In addition to the stages and phases of labor, there are also different types of births. While you will learn about all the varieties in your childbirth education class, you should know about the three most common methods: vaginal birth with medication; vaginal birth without medication; and caesarean birth.
Vaginal Birth Without Medication
This is a fully natural method of labor. Instead of pain medication, relaxation and breathing techniques are used to ease the discomfort. Various birthing aids may also be employed, such as exercise balls, rocking chairs and tubs for soaking.
Vaginal Birth With Medication
With this method, narcotics are administered to help the woman cope with the pain and conserve her energy for the remaining stages of labor. Many women find that too much of their energy is wasted on dealing with the intense pain and, as a result, they run out of steam later on in the labor process. Two common medications include nitrous oxide gas and epidural anesthesia.
Nitrous oxide gas is inhaled during contractions to reduce the intensity of pain, but it does not eliminate it. Epidural is administered using a needle and a tube to numb the lower body and completely block the pain during labor and delivery.
Caesarean Birth
This is a surgical procedure that is used when there are complications with the vaginal birthing method (e.g., the cervix may not dilate fully or the woman runs out of energy). A caesarean birth requires an incision in the lower skin and uterus to deliver the baby. Given that this is a surgery, recovery is typically longer than recovery from a vaginal birth with or without medication.
There are also instances that require a planned caesarean birth, such as placenta previa or a breeched position (i.e., the baby is not positioned head-first toward the birth canal).
You and your partner should discuss the pros and cons of these birthing methods with your doctor well before your partner goes into labor. This is the type of thing you want to outline clearly in your birthing plan. Many couples do not want a caesarean birth unless the baby or the mother is in danger. Again, make sure that you do your research about vaginal and caesarean births before the two of you make your decision. Good luck!
Here are some other pregnancy and parenting resources on The Funky Stork that you will find useful:
Thefunkystork.com is a pregnancy resource and parenting guide for expectant fathers and new dads. It provides only general information designed for educational purposes, and does not offer pregnancy or pediatric advice. You should always consult a physician about concerns you have with your pregnancy or your child's health. |
PREGNANCY 101 
