From the moment pregnancy begins, the question on the mind of a pregnant woman is how she will give birth. Vaginal birth, which is as old as human history, has been compared to cesarean birth, which has increased in parallel with the development of surgical techniques and anesthesia methods. While the pregnant woman makes her own comparison, the surgeon who will perform the birth thinks about the complications of normal birth and the surgical risks of cesarean section. In order for the moment of becoming a parent, which is one of the most important moments in people's lives, not to be overshadowed by this dilemma, it would be appropriate to make a decision by considering the risks and benefits.
In vaginal birth, the mother's anatomy is very decisive since the labor starts spontaneously and the baby passes through anatomical paths. If the mother's pelvis is narrow, this passage may be impossible or very difficult. This may cause permanent damage to the baby. In cesarean section, there is no problem during the removal of the baby except in rare cases. If the baby is large enough to not cause any problems during entry and passage into the mother's pelvis (pelvic bone) and if the leading part is the head, vaginal birth can be preferred. All these decisions can only be made close to birth or when labor begins.
The timing of a pregnant woman's birth, except in emergencies, is usually done before labor begins. This gives the expectant mother a temporal relaxation and planning opportunity. Waiting for a normal birth and not knowing when it will be creates stress for the pregnant woman and her husband. Sometimes, even this stress can be a reason for a cesarean.
In normal birth, the pressure on the baby's lungs during anatomical passage makes it easier to expel amniotic fluid, whereas in cesarean section, this pressure is less. Inadequate expulsion of fluid in the lungs can cause difficulty with the first breath and afterwards. For this reason, a condition called "transient tachypnea of the newborn", which requires short-term intensive care, is more common in babies born by cesarean section.
There may be rare complications that can occur due to the surgical procedure in cesarean section; such as major vessel injuries, bowel and ureter injuries. In pregnant women with a history of previous abdominal surgery, adhesions from the previous surgery may make cesarean section difficult. The same applies to the second or third cesarean section. For this reason, although it is theoretically possible to have multiple children by cesarean section, in practice more than three can cause life-threatening surgical complications. Complications that may develop depending on the anesthesia method chosen during cesarean section are among the risks that should not be forgotten.
In light of all this, the pregnant woman and her partner should consult their physician regarding any questions they may have about the birth method. The physician's recommendations should be taken into consideration and the risks and benefits of the method should be evaluated together to make a decision.
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