Types Of Delivery: What are different Types of Birth?

Table of Content

• What are the types of Delivery?

• Which type of delivery is best?

• What is Vaginal birth or Normal birth?

• What is Vaginal assisted Delivery?

• What is a C-Section?

• What is Vaginal Birth after C-section

Introduction

If you're expecting a baby or You're pregnant, you may be wondering about types of delivery. What is safest? What are the parameters to consider while choosing among types of delivery? You are at the right place. We'll cover details about each type of delivery, be it Vaginal birth or natural birth, planned Caesarean-Section to unplanned Caesarean-Section, Vaginal birth after C-section(VABC) etc.

Different types of delivery are suited for different individuals depending on the need. It is obvious that Vaginal birth or Natural birth is best among all but you may be wondering then why there is a need for other types of delivery?. 

What are the types of Delivery?

There are majorly four types of delivery options offered by an obstetrician. You may know about Vaginal birth or Natural birth but what are other types of birth?

1. Vaginal birth or Natural birth

2. Caesarean-Section

3. Vaginal Birth after C-section(VBAC)

4. Assisted Vaginal Delivery using forceps or Vacuum

Which type of delivery is best?

Vaginal birth is considered the best type of delivery in pregnancy. It is a natural birth method in which the human body has evolved.

Guidelines of the Government and ACOG(American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) recommend Vaginal birth in hospitals (Institutional delivery) in pregnancy to yield a healthy outcome for both baby and mother.

Home delivery should never be performed as there is a very high risk of Infection to the baby and mother. Most deaths in India during delivery happen while delivery at home without professional help.

What is Vaginal birth or Normal birth?

Vaginal Delivery is the most preferred form of delivery, it is the most natural and with the least complications. There are several other benefits of vaginal delivery which are described below:

1. Short recovery time: There is a shorter recovery time associated with vaginal delivery as there is admission for only 2-3 days.

2. Lower chances of Cesarean in Further Pregnancy: If someone has 2 or more C- sections then she cannot undergo Vaginal delivery in future pregnancies because of chances of scar rupture.

3. Most natural way of Delivery: Vaginal birth is the most natural among types of delivery methods. 

4. Early lactation: Vaginal birth helps in early lactation and milk production so there will be more chances of breastfeeding the child.

5. Better immune system to baby: Vaginal delivery has been linked with a better immune system to baby as while going through birth canals baby gets exposed to varied microbes.

   

What is Vaginal assisted Delivery?

Vaginal assisted delivery as the name suggests, In vaginal assisted delivery the normal vaginal delivery is assisted with the means of instruments. It is done in Females who are undergoing vaginal birth but due to some indications which are mentioned below instruments are used to assist vaginal birth. Indications of Vaginal assisted delivery:

1. Prolonged labour

2. Progression of labour is not happening

3. Signs of foetal distress and Labor have already progressed.

4. The mother is unable to push more.

5. Certain medical conditions like Eclampsia(seizure during pregnancy) require Vaginal assisted birth using instruments to cut short labour.

Types of Vaginal assisted Delivery include:

1. Forceps delivery: Forceps delivery is done using two large spoon-shaped instruments which are applied on the baby's head then the baby is pulled out of the vagina.

2. Episiotomy: Episiotomy is an invasive form of Vaginal assisted Delivery in which A cut is made along the perineal muscle or perineum (area between anus and vagina). This is done to ease the delivery process.

3. Vacuum-assisted: A vacuum cup is applied to the head of the baby and via suction and baby is pulled. This is similar to forceps delivery, the choice between these two depends on the operating obstetrician.

What is a C-Section?

C-sections can be unplanned Caesarean or Scheduled Caesarean depending on the health of the baby and the Mother. In Caesarean, the doctor uses surgical methods to cut through the abdomen and Uterus delivers the baby. This is a surgical method in types of delivery. Caesarean-Section is not done in every pregnant female, there are certain indications for doing C-sec. 

Here are some of the indications of C-sec:

1. Baby's head is larger than the pelvic diameters.

2. The baby is in distress.

3. If you're expecting More than one baby. This is not a strict indication, vaginal delivery can also be performed after assessment.

4. If the placenta comes out before the baby.

5. if the placenta is lying above the internal of the cervix(internal os)(placenta previa)

6. If you have already had 2 C-sections in past then vaginal delivery cannot be performed

7. Early separation of placenta-Abruption

What are the risks of C-sec?

Although C-sections have become very safe at present there are certain risks which are associated with:

1. Risk of excessive bleeding and Blood transfusion

2. longer recovery than vaginal delivery.

3. Adhesions in abdomen

4. Risk of scar rupture in further vaginal birth pregnancy

Caesarean section for non-medical reasons should never be encouraged and practised. Medical reasons like transverse lie, foetal distress,

What is Vaginal Birth after C-section

Vaginal birth after C-section(VBAC) is done in very specific pregnancies, As the name indicates It is Vaginal birth after C-section, this means a pregnant female wants to have a baby through vaginal birth among the types of delivery options available.

There is a specific complication and risk associated with Vaginal birth after C-section and that is scar rupture. However, if you have undergone Lower section Caesarean section(LSCS) then the risk of scar rupture is very low (<1%). If you have undergone USCS(upper section Caesarean section) then VBAC cannot be done as the risk of rupture is very high(9-10%).

There are specific conditions which need to be met if you're opting vaginal birth after C-section(VBAC):

1. You should only have 1 LSCS before.

2. No recurrent indication for caesarean as in case of contracted pelvis(vaginal delivery is not possible).

3. No macrosomic baby(BIG baby).

4. Only one baby inside the uterus.

5. There is no extension of the scar in the upper section

6. No other scars on the uterus.

Take-Home points

1. Different types of delivery are suited for different individuals depending on the need. Vaginal birth or Natural birth is best among all.

2. Types of delivery include Vaginal birth or natural birth, C-section, Assisted vaginal delivery, Vaginal birth after C-section.

3. Vaginal birth is considered best among all types of delivery, Guidelines of GOI and ACOG also recommend Vaginal birth unless there specific medical indications.

4. Benefits of Vaginal birth include shorter recovery time, less complications in future pregnancy, better immunity to the baby, early lactation etc.

5.  In vaginal assisted delivery the normal vaginal delivery is assisted with the means of instruments. Vacuum, episiotomy or forceps are used.

6. In Caesarean, the doctor uses surgical methods to cut through the abdomen and Uterus delivers the baby. 

7. In Vaginal birth after C-section, this means a pregnant female wants to have a baby through vaginal birth among the types of delivery options available.