What are the differences between normal labor and C-section?

The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages as many expectant mothers as possible to give birth vaginally because it results in milder bleeding, requires a shorter recovery period, helps mothers to start taking care of the baby sooner, and costs less. C-Sections are for pregnant women who cannot give birth naturally. On average, 80–85% of expectant mothers have vaginal births.

When compared to C-Section, normal labor is more painful during delivery. However, it is only for a short time. When the delivery is finished, there will be no pain. Normal labor also helps the new mother get started with breastfeeding sooner and better.

In contrast, expectant mothers are given anesthetics or a spinal block to make a C-section delivery pain-free. However, in the post anesthetic phase, the mothers will experience pain for days. C-Sections are mostly applied when the baby has a misshapen head, the baby is too big for the mother’s pelvis, the baby is in a breech or transverse positions, or the mother has complications such as preeclampsia, heart disease, or a premature rupture of membranes.

Both types of deliveries can cause complications for mothers and babies. Therefore, it is vital to have proper prenatal care from specialist doctors so that the most appropriate delivery method can be selected.

Some of you may have heard of an OB Stat Team, while others may not be familiar with the term. An OB Stat Team consists of an obstetrician, anesthetist, pediatrician specializing in neonatology, and nurses experienced in several fields. The team is put on standby to respond to any emergencies within 20 minutes of the obstetrician deciding to have a mother undergo a C-section delivery. Currently, not many hospitals have the capacity to have a specialist OB Stat Team.

Presently, spinal block is more widely administered than general anesthesia as the latter may penetrate into the baby’s lungs causing the baby problems in crying and breathing. Therefore, anesthesia is used only in emergencies or when spinal block is not an option.

Many research projects conducted in Thailand and abroad confirm that spinal block does not inflict any long-term back pain on those who receive this application. In fact, any back pain which may be attributed to a spinal block actually occurs because of the mothers’ behavior, such as position during breastfeeding, carrying or lifting heavy objects in the wrong position.

Soon-to-be mothers are advised to choose a hospital with services, obstetricians and gynecologists of a high standard. The hospital of choice should also have anesthetists who are available 24 hrs a day and an experienced OB Stat Team ready and able to cope with emergencies within 20 minutes of being notified. The ideal hospital should also have pediatricians ready to take care of the newborns immediately after delivery as well as a team of pediatricians specializing in various fields for when the newborn needs special care because of any complications.

Photo Credit: jmayer1129 via Compfight cc