The type of delivery that we have is a personal choice. Most of us opt to go in for the natural method of having a regular delivery, while others do not want to be conscious and bear the pain that comes with a normal delivery.
Of course there are instances where a C- section has to be done to save the life of either the mother or the baby due to any complications that may arise.
Here are ways in which we can reduce the chances of a C-section delivery:
- Choose the obstetrician with low C-section history
Before you decide on your obstetrician check his or her delivery history. If he or she shows a history of more than 15% cesarean’s then you might want to question him or her about the reason behind such a high figure.
You will get a general idea about the mindset of the doctor and his practices once you talk to him. If you are comfortable stick on, else move on and find someone else.
- Hire a midwife or doula
Research has proved that people who have hired midwife or doulas to be part of their deliveries have in almost all cases delivered through a normal procedure.
Of course doulas are not medical practitioners and cannot replace them. They are trained birth companions who will help you in your journey of the birth of your baby.
They have experience and come with the mindset that it is normal to give birth naturally unlike doctors who always assume the worst.
She is familiar with the fears that you may have and will also provide you with the education and experience to support you during the birth.
- Do not get induced
When the cervix is not ready for delivery then there is no point in inducing labor. It will only lead to painful and non-progressive labor.
Research and facts prove that more than 40% of induced patients go in for a C-section delivery.
You can consider getting induced only if you have exceeded one week beyond your due date.
- Labor at home as much as possible
The lesser the interventions the better it is. When you head to the hospital your labor will be interrupted with many interventions like epidural, vaginal examinations, fetal monitoring etc… that eventually or almost always lead to a C-section delivery.
So when you do not face any interventions you can let your body proceed with the delivery as normal. Stay away from the hospital till the end.
- Be physically fit during pregnancy
Your body needs to be fit and agile to bear the natural birth process. It can be difficult to move around with the extra bulk, morning sickness and other pregnancy symptoms.
But trust me if you need the strength to push your baby out of your womb, you need to be physically fit to do it.
You don’t need to do something too strenuous. A 30 minute walk is ideal. If you don’t enjoy walking, you can do something more fun like yoga or swimming.
Research has proved that women who practiced yoga during their pregnancy experienced quick and easy deliveries.
- Get active during labor
Lying on your back is only going to make things difficult. Stand, walk, and sit up if you can. Never lie down.
When you sit up or walk, it increases the friction and combined with gravity helps the baby move down to come out. By being active you are also helping your baby wiggle out.
Squatting is the most natural position to give birth. Lying down will only limit the oxygen supply to your baby and result in fetal distress.
- Do not get an epidural
Do not assume that you will not be able to bear the pain and rush to get an epidural. Epidurals slow down the delivery and eventually result in the delivery becoming unprogressive due to which you have to resort to a C-section.
An epidural might also cause fetal distress making it necessary to do a C-section.
- Push only when you are ready
Doctors and nurses start coaxing you to push when your cervix has reached 10 centimeter dilation. But the fact is that you will automatically start pushing when the time is right.
Pushing too soon will get you tired and even the hospitals won’t let you push for more than a specific period of time. So don’t push until you really ready.
- Avoid fetal monitoring
Fetal monitoring should be done only at intervals and not constantly. If you do it constantly then it only increases the chances of the usage of forceps, vacuum or a C-section.
- Avoid vaginal examinations
Vaginal examination help in understanding how much your cervix has dilated. But let me tell you one thing, the dilation varies in different women. For example some women might need to deliver once they reach 8 cm dilation while others can be dilated for days at 8cm.
Let your cervix push when it’s ready. Vaginal examinations only give you a false sense of progression of the delivery. So it’s best not done.
- Surround yourself with positive people
Surround yourself with people who love you and have a positive outlook. You don’t want any negative energy in the room when you are in labor that make you freak out recollecting horror delivery stories of the past.
- Believe and keep telling yourself that you’re having a normal delivery
Only if you believe will it happen. If you keep calm and stay focused on the contractions and push when you feel ready you can be assured of a normal delivery in most cases.
The key is to have faith in your ability to be able to deliver a baby through the natural process and channel the pain in the right direction instead of panicking and going in for a C-section.
So if you want to avoid a C-section, try to follows these tips mentioned above.
Written by: Rasha Ashraf
