Methods of Childbirth

Various Methods of Childbirth

There are many ways to give birth to a child.

Each of them have their own pros and cons.

It is up to the parents to decide which method is best for them.

LamazeLamaze - developed by the French obstetrician

Ferdinand Lamaze

The goal of Lamaze classes is to "increase women's confidence in their ability to give birth."

Classes aim to help women "learn how to respond to pain in ways that both facilitate labor and increase comfort.”

Lamaze philosophy of birth stipulates that "birth is normal, natural, and healthy" and that "women have a right to give birth free from routine medical interventions."

LamazeThe Class Covers

Normal labor and birth (using videos of real births) and the early postpartum period

How to be active and informed participants during the birth

Focused breathing techniques for labor

Other relaxation techniques and natural strategies to help you work with labor pain, such as massage, walking, position changes, and hydrotherapy

Tips to help your partner encourage and support you during labor

LamazeThe value of one-on-one professional support during

labor

How to communicate with your healthcare team so your needs are met

Complications that could arise during labor and birth, and interventions that might be medically necessary

Epidurals and other options for managing pain with medication

Early interaction with your baby

Breastfeeding

Home BirthsLegislated and legal, midwives can attend your labour

and birth in your own home

Women are more comfortable in their own environment, with their families and things surrounding them

Can have as many (or as few) people as you want present for your labour and birth

Can have all of your favourite things, like music or a certain pillow

Control your environment in terms of lighting, temperature, the kinds of food and drink available

Home BirthsPresent during home birth – midwife or midwives

Once baby is born and the placenta (also known as the afterbirth) is safely delivered, midwives will leave you and your partner alone with the baby for a while.

Check the baby over and weigh him, help with first breastfeed, clear up any mess, and see mother into bed.

Midwife will always stay at least two hours after the placenta has been delivered, and when she leaves she'll clean up.

Hospital BirthsPain medications are available during labor and

delivery (if the woman chooses); labor may be induced, if necessary; and the fetus is usually electronically monitored throughout the labor.

A birth plan can help a woman communicate her preferences about these issues, and doctors will abide by these as much possible.

Hospital BirthsIn response to a push for more "natural" birth

events, many hospitals now offer more modern options for low-risk births, often known as family-centered care.

These may include private rooms with baths (birthing suites) where women can labor, deliver, and recover in one place without having to be moved.

Hospital BirthsAlthough a doctor and medical staff are still

present, the rooms are usually set up to create a nurturing environment, with warm, soothing colors and features that try to simulate a home-like atmosphere that can be very comforting for new moms.

Rooming in — when the baby stays with the mother most of the time instead of in the infant nursery — also may be available.

Water BirthMany women find labouring and/or giving birth

in water a very positive experience. Using water during labour aids relaxation, reduces the need for pain relief and initial research suggests that it is just as safe for both mother and baby as labouring on land.

Can happen at home or hospital

Water BirthIf you want a water birth at home, you can rent

or buy a birth pool.

You won't likely have a doctor delivering your baby at home, but a midwife can assist you. She should be able to tell you about companies offering rental services. It's also possible that your midwifery team has a birth pool you can borrow.

Another option is to buy an inflatable birth pool.

Natural BirthNatural childbirth is a "low-tech" way of giving

birth by letting nature take its course. This may include:

Going through labor and delivery without the help of medications, including pain relievers such as epidurals.

Natural BirthUsing few or no artificial medical interventions

such as continuous fetal monitoring or episiotomies (when the area between the vagina and anus, called the perineum, is cut to make room for the baby during delivery)

Allowing the woman to lead the labor and delivery process, dealing with it in anyway she is comfortable.

Natural BirthMany women with low-risk pregnancies choose

to go au natural to avoid any possible risks that medications could pose for the mother or baby.

Pain medications can affect your labor — your blood pressure might drop, your labor might slow down or speed up, you might become nauseous, and you might feel a sense of lack of control.

CeasareanVaesarean section is an operation in which an

obstetrician makes a cut through your belly and uterus (womb) so that your baby can be bor

A planned or elective caesarean is scheduled to take place before your labour begins.

An emergency caesarean is not planned before labour begins. It can happen if:

You were planning a caesarean, but went into labour before the operation. Your caesarean can go ahead within a few hours of your labour starting, as long as you and your baby are well.

CeasareanYou or your baby developed a complication

during pregnancy or labour. This is more urgent and a caesarean should be done within about an hour.

You or your baby had a life-threatening complication during pregnancy which meant that you needed an immediate caesarean. Your baby should be born as soon as possible, ideally within 30 minutes.

Your labour has stalled, or is very slow.

Ceasarean Quite a lot of things will happen to prepare you for your

caesarean:

You'll have a blood sample taken. This is to check that your iron levels and platelets are high enough and you haven't got anemia. It's important information for your medical team, because women who have anemia can’t tolerate blood loss as well as those who haven’t.

A drip will be inserted into a vein in your arm. This will give you fluids and make it easy to give you drugs later if you need them.

You'll be given an anesthetic. This will usually be regional, which means it numbs your bottom half of your body, via a spinal or epidural. It's safer for you and your baby than a general anesthetic, which puts you to sleep.

CeasareanA thin tube, or catheter, will be inserted into

your bladder via your urethra. This will make sure your bladder is empty. It can be put in after the painkiller is working so that you don't feel it.

The area where the cut will be made will be shaved and cleaned with antiseptic, although some hospitals have stopped doing this.

You'll have a cuff put on your arm to monitor your blood pressure.

CeasareanElectrodes will be put on your chest to monitor

your heart rate. You may have a finger-pulse monitor attached, too.

A sticky plastic plate will be attached to your leg. This is the ground for the electrical equipment used by your obstetrician to stop bleeding during the surgery. Don't worry, the plate won't affect you.