Learning the Basics of Child Birth Techniques- The Medical Reasons for Cesareans

Even if you’re planning on having a natural birth, it’s important to know about C-sections and why they are sometimes necessary. Many couples who plan for a natural birth during their delivery weeks end up having an unplanned Cesarean due to complications.

Your practitioner might advise you to have a C-section for the following medical reasons.

1. You’ve already had a C-section or some other form of surgery on your uterus. If you’ve had a Cesarean but would like to explore natural child birth techniques for your next child, talk to your doctor about the possibility of having a VBAC.

2. Your baby is too big to pass through the vaginal canal safely.

3. The baby is in a breech position. This means it is positioned to come through the birth canal feet or buttocks first.

4. The child is in a transverse position, which means it is positioned to go through the birthing canal shoulders first.

5. Problems have been detected with the placenta. This could lead to excessive bleeding during a vaginal birth.

6. The baby has a birth defect and natural child birth techniques are not a safe birthing option.

7. The baby is in fetal distress due to complications during labor. A slow heartbeat is a common sign that there is fetal distress and a C-section is usually performed as soon as possible.

8. Sometimes the baby’s umbilical cord will slip into the vagina. If the child is birthed naturally, the cord might be squeezed during delivery. This is called an umbilical cord prolapse and usually calls for a Cesarean.

9. If the mother has a medical condition like diabetes or has an infection like HIV, a C-section is often recommended.

What are the Risks?

Just because a Cesarean is performed for medical reasons does not mean it is risk-free. Apart from coming with the dangers associated with any major surgery, a C-section has other hazards too.

• Your baby might be born late pre-term. Ideally, your child should be born only after 39 weeks. Late pre-term babies are born between 34 and 36 weeks. While late pre-term babies are generally healthy, they can experience problems with breathing, feeding, and maintaining their body temperature.

• In some cases, the anesthetic used on the mother will make the baby inactive or sluggish.

It’s always a good idea to talk about C-section child birth techniques with your doctor well in advance. Understand what the risks and benefits are, even if you’re planning on a natural birth. Being informed about Cesareans will make them easier to handle if they do happen.