Sarah
02-18-2009, 01:43 AM
I saw a story on this last night on the idiot box as photos of Naomi Watts' stretch marks had just been photographed and it touched on the debate of women going through natural birth or having a C-section by appointment.
Now I have a couple of things to point out about both sides of the argument the pros and cons:
Pros of natural childbirth:
* Most natural childbirth techniques are not invasive, so there's little potential for harm or side effects for you or your baby.
* Many women have a strong sense of empowerment during labor and accomplishment afterward. And despite having to endure pain, many report that they'd opt for an unmedicated birth again the next time. For some women, being in charge helps lessen their perception of pain.
* There's no loss of sensation or alertness. You'll be awake and active during labor and birth — so you can move around more freely and find positions that help you stay comfortable during labor and aid the delivery process when it's time to push your baby out.
* Your partner will feel involved as you work together to manage your pain.
* You don't necessarily need to be hooked up to an IV or monitoring machines, so it's easier to move about — walk if you'd like, take a shower or a bath, and use the toilet instead of a bedpan.
* You're less likely than women who get epidurals to need Pitocin, a vacuum extraction or forceps delivery, or bladder catheterization.
* Breathing exercises, visualization, and self-hypnosis can be practiced ahead of time — and used again later. Many new mothers find themselves drawing on their relaxation techniques in the early days of breastfeeding, while coping with postpartum discomfort, or when caring for a newborn feels especially stressful.
* Natural birth is better for babies, because their internal organs don't have to process the drugs that pass through the placenta (and, yes, everything passes through the placenta). They are more alert at birth, and often have an easier time breastfeeding.
Cons: it can be exhausting, but no one ever said childbirth was a piece of cake!
Pros of c-section: It can be life-saving when the mother and/or the baby are truly in disress.
Cons of c-section:
* Physical problems in mothers: Compared with vaginal birth, cesarean section increases a woman's risk for a number of physical problems. These range from less common but potentially life-threatening problems, including hemorrhage (severe bleeding), blood clots, and bowel obstruction, to much more common concerns such as longer-lasting and more severe pain and infection. Even after recovery from surgery, scarring and adhesion tissue increase risk for ongoing pelvic pain and for twisted bowel.
* Hospitalization of mothers: If a woman has a cesarean, she is more likely to stay in the hospital longer and is at greater risk of being re-hospitalized.
* Emotional well-being of mothers: A woman who has a cesarean section may be at greater risk for poorer overall mental health and some emotional problems. She is also more likely to rate her birth experience poorer than a woman who has had a vaginal birth.
* Early contact with, feelings toward babies: A woman who has a cesarean usually has less early contact with her baby and is more likely to have initial negative feelings about her baby.
* Breastfeeding: Recovery from surgery poses challenges for getting breastfeeding under way, and a baby who was born by cesarean is less likely to be breastfed and get the benefits of breastfeeding.
* Health of babies: Babies born by cesarean are more likely to:
o be cut during the surgery (usually minor)
o have breathing difficulties around the time of birth
o experience asthma in childhood and in adulthood.
* Future reproductive problems for mothers: A cesarean section in this pregnancy puts a woman at risk for future reproductive problems in comparison with a woman who has a vaginal birth. These problems may involve serious complications and medical emergencies. The likelihood of experiencing some of these conditions goes up sharply as the number of previous cesareans increases. These problems include:
o ectopic pregnancy: pregnancies that develop outside her uterus or within the scar
o reduced fertility, due to either less ability to become pregnant again or less desire to do so
o placenta previa: the placenta attaches near or over the opening to her cervix
o placenta accreta: the placenta grows through the lining of the uterus and into or through the muscle of the uterus
o placental abruption: the placenta detaches from the uterus before the baby is born
o rupture of the uterus: the uterine scar gives way during pregnancy or labor.
* Concerns about babies in future pregnancies: A cesarean section in this pregnancy can affect the babies of future pregnancies. Studies have found that they are more likely to:
o be born too early (preterm)
o weigh less than they should (low birthweight)
o have a physical abnormality or injury to their brain or spinal cord
o die before or shortly after the birth
* Planned cesarean compared with unplanned cesarean: A planned cesarean offers some advantages over an unplanned cesarean (a cesarean that occurs after labor is under way). For example, there may be fewer surgical injuries and fewer infections. The emotional impact of a cesarean that is planned in advance appears to be similar to or somewhat worse than a vaginal birth. By contrast, unplanned cesareans can take a greater emotional toll.
* Planned cesarean compared with vaginal birth: A planned cesarean still involves the risks associated with major surgery. And both planned and unplanned cesareans result in a uterine scar and internal scarring (adhesions). This means women with planned and unplanned cesareans face similar risks in future pregnancies and for problems related to scarring and adhesions at any time
source (http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/143477)
Opinions?
