The Advantages of Vaginal Birth

Vaginal birth may be safer than a caesarean section if you do not encounter any serious problems during your pregnancy or labour.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends attempting a vaginal birth if your pregnancy is considered low-risk, your baby is in the head-down position, and you are at least 37 weeks pregnant. This is because vaginal birth has many advantages for both the mother and the baby. Vaginal birth is associated with fewer maternal transfusions, ruptured uteri, unplanned hysterectomies, and ICU admissions. This is true for both vaginal birth with no prior caesarean, as well as vaginal birth after a caesarean (VBAC)- although VBAC is more risky.

Advantages of vaginal birth for the mother

The common fear that plagues many women about vaginal birth is the infamous excruciating pain associated with labour, the possibility of pelvic organs prolapse, and the uncertainty of how the process of birth will unfold- as opposed to the more surgeon dependent caesarean section birth. There is a plethora of benefits for the mother. The experiences of vaginal birth may vary, but mothers generally:

have shorter hospital stays and recover faster from labour;

Despite having pain around the perineal area, women who give birth vaginally recover faster than women who give birth via C-section and the need for strong pain relief measures during recovery are also less.

have a higher success rate for breastfeeding;

A review of 53 international studies conducted in 2012 found that successful breastfeeding rates are lower in women who had a caesarean than those who delivered vaginally. One of the factors to consider is what happens during the first hour after having given birth. During this time, the caesarean section needs to be repaired and this may interfere with the immediate skin-to-skin and breastfeeding.

avoid risks associated with major surgery;

These include: infections, severe bleeding, scarring, reactions to anesthesia, and longer-lasting pain.

less potential for complications with future pregnancies and births;

A major review of 80 studies published in PLOS Medicine in 2018 reported that women who gave birth via caesarean had an increased risk of serious complications in subsequent pregnancies as compared to those who gave birth vaginally. These complications include miscarriage, stillbirth, problems with the placenta, and uterine rupture (a tear in the wall of the uterus).

Advantages of vaginal birth for the baby

Your baby will receive beneficial bacteria:

A major benefit of vaginal birth is that the baby is exposed to what is known as “beneficial bacteria” in their mother’s birth canal. As the baby passes through the birth canal, fluid from the birth canal passes through the baby’s nose and mouth and gets into the digestive system. This fluid contains beneficial bacteria which is known to contribute to building up the baby’s immune system. This beneficial bacterium also plays a role in coating the baby’s skin, which helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria externally.

You’ll squeeze fluid out of your baby’s lungs helping the lungs clear up:

Before birth, a developing fetus does not use the lungs to breathe as all oxygen comes from the blood vessels of the placenta. During this time, the baby's lungs are filled with fluid.

As the baby's due date nears, the lungs begin to absorb the fluid. Some fluid may be squeezed out during birth as the baby passes through the birth canal. If this process does not occur the baby may gets a condition called Transient Tachypnoea of the Newborn. (TTN), which means that the baby might struggle to breathe properly.

Take Home Message

If there are no serious problems with your pregnancy or labour, a vaginal birth is usually the safest choice compared to caesarean section. It has many advantages for both the mother and the baby.

This article is written by Dr. Itumeleng Buti (MBChB)

References:

1. Hobbs, A.J., Mannion, C.A., McDonald, S.W. et al. The impact of caesarean section on breastfeeding initiation, duration and difficulties in the first four months postpartum. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 16, 90 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-0876-1

2. Shao Y, Forster SC, Tsaliki E, Vervier K, Strang A, Simpson N, Kumar N, Stares MD, Rodger A, Brocklehurst P, Field N. Stunted microbiota and opportunistic pathogen colonization in caesarean-section birth. Nature. 2019 Oct;574(7776):117-21.

3. Bumrungrad International Hospital. The Benefits to Be Gained from Vaginal Delivery. [internet] Bumrungrad International Hospital. [ Updated 2019 January 21; Cited 2022 March 16] Available from: https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/health-blog/january-2019/vaginal-delivery

4. Sabrina Rogers- Anderson. Vaginal Birth Benefits For Baby & Mother. [internet] The Tot Baby Cooperation. [Cited 2022 March 16] Available from: https://www.thetot.com/pregnancy-and-fertility/9-benefits-of-a-vaginal-birth/

5. Robin Elise Weisse. Cesarean Section vs. Vaginal Birth Which One Is Right for You? [internet] Very Well Family. [ Updated 2021 June 14; Cited 2022 March 16] Available from: https://www.verywellfamily.com/why-labor-is-good-for-babies.

6. Lynn M Fuchns.Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN). [internet] Nemours Kids Health. [ Updated 2019 August; Cited 2022 March 16]. Available from: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/ttn.html