Methods of Birth Assessment

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During pregnancy, women are faced with the option of how they will deliver their offspring. There are different forms of childbearing for women to choose from. Most females tend to go with the method they feel is less painful and safest for the baby. Finding the right method of delivering a child is very necessary because some procedures may not be deemed safe, depending on the mother's health condition. The most common childbearing practice that the majority of women choose to have is a natural birth. Natural birth is when a woman delivers a baby from her vagina without any medicines. There are three different steps to this process of delivering a child. The first step is the female should begin dilating, second pushing and giving birth to the child, and lastly, she has to deliver the placenta. According to Parents Magazine (n.d), "The second stage of childbirth begins when the cervix is fully dilated. It lasts about an average of one-half hour to two hours in first-time moms. In subsequent births, it may last anywhere from a few minutes to two hours." On average, vaginal births can range between 6 to 15 hours. With natural delivery, there are both pros and cons to the process that one must know before going through with natural birth. A pro of having a natural birth is that it's safer for the child. Taking meds could harm the baby, so you eliminate the chances by having a natural birth. Another pro is that "there's no loss of sensation or alertness. You can move around more freely and find positions that help you stay comfortable during labor. And you'll remain able to participate in the delivery process when it's time to push your baby out" (Natural Childbirth, 2014). One con of having a natural birth would be the pain. By not receiving the epidural anesthesia, women who give birth naturally are exposed to a lot more pain. However, the side effects of medicated procedures can be dangerous and even cost you your child's health. With natural delivery, although a woman is exposed to a lot more pain, it's the safest way for a woman to deliver a baby. So hopefully, as the years go on, there will be an increase in women having natural births.
Works Cited:
1. The Stages of Labor and Birth in a Vaginal Delivery, Parents Magazine, http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/labor-and-delivery/labor-childbirth-phases/?page=3
2. Natural childbirth, BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, http://www.babycenter.com/natural-childbirth
3. Giving birth by cesarean section, BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
4. Caesarean birth: what are the risks and benefits?, 2013, BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board

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