Childbirth can be in most cases one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can have and it can be one of the most exhilarating, special moments in mother and fathers life. However unless a person is in the process of soon to give birth most of the time there is little information that one knows about childbirth. We will be addressing the questions regarding the anatomical, physiological, pathological, or epidemiological issues as well as some psychological factors. We will also be addressing the economical issues and the statistical facts associated with childbirth.
There are two ways to give birth to a child, whether that is through the “normal” vaginal childbirth or through cesarean section. A cesarean section is a surgical procedure used to deliver baby through incisions made in a mother’s abdomen and uterus. The obstetrician makes the c-section incision of about four to five inches across right above the woman’s pubic bone. Once that is done doctors move the abdominal muscles aside by pulling the skin away from the mother making another low cut across the uterus. Unless any complication may occur the amniotic fluid is suctioned out of the uterus and the baby is after delivered. During a vaginal childbirth, the mother is more actively involved.
A mother may begin the process of labor hours before actually giving birth. Contractions begin occurring even before the process of active labor. The pain of contractions increases as the dilation process increases in the mother. “Once she goes through labor and is fully dilated, she will feel an urge to push her baby out. Typically she will push with her contractions, eventually pushing the baby down and out through the vagina, followed by the afterbirth, including the placenta” (Caroline, 2016). Due to the surgical procedure of a cesarean section and the risk and complications that may occur it can be considered a major surgery and with that the necessary precautions are made before undergoing this type of childbirth delivery.
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For most women a natural birth delivery would be the most ideal, and that is simply because the cesarean section is in fact a surgical procedure therefore more risk might be involved in the process. In the United States the average cost of a childbirth delivery can range between $10,000 to $17,000 dollars depending on the complications that may occur; furthermore, in the US, C-sections cost considerably more than vaginal deliveries $12,739 versus $9,048, respectively (Witt et al., 2014).
Various reasons why a woman would have a cesarean section (c-section) than a vaginal childbirth is mostly related to health if a women were to undergo a c-section procedure is most likely because her health or the health of her baby would be at risk. C-section comes in three forms; unplanned- and this is mostly due to an oversize baby and placenta previa to name a few, emergency intervention occurs whenever the baby is distress during labor whereas a scheduled c-section is most likely due to a breeched baby, meaning they are not positioned the correct way for vaginal childbirth.
These are some of the most common reasons why some woman would have to undergo a cesarean section rather than having a natural childbirth; however, the probability of always having a c-section increases for future children if the mother has gone through that procedure one. In most cases, many of the soon to be parent’s have an insurance plan or healthcare benefit that will cover for most of the cost.
“Over the years cesarean section, has been one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures on women, and has been rising globally and in the USA from 21% to 33% and due to it being a surgical procedure, it requires a longer recovery process than most vaginal childbirth deliveries” (Witt et al., 2014). “Which is why in most cases the cost of having a c-section rather than a vaginal childbirth will be higher, simply because the cost of a maternal stays for cesarean delivery tend to be longer and more costly than stays for vaginal delivery” (Rachel Mosher Henke, Lauren M Wier, William D Marder, Bernard S Friedman & Herbert S Wong, 2014).
Many of those who are under medical or madicaid are those of low income and would not be able to afford private hospitals, it is said that many of them might not get the same kind of “healthcare” that those that have the luxury to afford a much private healthcare system. This makes those of low economical income to be more susceptible to stress factors, which can ultimately affect the delivery process as well as the well being, after childbirth. The process of having a child should be one filled with excitement; the less problems the mother has in her life and the less stress she carries the smoother the delivery process for her but also for her baby.
Vogel’s et al, (2015) study found that “Every woman has the right to dignified, respectful care during childbirth. Recent evidence has demonstrated that globally many women experience mistreatment during labour and childbirth in health facilities, which can pose a significant barrier to women attending facilities for delivery and can contribute to poor birth experiences and adverse outcomes for women and newborns” (p. 2)
Although we live in a country were medical attention cannot be denied, it does not mean that it will be for free. When we think of the US we rarely think of the process of having children to be a stressful situation. Families in the US face stress at a higher level than many living elsewhere. American families are less likely to have to pay the cost of childbirth on their own; however, many of these families still have to pay some of the medical bills, which can sometimes be higher than what many might pay in other countries around the world. Those that might be considered of a middle-low class status are sometimes required to have coverage through a private insurance, which asks them to cover copayments, and deductibles.