Now I have a couple of things to point out about both sides of the argument the pros and cons:
Pros of natural childbirth:
* Most natural childbirth techniques are not invasive, so there's little potential for harm or side effects for you or your baby.
* Many women have a strong sense of empowerment during labor and accomplishment afterward. And despite having to endure pain, many report that they'd opt for an unmedicated birth again the next time. For some women, being in charge helps lessen their perception of pain.
* There's no loss of sensation or alertness. You'll be awake and active during labor and birth — so you can move around more freely and find positions that help you stay comfortable during labor and aid the delivery process when it's time to push your baby out.
* Your partner will feel involved as you work together to manage your pain.
* You don't necessarily need to be hooked up to an IV or monitoring machines, so it's easier to move about — walk if you'd like, take a shower or a bath, and use the toilet instead of a bedpan.
* You're less likely than women who get epidurals to need Pitocin, a vacuum extraction or forceps delivery, or bladder catheterization.
* Breathing exercises, visualization, and self-hypnosis can be practiced ahead of time — and used again later. Many new mothers find themselves drawing on their relaxation techniques in the early days of breastfeeding, while coping with postpartum discomfort, or when caring for a newborn feels especially stressful.
* Natural birth is better for babies, because their internal organs don't have to process the drugs that pass through the placenta (and, yes, everything passes through the placenta). They are more alert at birth, and often have an easier time breastfeeding.
Cons: it can be exhausting, but no one ever said childbirth was a piece of cake!
Pros of c-section: It can be life-saving when the mother and/or the baby are truly in disress.
Cons of c-section:
* Physical problems in mothers: Compared with vaginal birth, cesarean section increases a woman's risk for a number of physical problems. These range from less common but potentially life-threatening problems, including hemorrhage (severe bleeding), blood clots, and bowel obstruction, to much more common concerns such as longer-lasting and more severe pain and infection. Even after recovery from surgery, scarring and adhesion tissue increase risk for ongoing pelvic pain and for twisted bowel.
* Hospitalization of mothers: If a woman has a cesarean, she is more likely to stay in the hospital longer and is at greater risk of being re-hospitalized.
* Emotional well-being of mothers: A woman who has a cesarean section may be at greater risk for poorer overall mental health and some emotional problems. She is also more likely to rate her birth experience poorer than a woman who has had a vaginal birth.
* Early contact with, feelings toward babies: A woman who has a cesarean usually has less early contact with her baby and is more likely to have initial negative feelings about her baby.
* Breastfeeding: Recovery from surgery poses challenges for getting breastfeeding under way, and a baby who was born by cesarean is less likely to be breastfed and get the benefits of breastfeeding.
* Health of babies: Babies born by cesarean are more likely to:
o be cut during the surgery (usually minor)
o have breathing difficulties around the time of birth
o experience asthma in childhood and in adulthood.
* Future reproductive problems for mothers: A cesarean section in this pregnancy puts a woman at risk for future reproductive problems in comparison with a woman who has a vaginal birth. These problems may involve serious complications and medical emergencies. The likelihood of experiencing some of these conditions goes up sharply as the number of previous cesareans increases. These problems include:
o ectopic pregnancy: pregnancies that develop outside her uterus or within the scar
o reduced fertility, due to either less ability to become pregnant again or less desire to do so
o placenta previa: the placenta attaches near or over the opening to her cervix
o placenta accreta: the placenta grows through the lining of the uterus and into or through the muscle of the uterus
o placental abruption: the placenta detaches from the uterus before the baby is born
o rupture of the uterus: the uterine scar gives way during pregnancy or labor.
* Concerns about babies in future pregnancies: A cesarean section in this pregnancy can affect the babies of future pregnancies. Studies have found that they are more likely to:
o be born too early (preterm)
o weigh less than they should (low birthweight)
o have a physical abnormality or injury to their brain or spinal cord
o die before or shortly after the birth
* Planned cesarean compared with unplanned cesarean: A planned cesarean offers some advantages over an unplanned cesarean (a cesarean that occurs after labor is under way). For example, there may be fewer surgical injuries and fewer infections. The emotional impact of a cesarean that is planned in advance appears to be similar to or somewhat worse than a vaginal birth. By contrast, unplanned cesareans can take a greater emotional toll.
* Planned cesarean compared with vaginal birth: A planned cesarean still involves the risks associated with major surgery. And both planned and unplanned cesareans result in a uterine scar and internal scarring (adhesions). This means women with planned and unplanned cesareans face similar risks in future pregnancies and for problems related to scarring and adhesions at any time
source (http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/143477)
Opinions?