According to the Alodokter survey, 75% of pregnant women in Indonesia plan to give birth normally. Only 4% choose surgery caesarand the remaining 21% undecided. If youStill confused about whether to give birth normally or not, the following things can be taken into consideration.
Of the 830 pregnant women who took part in the survey from Alodokter, 623 of them chose to give birth normally. Only 33 people planned to give birth by caesarean section. While the remaining 174 people (21%) have not yet determined which delivery method to choose.
Normal Childbirth
From the survey results, it can be concluded that normal delivery is still the number one method of delivery for pregnant women in Indonesia. When compared to caesarean section, the process of giving birth normally is simpler, cheaper, and does not require complicated tools to help the baby out of the womb. Therefore, apart from being a popular choice for pregnant women, health experts also highly recommend vaginal delivery.
Normal delivery can usually be done if the pregnant woman shows the following signs:
- The contractions are not too painful and the opening has reached 10 cm, so it is wide enough for the baby to come out of the mother's womb.
- The mother strongly pushes or pushes the baby until it is born.
- The mother's condition allows for pushing the placenta out, within 1 hour after the baby is born.
In fact, not all pregnant women can give birth normally. There are certain conditions that make delivery must be done by other means. Especially if the condition is at risk of endangering the health or safety of the mother, baby, or even both. Here are some conditions that make pregnant women recommended not to give birth normally:
- Complete placenta previa, which is a condition in which the baby's placenta completely covers the mother's cervix.
- Pregnant women are infected with the herpes virus with active lesions.
- Pregnant women are infected with the HIV virus but do not seek treatment.
- Pregnant women have given birth by caesarean section before.
- Pregnant women have had surgery on the uterus before.
If a pregnant woman experiences any of the above conditions, the doctor will usually recommend a caesarean section.
Caesarean section
In a cesarean delivery, the doctor will make an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus. Delivery by caesarean section is usually done to save the mother and baby if:
- Pregnant women have been given induction but there is no progress in labor.
- Pregnant with twins.
- The position of the baby's head is not in the way out of the uterus (breech or transverse).
- Mother's pelvis is narrow.
- The baby is entangled in the umbilical cord.
- The baby's heartbeat is not normal.
- The placenta is problematic.
- Baby's size is too big.
- Pregnant women suffer from certain diseases, such as herpes, HIV, diabetes, high blood pressure, and preeclampsia.
In addition to medical problems, caesarean section can also be done at the will of the pregnant woman herself. Usually this is done if the pregnant mother wants her child to be born on a certain day or date, for example on Indonesian Independence Day or on a "beautiful date". In addition, giving birth by caesarean section also provides its own advantages, namely pregnant women do not need to feel pain due to contractions or worry about the perineal area (the area between the vagina and buttocks) being torn.
And who says if you give birth by caesarean section once, you can't give birth normally? Pregnant women can give birth normally after giving birth by caesarean section, depending on the type of incision and the number of previous caesarean births, the condition of the mother during delivery, the size and position of the baby, and the availability of adequate facilities. What is clear, discuss it first with a gynecologist.
However, just like any other surgical procedure, giving birth by caesarean section also carries the risk of complications, such as infection and bleeding. Meanwhile, in infants, when compared to babies born vaginally, babies born by caesarean section are at slightly higher risk of experiencing breathing problems.
In determining the choice of delivery method, or to discuss the delivery method you have chosen, for example lotus birth, it is recommended to always consult an obstetrician first. In addition, don't forget to diligently check the condition of the womb so that you and your little one stay healthy during pregnancy, until the delivery process arrives.
