Which is better, cesarean section or natural birth?

Cesarean section and natural birth are two methods of delivery. It cannot be said that one is better or worse. The key is that for the mother, the most suitable method of delivery is the best. The advantage of cesarean section is mainly a method of delivery for some mothers who cannot give birth naturally. It also has a greater impact on the health of the mother. The advantage of natural birth is that the mother's body recovers quickly, which is also better for the health of the child.

Benefits of Caesarean Section:

1. Provide a delivery method for mothers who do not meet the conditions for natural delivery. Due to reasons of the fetus or the expectant mother, some expectant mothers are unable to give birth vaginally, or when natural birth may threaten the safety of the expectant mother or newborn (fetus), such as malposition of the fetus, fetal asphyxia, the fetus is too large to be delivered, or the expectant mother suffers from pregnancy complications, cesarean section should be given priority.

2. Reduce labor pains. Many expectant mothers cannot fully open their cervix during childbirth. If an elective cesarean section is performed at this time, it can reduce the pain suffered by the expectant mother.

3. Combined treatment of other diseases. In the case of a caesarean section, if the expectant mother has other diseases in the abdominal cavity, such as ovarian tumors or subserosal uterine fibroids, these diseases can be treated at the same time to reduce the need for future surgical treatment.

4. Ligation can be performed. After a caesarean section, if the expectant mother needs to have a vasectomy, she can undergo the vasectomy at the same time.

5. Combined with hysterectomy. This situation is relatively rare and is mainly aimed at expectant mothers who are not suitable to retain the uterus. For example, if there is severe infection, incomplete uterine rupture, multiple uterine fibroids, etc., the uterus can be removed at the same time after cesarean section.

Benefits of natural childbirth:

1. Accelerate postpartum recovery. Generally speaking, mothers who give birth naturally can get out of bed and walk around on the same day. You can be discharged from the hospital in 3 to 5 days, and the postpartum recovery is quick, and the cost is normally low.

2. It is conducive to breastfeeding. Mothers who give birth naturally can eat earlier after giving birth than mothers who give birth by caesarean section, which is beneficial for breastfeeding.

3. Little damage. Compared with caesarean section, the injuries caused by normal delivery are mainly wounds in the perineum, such as episiotomy wounds, which are generally less harmful and easier to recover.

4. Fewer complications. Cesarean section can cause relatively more complications clinically, while under normal circumstances, natural birth has relatively few complications. This is also a major reason why most mothers choose natural birth.

5. Good for newborns. For newborns (fetuses), normal delivery can exercise their lung function, massage the skin nerve endings and stimulate their nervous and sensory systems, as well as their body functions.

6. It is beneficial for abdominal recovery. Many mothers have the problem of a big belly after giving birth, and natural delivery can stimulate the mother to secrete oxytocin, a hormone that can ensure uterine contraction and help the abdomen return to a flat state.

7. It is safer not to use anesthesia. Caesarean section requires the use of more anesthetics, while natural birth requires the opposite, so there is no need to worry about the anesthetics damaging the baby's nerves.

To sum up, regarding the question of whether cesarean section is better or natural birth is better, both cesarean section and natural birth have their own advantages, and the specific choice of delivery method should be determined based on the specific situation of the mother herself.