Which birthing option is best?

There’s plenty to think about when it comes to deciding how your baby will be born. If your pregnancy has gone smoothly and you are in good health, you may be able to make the choice as to how your little one will be welcomed into the world.

If you have the option to make the decision, talk to your health care providers and ensure that you have taken everything there is to know into consideration before making the decision. Any method has pros and cons. It’s important that you understand everything involved, including what your medical insurance will cover, so that you have a healthy and happy birth experience.

In all birthing methods, utmost care and safety is important. It’s vital that you consider all eventualities, including any complications or emergency situations that may arise. As much as you can plan for the birth of your baby, plenty that is not within your control can happen too. Having qualified / certified individuals around you for appropriate assistance will go a long way to ensuring all goes well with your chosen method of giving birth.

It is also a good idea to understand what is likely to happen to your body after birth and how your chosen method will influence how you heal. The body will go through changes post-birth and recovery will depend on your chosen birth method.

All new moms may go through the following:

• Swollen, hard or painful breasts, as well as tender nipples (as milk production begins)
• Haemorrhoids (swollen varicose veins in the anus)
• Painful or highly uncomfortable bowel movements and constipation
• Hot and cold flushes (as hormone levels adjust and blood flow returns to normal)
• ‘After pains’ (the uterus may contract for a few days following birth as it returns to normal)
• A vaginal discharge (this may be bloody and heavy at first, but subside and fade to a white or yellow substance before stopping altogether)
• ‘Baby blues’ (due to hormonal changes, the emotional adjustment of being a new mom and exhaustion following pregnancy and birth)

Women who experienced a vaginal birth may also experience:

• Pain at the episiotomy incision site (it may be difficult walking or sitting, or painful if you cough or sneeze during the healing time).
• Incontinence (accidental urinary and faecal leakage)

Talk to your health care providers about your recovery time and what you’re likely to go through once you’ve delivered ahead of the birth. Once your baby arrives, the last thing you’ll want to deal with is a nasty surprise. Understanding the processes involved from preparing for birth, the actual birth and what to expect once the baby arrives will ensure that you recover well, as well as have every opportunity to enjoy bonding with your new baby.

Preparation is key, as is planning for the unexpected too. The most important thing you can do ahead of time is ensure you are well aware of everything you need to know and make your decision based on the lowest risk and safest benefits for the best outcome possible.