Pregnancy: Types of Delivery

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There are many options for childbirth you may discuss with your pregnancy care provider. Vaginal delivery, C-section, VBAC and assisted vaginal delivery are examples of types of delivery.

OVERVIEW

What are the types of delivery methods?

It’s hard to know exactly what will happen when you give birth. Most people have a plan in mind for how they hope their labor and delivery goes. When it comes to delivering your baby, it’s good to know there are many methods pregnancy care providers use. Types of delivery include:

• Vaginal delivery.
• Assisted vaginal delivery (vacuum or forceps).
• C-section (Cesarean birth).
• VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).

What type of delivery is best?

The mode of birth always varies from patient to patient.Depending on the the mother's and baby's condition,medical condition of patient,baby weight,position,complications in pregnancy the doctor will evaluate the safest and the best modality of giving birth wherein both maternal and fetal outcome are the best.

VAGINAL DELIVERY

What is a vaginal delivery?

Here the baby is delivered through the birth canal or vagina.It is a natural way of birth.

A vaginal delivery can be spontaneous or induced:

• Spontaneous vaginal delivery: A vaginal delivery that happens on its own and without labor-inducing drugs. Going into labor naturally at 40 weeks of pregnancy is ideal.
• Induced vaginal delivery: Drugs or other techniques start labor and soften or open your cervix for delivery. Pregnancy care providers often recommend inducing labor when a pregnant person has a medical condition or is past due. Labor is usually induced with Pitocin®, a synthetic form of the drug oxytocin.

What is an assisted vaginal delivery?

An assisted vaginal delivery is when your obstetrician uses forceps or a vacuum device to get your baby out of your vagina. Assisted deliveries often happen when:

• You’ve been in labor a long time.
• Your labor isn’t progressing.
• You become too fatigued to continue pushing.
• You or your baby are showing signs of distress.

C-SECTION

What is a C-section?

During a C-section birth, your obstetrician delivers your baby through surgical incisions made in your abdomen and uterus. A C-section delivery might be planned in advance if a medical reason calls for it, or it might be unplanned and take place during your labor if certain problems arise.

• Had a previous C-section delivery.
• Are expecting multiples.
• Have placenta previa.
• Have a breech baby.
• Have a baby with fetal macrosomia or a large baby.
• Have a uterine fibroid or other obstruction.

Sometimes, your labor and delivery changes, and a cesarean birth becomes necessary for the health and safety of you or your baby. An unplanned C-section might be needed if any of the following conditions arise during your labor:

• Fetal distress (your baby isn’t tolerating labor).
• Labor isn’t progressing.
• Umbilical cord prolapse.
• Placental abruption.
• Hemorrhage or excessive bleeding.

VBAC (VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN)

What is a VBAC?

If you’ve already had a cesarean birth, you may be able to have your next baby vaginally. This is a VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean. Because a surgical cut results in a scar on your uterus, the concern is that the pressure of labor in a vaginal delivery could cause your uterus to open (rupture) along the previous C-section scar. For this reason, certain criteria must be met in order for your obstetrician to attempt a vaginal birth after C-section which can be evaluated by your doctor.

What else should I know about delivery?

There are several other terms you should be familiar with in case your pregnancy care provider discusses them during labor and delivery.

Episiotomy

An episiotomy is a surgical incision that widens the opening of your vagina. This allows your baby’s head to pass through more easily. Most people will not need an episiotomy.

Amniotomy (breaking your bag of waters)

An amniotomy is the artificial rupture of the amniotic membranes, or sac, which contains the fluid surrounding your baby. Your pregnancy care provider may artificially rupture your membranes (AROM) to:

• Induce or progress labor.
• Place an internal monitor to assess your contractions.
• Check for meconium (a greenish-brown substance, which is your baby’s first poop).

Fetal monitoring

Fetal monitoring is the process of watching your baby’s heart rate during labor. Knowing how your baby is handling labor helps your pregnancy care provider decide if labor can continue or if delivery is necessary.

• In external fetal monitoring, an ultrasound device is placed on your abdomen to record information about your baby’s heart rate, and the frequency and duration of your contractions.

Which type of delivery is most painful?

This may come down to personal opinion. There are many factors involved — for example, using pain medication, the type of pain medication or your pain tolerance. You should discuss pain relief with your pregnancy care provider before labor so you know the risks and benefits of each type.

There are two general options: no medication (drug-free or natural delivery) or using pain medications.

A drug-free delivery means you intend to give birth vaginally without any pain medication. You can’t have a C-section without medication.

Your options for pain relief during childbirth could consist of:

• Analgesics: Analgesics relieve pain without causing complete loss of feeling or muscle movement. The most common example of an analgesic used during childbirth is an epidural. You can receive an epidural for a vaginal or a cesarean delivery.
• Anesthetics: Anesthetics (or anesthesia) keep you from feeling pain by blocking signals from your brain. These drugs are given as a shot or through an intravenous (IV) line. During a C-section, you may receive spinal or general anesthesia