Reasons why women deliver through operation.

Women usually deliver their babies through two methods;

1) Spontaneous V*ginal Delivery

2) Caesarean Section/C-section/CS

It is important to note that no method of delivery is superior to the other. Even though doctors would prefer the spontaneous v*ginal delivery, the C-section becomes an option when the life of either the mother or the baby is at stake.

There are some situations where the doctor will suggest a surgical operation (C-section) for safe delivery.

Some of these situations include;

1) Two Previous C-sections

If you have had two previous operations to deliver a baby, you should be prepared for another operation if you so happen to become pregnant again. This is because operations on the womb may weaken it and the womb might not be able to withstand the stress of labour. Allowing labour on a woman who has had two previous operations on the womb may lead to rupture of that womb which is life threatening.

2) Small Pelvis Ratio

In common parlance, some people may refer to the pelvis as the hips. The ratio of the ‘hips’ to the baby’s size is important.

If the baby is too big to pass through the pelvis, there is no way that baby will be delivered through the common route.

A C-section would be the best option.

3) Malpresentations

This can be detected through scans. Normally, a baby should come, with the head at the front facing downwards.

Sometimes, a baby may lie in abnormal positions known as malpresentations. This may prolong labour and warrant an operation.

4) Poor Labour Progress

The rate of widening of the cervix can be used as an indicator for good labour progress.

In a normal active labour, the cervix is meant to widen at the rate of 1cm per hour. If the cervix does not widen for 4 hours during active labour, the labour is deemed as ‘failure to progress’ and this is an indication for a C-section.

5) Diabetes in Pregnancy

This is not an absolute reason for an operation but a lot of times in mothers who are diabetic during pregnancy, the baby tends to grow really big. This makes delivery through the v*ginal route difficult and a C-section might be the best option.

Others

There are a whole lot of other reasons that may necessitate a C-section to be done. Some of these were not listed due to the need to make this article concise and the technicalities involved in explaining them.

Some of these include;

-Old age at first pregnancy

-Long history of infertility

-Baby in distress

-Placenta problems

-Severe hypertension in pregnancy

Among others.

Bottom Line

In some African societies, some women are made jest of because they were delivered of their babies through operation. This should be frowned upon as the decision concerning the mode of delivery is taken by the doctor with the thought of saving both mother and baby.

C-section is nothing to be ashamed of.