Getting A Child Via Vaginal Birth

Childbirth is one of the greatest privileges on the earth anyone could have and we, as women, should feel proud to be major contributors for it. Thus, a mother has to play a key role in aiding the healthcare workers to mitigate the health crisis associated with childbirth by performing her duties faithfully. One such associated health crisis is “Premature (preterm) birth” which occurs when the baby is born too early, before 37 weeks of gestational period (CDC, 2015). The rate of preterm birth ranges from 5% to 18% of babies born across 184 countries (WHO, 2015).

The author is a nurse in a level two trauma facility in a community of approximately fifty thousand people in Oregon. The community is a college-town surrounded by a large agricultural area. There is a minimal ethnic diversity within the community. The diversity present occurs mainly from internationally students and faculty from the college. There is a growing population of women who desire low interventional births in the community. The author has worked on the labor and delivery unit of the hospital for the last 14 years. The hospital is the only one in the area to offer trial of labor services to women who have previously undergone a cesarean section. The unit on average experiences around 1000 deliveries annually.

The intent of this paper is to examine effective solutions for reducing cesarean deliveries. Cesarean deliveries involve more risk to both the mother and baby than vaginal births do. Cesarean deliveries have a higher potential of complications than vaginal births. Cesarean deliveries cost more, require longer hospital stays, and require more resources—both human and systemic—than vaginal births.

Delivering vaginally in any if these cases would be very difficult and dangerous not just for the mother, but also for the baby. However, cesarean delivery is not always chosen in advance, it is also used in emergency situations and during difficult deliveries where it may be the safest option about 10 to 15% of women develop problems that lead to cesarean birth (Lenox Hill Hospital, 1)

In the United States giving birth has become medicalized and it is because the medical community has convinced women that having a baby in a medical facility is mandatory and better for the baby. Medial birth is not natural birth. The American populace is uneducated about the natural process of labor. The overwhelming amount of women having babies in hospitals is unique to the United States. Most other nations including first world nations, women give birth in the presence of midwives rather than a doctor. According to experts documented in the film, “The United States has the second worst newborn death rate in the developed world.” Also “The US has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among all industrializes countries.” The makers of this film link those fact with the common practice of hospital birthing. According to the film makers, Doctors should only be used in high risk pregnancy and births.

Shah then goes on to state how cesarean surgeries may be beneficial, or may not be beneficial to the mother, but are most likely unbeneficial to the newborn, unless there is a serious threat. Shah states, “ … that those born by cesarean were significantly more likely to develop chronic immune disorders.” of which he acquired from a Danish study from two million children born at full term. In contrast Dr.Shah states how many of his patients benefit from his surgeries, even though he stated previously how dangerous they were, and how he gets to save lives and bring new ones into the world. Finally, Shahs closing remarks are on how to fix the overuse of C-sections. Shah states how natural birth is the preferred way to go and that cesarean surgeries should be only for emergency use only and not for choice. In addition, Dr.Shah goes on to say how a perfect way to fix the overuse is to take the “British way” and to “...stay away from obstetricians altogether - at least until you need

Today we will be looking at the different conditions and practices of childbirth through two distinct cultures. Childbirth is a universal element throughout any culture, and just like other cultures, we all have are own way of doing things. Take for example North American and Nepal, both have a very unique way of providing care and creating conditions fit for women giving birth. Although hospital settings, medicine, and other medical producers, are things women would consider normal practices while giving childbirth in America, Women in Nepal are often not given the same societal help while giving birth, which In return often leads to death.

"Women who undergo vaginal births avoid major surgery and its associated risks, such as severe bleeding, scarring, infections, reactions to anesthesia and more longer pain." (Nierenberg) For the mother, "the experience of actively delivering a baby is exciting and empowering. (Why Choose Vaginal Birth). "Vaginal birth is the essence of femininity to most women. It biologically and physically links all women. It is also an expression of a woman's sexuality." (Why Choose Vaginal Birth) Another reason that women would rather have a vaginal birth is because, "from a psychological standpoint, women who go through with a vaginsl delivery are said to have a more positive birthing experience." (Vaginal Delivery vs C-Section) There are several positives for the baby in a vaginal delivery. One positive is, "during a vaginal delivery, muscles involved in the process are more likely to squeeze out fluid found in a newborns lungs." (Nierenberg) "Babies born via vaginal delivery tend to

