If you’re to take a look at pregnancy throughout history, you’ll find that in the last 100 years in particular, there has been a growing focus on ensuring that the actual birth is as painless and trouble-free for both mother and baby as possible.
Whilst today a mother has the ability to choose from an array of different birthing methods, should they wish to look at the traditional routes that the National Health Service (NHS) uses primarily, there are four separate ways that the midwives and doctors could deliver your baby.
Each option will be discussed with you in detail both before and during your time in labour (if required) and the choices largely depend on what happens during the actual birthing period.
1. Normal Birth – the route that the majority of births start off aiming for, a normal birth is the traditional way to give birth to a baby and is where the baby is moved along the birth canal through the pushing and contractions from the mother.
Whilst this option is generally seen as the recommended way to give birth, it is not a possibility for some women to begin with or it may result in the need to change to one of the following three options mid-way through, dependent upon whether the midwife or doctor believes that it would be worthwhile for both mother and baby.
2. Vacuum Extraction – when a baby is born and it’s said that they are “battered and bruised”, it’s very likely that the vacuum extraction process has been used.
What this process involves is placing a suction cap onto the baby’s head and gently pulling in time with the mother’s contractions and pushes.
Considered in some ways to simply be an assisted birth, vacuum extraction may sound intimidating and not particularly appealing, but the truth it’s nothing more than something which gives the baby a little extra help during the delivery.
3. Forceps Delivery – a process which is similar to vacuum extraction (and which can also leave the baby looking a little “battered and bruised”) the basic principle is that the baby is helped along the birth canal with forceps – two spoon-like items – and given an extra amount of help by gently pulling the baby whilst the mother pushes on the contractions.
Depending upon where the baby is depends on which type of forceps are used, as there are three different types available – Wrigley’s / straight forceps for use when everything appears to be fine and the baby just needs an extra bit of help; Neville Barnes / straight forceps, which are used when the baby isn’t as far down the birth canal as they would be when using the above forceps and Kielland’s / rotational forceps, which are used to help turn the baby’s head around before they are moved along the birth canal.
4. Caesarean Section – an option which is sometimes used before a natural birth has been tried but which is often something that is used when a natural birth doesn’t appear to be the best option, a caesarean section is the process whereby the baby is delivered not vaginally but through an incision is made just above the pubic hairline.
Whichever way your baby is delivered, it’s important to remember that you’re in the best hands possible and although a natural birth will normally be planned, if vacuum extraction, forceps or a caesarean section are utilized, there will be a very good reason behind it, most probably that it will ensure the best health of both mother and baby.