Those that deliver children under stressful circumstances are more susceptible in developing secondary problems. Lower-income class are susceptible to stress factors outside the scope of health and more in their everyday lives, which can ultimately affect the delivery process as well as the well being, after childbirth. “Improving women’s childbirth experience may decrease the likelihood of postpartum anxiety, but not postpartum depression” (Bell et al., 2015). There is so much information about the physical heath risk we have gained throughout the years about cesarean section and vaginal childbirth, however the knowledge we have about the psychological effects it has and how it can bring upon postpartum are still relatively new in science.
Postpartum depression has affected many women and men around the world for many years now; however, it is something that hasn’t been addressed as often. A U.S. survey of women’s first births in 2005 revealed that women who had a cesarean birth were more likely to feel frightened, helpless, and overwhelmed, and less likely to feel capable, confident, powerful, and unafraid while giving birth (“Cesarean Section and Birth Trauma”, n.d.)
I think this has to due with them not being able to have their child the way they were hoping. The average time a woman might take to make a full recovery after vaginal childbirth is approximately 2 weeks were they are able to go back to their normal routines, where as for a c-section, a woman will most likely spend the first 3 to 4 days in the hospital with not until the 6th week were the body will begin to feel more normal and less sore. It might not be like a lot however the process of a c-section is a lot more intensified than that of a vaginal childbirth, which understandably so explains why the recovery period is much more extended.
Some women sometimes feel like they did something wrong for which is why they might not have a natural childbirth. According to the “Cesarean Section and Birth Trauma” (n.d.) one in eight new mothers in the U.S. suffer from postpartum depression; with some women experience childbirth as a traumatic event and up to 6% meet the clinical criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies have shown that women who have a surgical birth are more likely to experience feelings of loss, grief, personal failure and lower self-esteem. Then there are mothers who experience the process of childbirth as one of the worst experiences, which may also lead them to postpartum depression.
All of these feelings not only affect the parent’s after childbirth but may also lead them to experience the same types of feelings before childbirth if they were to have more children which would eventually increase the possibility of postpartum depression in the future. With most of the statistics in reference with childbirth many can assume it is becoming a business, this however will not diminish the amount of childbirths every year, however there are many who are choosing the more “natural” birthing options with a doula or midwife. Unfortunately, although some think C-sections are sometimes done without the necessity of them, there will always be occasions when the intervention and surgical procedure of a cesarean section will be required. Therefore this will always be of form of economical beneficiary for those in the business and more of a burden for those who cannot afford it.
References
- Bell, A., Carter, C., Davis, J., Golding, J., Adejumo, O., Pyra, M., … Rubin, L. (2016). Childbirth and symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety: a prospective birth cohort study. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 19(2), 219–227. https://doi-org.westcoastuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0555-7
- Betran, A. P., Ye, J., Moller, A.-B., Zhang, J., Gulmezoglu, A. M., & Torloni, M. R. (2016). The Increasing Trend in Caesarean Section Rates: Global, Regional and National Estimates: 1990-2014. PLoS ONE, 11(2). Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.westcoastuniversity.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A442497004/OVIC?u=ont47921&sid=OVIC&xid=8317f221
- Henke, R. M., Wier, L. M., Marder, W. D., Friedman, B. S., & Wong, H. S. (2014). Geographic variation in cesarean delivery in the United States by payer. BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth, 14(1), 1–10.
- https://doi-org.westcoastuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12884-014-0387-x
- Martin, F. H., Tallistch, R. B., & Nath, J. L. (2018). Chapter 16. In Human Antatomy (Ninth ed., p.411). New York, NY: Pearson.
- Postpartum Recovery. (2018, June 28). Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/postpartum-recovery/
- Shepherd-Banigan, M., & Bell, J. (2014). Paid Leave Benefits Among a National Sample of Working Mothers with Infants in the United States. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 18(1), 286–295. https://doi-org.westcoastuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1264-3
- Vogel, J. P., Bohren, M. A., Tunçalp, Ö., Oladapo, O. T., Adanu, R. M., Baldé, M. D., … Idris. (2015). How women are treated during facility-based childbirth: development and validation of measurement tools in four countries — phase 1 formative research study protocol. Reproductive Health, 12(1), 1–11.
- https://doi-org.westcoastuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12978-015-0047-2
- Witt, W., Wisk, L., Cheng, E., Mandell, K., Chatterjee, D., Wakeel, F., … Zarak, D. (2015). Determinants of Cesarean Delivery in the US: A Lifecourse Approach. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 19(1), 84–93. https://doi-org.westcoastuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s10995-014-1498-8
