Vaginal Birth
Pros and Cons of a Vaginal Birth
A major benefit of having a vaginal delivery is a fast recovery time, as you will generally only need to stay in hospital for a day or two if there were no complications. There will be no scarring of your abdomen with a vaginal birth and you are generally more physically able to take care of your baby and usually won’t need to take pain relief in the weeks after birth.
Vaginal births can take varying lengths of time. Labour times for first time mums are unique to each individual and usually range from 8 – 18 hours. You will be provided with an expected due date, but there is no guarantee of the date or time of delivery.
Labour contractions are painful and different for every pregnancy, however there are a range of pain relief options available to help manage the pain of labour. These include non-medical techniques and medical relief options, such as nitrous oxide, pethidine/morphine and epidural anaesthesia. Dr Kothari will discuss your options with you during your pregnancy.
Are there any risks of Vaginal Birth?
In most cases, vaginal births are not complicated, but there can be unforeseen circumstances that occur with delivery. Sometimes there is a need for a medical intervention, such as forceps or a vacuum.
Another risk associated with vaginal delivery is a perineum tear. A perineum tear can range from mild to more significant tears. Depending upon the severity of the tear, it may be necessary for surgical repair and extended recovery times.
Women who have vaginal deliveries have higher rates of urinary incontinence than women who have caesarean sections.
There are many considerations to take into account when deciding upon the type of delivery for your baby. The health and well-being of you and your baby is of the highest priority to Dr Kothari. To learn more about what delivery options are available and most suitable for your pregnancy, contact us to arrange for a consultation with Dr Kothari.