Food for thought: The importance of nutrition for learning
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Are you giving birth via a planned caesarean section (c-section) or having a normal delivery, with or without a midwife’s assistance? Whatever your birth plan entails, we’ve got you covered.
Expectant moms are faced with a myriad of decisions to make on how manage their pregnancy and the delivery of their baby is one of the biggest decisions. Let’s take a closer look at the different options and list the pros and the cons to help you determine which is best option for you and your baby.
Normal birth
A natural birth is the most common way of delivering a baby. There are two options here: natural birth without pain medication and interventions, or the use of epidurals and spinal anesthesia to relieve labour pains. Either of these options is relatively safe if the pregnancy does not have any complications.
Pros of normal birth:
Cons of normal birth:
Giving birth via a C-section
Cesarean delivery (C-section) is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus. A C-section might be planned if you develop pregnancy complications, or if you've had a previous C-section and aren't considering a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). An expectant mother can also opt for an elective C-section as agreed to by her doctor for non-medical reasons.
Pros of an elective C-section:
Cons of an elective C-section:
Using the services of a midwife
A midwife is a health professional trained to support and care for women during pregnancy, labour and birth. During prenatal visits, a midwife is usually able to spend more time with the pregnant woman than a doctor and the approach from a midwife tends to be more casual with a focus on developing a personal relationship with the patient.
Pros of using the services of a midwife:
Cons of using the services of a midwife:
Different strokes for different folks right!
Bestmed has extensive maternity benefits, including a maternity care programme. The maternity care programme is available on all benefit options and provides comprehensive services to expectant parents. So, go ahead and choose what is best for you and your baby.
Reference List
Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/c-section-reasons#What-are-the-medical-reasons-for-a-C-section
Parents: https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/stories/epidural-or-drug-free-birth/
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/the-role-of-your-midwife