That is almost thirty-five percent of all births. Along with all of the common issues, there are new ones arising. For example, in Afghanistan there has been an increase in sales of over-the-counter oxytocin which is an injectable hormone that can be used to stop postpartum bleeding and speed up labor but can be deadly if given incorrectly. Finally, after millions of deaths and little government action, the issue of maternal mortality is once and for all attracting attention. In July, at the G-8 summit of industrialized nations in Hokkaido, Japan, maternal deaths were acknowledged as an important obstacle to development for the first time. It paid off and there has been progress in multiple poor countries. For example, in Honduras maternal mortality rates dropped by about fifty percent after rural clinics were opened and thousands of midwives were trained. In the Indian states of Assam, Madhya Pradesh, and Orissa pregnant women were given financial assistance. In Sierra Leone there were even fines set if a woman didn’t give birth in a

More than one hundred years ago, infants were born at home with no assistance other than a family doctor or midwife because there were no other alternatives. Nonetheless, with the recent advancement of medicines, child-birthing practices have changed significantly in the United States, and a process that used to be completely natural can be turned into a major procedure. Cesarean sections save the lives of mothers and babies or can offer an alternative to vaginal childbirth. Some women opt to avoid the grueling process of vaginal childbirth in fear of hours of labor and discomfort whereas others have no option. Although cesarean sections are major surgeries that can potentially pose extreme complications to the mother and baby, they can be extremely beneficial with scared mothers or in high-risk situations.

In some countries, it is illegal for women to get abortions making it difficult for women who are trafficked to get money for a safe abortion (FIND ARTICLE AND CITE). Often times, women have to find alternative ways to force abortions, which are tremendously painful for the victim and cause future health issues. (TRANSITION) “Trafficked women are particularly vulnerable to post-abortion risks, such as incomplete abortion, sepsis (infection of the bloodstream), hemorrhage, and intra-abdominal injury” (“Health Consequences of Trafficking in Persons”). The high rates of abortion in trafficked women can cause them to become sterile or unable to have children when the time is right, which can be devastating to find out (“Health Consequences of Trafficking). Overall, victims of sex trafficking face many health issues such as reproductive complications and the inability to have a safe

The study by Cheng, Shaffer, Bianco and Caughey (2011) compared the perinatal results among nulliparous women with early operative vaginal delivery in second stage and the ones with normal vaginal delivery having delayed second stage. The researchers compared women with operative vaginal deliveries in their second stage with those that spontaneously delivered vaginally. Chi-square test was used to examine the perinatal results. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to control possible cofounders. The results suggested that there were reduced odds for third and fourth degree perineal lacerations among women with vaginal delivery further than 3 hours, admissions in special care nursery and neonatal cephalohematoma in comparison with operative vaginal deliveries, which took place between 1 and 3 hours (Cheng, Shaffer, Bianco and Caughey, 2011).

Around the world, 830 women die every day from preventable complications during pregnancy and delivery (“Maternal mortality” 1). A death during a pregnancy or within 42 days of delivery is referred to as a maternal death (Semba and Bloem 34). The issue of maternal death in developing countries is an often unaddressed and urgent need. Things like poverty, a lack of access to quality healthcare, and cultural practices are causing maternal mortality rates in developing countries to be unnecessarily high (“Leading and underlying causes of maternal mortality” 1). Mothers in developing countries are needlessly dying, but organizations like Delivering Hope International (DHI) have heard their cry and rushed to provide the tools and care these women so desperately need.

Factors affecting the likelihood of perineal tearing while giving birth are high birthweight, occiput posterior presentation, episiotomy, instrumental delivery, and birthing position per Edqvist et al (2016). Babies born with high birthweights are more likely to cause tearing due to the size of the baby in relation to the birth canal. Babies born in the occiput posterior position, meaning the back of the baby’s head is facing towards the mother’s back instead of anterior towards the navel is also a high-risk factor. An episiotomy is a surgical cut made to the vagina to prevent tissue tearing and aid difficult delivery. It is possible for women to receive an episiotomy and still have perineal tearing. Birthing postions, lateral versus upright, also have an impact on perineal tearing in women.

Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) is the name used for identifying the method of giving birth vaginally after previously delivering at least one baby through a caesarean section (CS). A trial of labour (TOL) is the term used to describe the process of attempting a VBAC. An elected repeat caesarean (ERC) is the other option for women who have had a caesarean in the past. The rates of women choosing to deliver by means of an ERC has been increasing in many countries, this is typically due to the common assumption that there are too many risks for the baby and mother (Knight, Gurol-Urganci, Van Der Meulen, Mahmood, Richmond, Dougall, & Cromwell, 2013). The success rate of VBAC lies in the range of 56 - 80%, a reasonably high success rate, however, the repeat caesarean birth rate has increased to 83% in Australia (Knight et al., 2013). It is essential to inform women of the contraindications, success criteria, risks, benefits, information on uterine rupture and the role of the midwife in relation to considering attempting a VBAC (Hayman, 2014). This information forms the basis of an antenatal class (Appendix 1) that provides the necessary information to women who are considering attempting a VBAC and can therefore enable them to make their own decision regarding the mode of birth.