Vaginal Delivery And Cesarean Delivery example essay topic

Over the years birthing methods have changed a great deal. When technology wasn't so advanced there was only one method of giving birth, vaginally non-medicated. However, in today's society there are now more than one method of giving birth. In fact, there are three methods: Non-medicated vaginal delivery, medicated vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery, also known as c-section. In the cesarean delivery there is not much to prepare for before the operation, except maybe the procedure of the operation. A few things that will be discussed are: the process of cesarean delivery, reasons for this birthing method and a few reasons for why this birthing method is used.

Also a question that many women have is whether or not they can vaginally deliver after a cesarean delivery, as well as the risks and benefits if it. Delivering a child by a c-section also has a few advantages and disadvantages for both the mother and child; this will also be discussed in more depth a bit later. Unlike vaginal birth delivery, the process of a cesarean delivery is quite different, but just as safe as giving vaginal birth (Taylor, 1). When delivering a baby using the cesarean method, there are two ways anesthetic can be used. The women can be put into an unconscious state using the anesthetic, therefore she will be asleep during the entire operation and her coach may not be present.

The other way for the anesthetic to be used would be in an epidural or spinal block to temporarily numb the woman from her waist down. In this case the mother will be awake and her coach may be present to give her extra support. Once the anesthetic is working, an incision is made in the abdomen either horizontally or vertically, depending on the reason for the cesarean delivery. A vertical incision is made when the baby is in trouble and needs to be out as quickly as possible, when there is more time the horizontal incision is used. The baby is then lifted out of the uterus and gone for the AP GAP procedure. The placenta is then removed and the mother's reproductive organs are examined before closing the incision (Taylor, 1).

Cesarean birthing method can be voluntary as well as involuntary. When a cesarean is chosen in advance it is usually because the mother has a history of infection, which could be transmitted to the baby when it is delivered through the birth canal; the mother has severe toxemia; the mother has diabetes and the fetal monitor suggests that a early delivery is the best choice, or if the baby is too large or in a breech position (Lenox Hill Hospital, 1). Delivering vaginally in any if these cases would be very difficult and dangerous not just for the mother, but also for the baby. However, cesarean delivery is not always chosen in advance, it is also used in emergency situations and during difficult deliveries where it may be the safest option about 10 to 15% of women develop problems that lead to cesarean birth (Lenox Hill Hospital, 1) Emergency situations where the baby or mother is in distress may indicate a cesarean delivery. These include: If the baby's head is too large to pass through the mother's pelvis, A fetal illness or abnormality makes labor and vaginal delivery unsafe, Disease or abnormality in the mother, A previous c-section where the incision in the uterus was made vertically, Preeclampsia or eclampsia, and breech (feet or buttocks first) or transverse (crosswise) presentation (Taylor, 1). A concern that many women have who have undergone cesarean birth, is whether or not they can have a vaginal birth after.

The answer is yes; they can have a vaginal birth, but only if the incision made was a horizontal one. The benefits are the woman ass'd with fewer blood transfusions, fewer post-partum infections and shorter hospital stays (Rose, 1). On the other hand there are many risks: the uterine may rupture, it could result in maternal and fetal death, presents uterine or abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and increased risk of maternal and neonatal infection (Rose, 1). In 1995, 92% of the women who had a c-section delivery and attempted to deliver vaginally were successful (Rose, 1). So it is possible but there are risks that should be carefully considered. For the mother there are advantages as well as disadvantages when delivering by a cesarean.

Advantages for the mother would be not having to go through the pain of non-medicated labor. After the delivery the doctor is able to check the mother's reproductive organs to make sure that everything is okay. Another advantage is if the mother wishes to have a tubal ligation it would be done right after the delivery so it would be like two operations done at one time. Disadvantages for the mother are that she has to remain in the hospital longer to recover for about four to eight days, compared to 48 hours when delivered vaginally, and it's about a month to six weeks before the mother feels back to her normal self (Lenox Hill Hospital, 2). In some cases the mother is unable to breast feed right away because of the drugs she was given and are now in her system, so she would have to wait a bit. When a baby is delivered by c-section there are advantages and disadvantages.

An advantage of being delivered by c-section is the baby is relieved from birth trauma. That is the baby is not squeezed through the birth canal and comes out looking like a nice looking child, not a shriveled up raisin (Lockwood, 2000). A disadvantage to the baby would is that anesthetic enters the placenta, which means that the baby is also slightly drugged. After the delivery, the baby is drowsier and sleeps more than a baby who has been delivered vaginally. In the works cited there were not many differences, all the information given was the same. The only difference was that some of the articles gave more detail in certain areas than others.

The oldest source was the textbook Infants and Children. The other three sources were from the Internet written in 1996. Doctors wrote two of the articles and the other one was from the health information for Lenox Hill Hospital. I believe that overtime birthing methods have changed and have alternative ways to proceed, however, the cesarean delivery is pretty much the same procedure and cannot really be changed in any way, which means that the information given will be basically the same. Cesarean delivery is not as complicated as many people may think. The process is very safe and quick.

It is most commonly used in emergency situations and when vaginal delivery is not option. When it's planned in advance it's in the best interest for the mother and baby. Vaginal birth after cesarean is possible if the incision made was a horizontal cut, but there are still risks to be considered. There are advantages and disadvantages to the baby and mother, that does not mean the procedure is not safe.

The disadvantages are not life threatening and are minor issues that time will heal. Next to vaginal non-medicated birth I believe that cesarean delivery is the next best thing.