Caesarean deliveries are skyrocketing in India. Until 2010, caesarean or C-sections were limited to 8.5% of all deliveries in the country, just under the recommended level of 10-15%, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report. However, their occurrence have escalated in many parts of the country between 2005 and 2015 with states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu registering as many as 41% and 58% C-section deliveries respectively, according to an article published in Quartz India in January 2015. Vaginal delivery refers to the natural form of childbirth but there are other types of delivery as well.
Process of Childbirth
There are largely two types of delivery: vaginal and caesarean but they can be further differentiated on the type of assistance and medicines used during childbirth. Moreover, there are many questions regarding the process of childbirth. Here are some answers that might help you.
Natural Childbirth
A natural childbirth is a vaginal delivery where no medicines or medical assistance is used. If you opt for a natural childbirth then you must prepare yourself mentally and physically to do so.
Assisted Vaginal Delivery
An assisted vaginal delivery is one in which the birth takes place directly through the birth-canal but medications and tools may be used to assist the delivery. Epidural, an anesthesia which is directly inserted into the spine may be used during a vaginal delivery to numb the pain. It is an optional process and you can consult your doctor about the same. Instruments such as forceps may be used to hold the baby’s head and help guide the baby through the birth canal. Vacuum delivery is another way to assist delivery. A suction cup is applied to the baby’s head and the baby is gently pulled out through the birth-canal. Other ways of assistance are episiotomy in which a small surgical incision is made in the perineum to enlarge the vaginal passage and amniotomy which involves artificial rupture of the amniotic sac and inducing labor by injection of a synthetic drug.
Caesarean Section
One of the other types of delivery is caesarean section (commonly known as C-section) in which a surgical incision is made in the mother’s belly and uterus and the baby is delivered. C-section may be planned as many women opt for it or if the nature of the pregnancy calls for it. It may even be unplanned if complications arise during labor and C-section is necessary for the well-being of the mother and the baby. Because a caesarean is a major surgery, it will take you longer to recover and resume daily activities. A woman who has previously delivered through C-section can deliver through the normal vaginal delivery in a subsequent pregnancy. It depends on the reason of the C-section and the nature of the incision that was made in the first place.
Whatever the type of delivery you opt or go through, make sure to store your child’s cord blood stem cells through umbilical cord blood banking. This will help to secure your child’s future health. Stem cells have the ability to replicate in just about any other type of cells and are therefore instrumental in the treatment of various diseases.