skull are narrowed for easier passage of the child. The bones put pressure on the brain. With strong pressure, fluid accumulates between the bones and the brain. Pathology requires medical treatment. If it does not help, surgical intervention is prescribed. This problem has been occurring frequently in recent years. This is due to poor environmental conditions.

Natural births are those births that took place with minimal medical intervention in a calm, almost homely atmosphere in a short period of time. The first birth should not exceed more than 12 hours, for those who give birth for the second time, more than 10 hours.

The Benefits of Normal Birth
Advantages and disadvantages
Indications for surgery
Preparatory process for birth
Childbirth after caesarean section