Admin
29-02-24
How to Increase Your Chances of a Normal Delivery: A Guide for Pregnant Women
Most pregnant women prefer normal delivery, considering lesser risks as compared to surgical and C-sections. First-time pregnant women are likely to go through a wide range of emotions, from excitement to anxiety, during their pregnancy journey.
Normal and vaginal delivery can also contribute to the good health of the baby. However, it is essential to note that not every woman is capable of giving birth naturally because of hormonal levels. Every mother’s body is unique, which is one of the main reasons why not everyone can undergo normal delivery. In this case, the gynaecologist may conduct either a C-section birth or any other type of delivery.
In recent years, the number of cesarean deliveries has increased, but women still prefer normal delivery. You need to connect with your gynaecologist to increase your chances of normal delivery.
Having helped numerous pregnant women, Dr Pankhuri Gautam has successfully delivered healthy people. Most of these babies were delivered normally. Continue reading here understand how to increase your chances of the baby's normal delivery.
What is a Normal Delivery of a Baby?
Normal delivery of a baby is referred to when the baby is delivered through the vagina. Since normal delivery has low risks and is safe for babies and mothers, it is preferred by most people globally. Normal delivery can occur between 37 weeks to 42 weeks. Some of the significant benefits of normal delivery of a baby include
- Easy lactation
- Strong immune system
- Low risk of infection
Tips to Increase Chance of Normal Delivery
Studies have shown that vaginal birth has a success rate of 60%-80%. Most of the women in India prefer normal delivery to avoid major complications. If you are also seeking normal delivery, here are a few tips that may be helpful for you:
Exercise
Always be on the move during your pregnancy, especially exercise. Exercising can be a great way to strengthen the pelvic muscles. If you're expecting a child, you must start with prenatal exercise only under your doctor's advice.
I usually advise my patients to start with light and minimal exercise during antenatal. These exercises will not increase early delivery but boost the flexibility of your pelvic muscles. It is best to reach out to your doctor to understand the dos and don'ts of the exercise before adopting a particular exercise regime during pregnancy.
Diet
In India, you may often come across people telling you to eat properly because you're eating for two people. That's a huge myth that you should strictly avoid. During your pregnancy, rather than eating for two people, you should eat consistently but smaller portions. These small portions should be well-balanced for proper nutrition for your baby.
During pregnancy, you should strictly avoid overeating sugar, rice and sugar as it can lead to excess weight gain and increase the size of the baby. Thus, big-sized babies will prevent the chances of normal pregnancy and increase gestational diabetes risk. The doctor will examine the pre-pregnancy BMI to determine appropriate weight gain during pregnancy. Women with appropriate BMI during the pre-pregnancy stage can gain weight up to 10-12 kgs. On the other hand, pregnancy weight gain for obese and overweight is restricted to 7-8 kgs.
Reduce Stress
Maternal stress is quite common during pregnancy, which can increase the risk of preterm and low birth weight. It is important to manage stress during pregnancy as it helps to boost health and contribute towards normal delivery.
It is strictly advisable to avoid stress during pregnancy as much as possible. You should stay away from situations that make you uncomfortable and be in a friendly environment. You may consult your gynaecologist and start medicines to help you stay calm. Apart from that, you may also practice meditation and yoga during pregnancy to remain calm.
Educate about Childbirth
During the pregnancy stage, you should educate yourself as much as possible. You may read articles and books on what you can expect during labour and birth and also take childbirth classes. Staying informed about childbirth can help you understand what you can do to improve normal delivery rates.
Your gynaecologist can be of great help in educating you about childbirth. It is advisable to schedule regular appointments with the doctor to understand the progress and what process to follow. Your gynaecologist can help to address all your concerns about pregnancy. It is common to be overwhelmed during pregnancy, so slow down and process the information.
Avoid Induction
You will have to consider a lot of factors during the delivery stage. Your gynaecologist can help you understand the process of childbirth. It is advisable to avoid induction during childbirth. Most pregnant women opt for induction as it helps to stop contractions while making them relaxed.
Some pregnant women may not be able to handle excessive pain caused during natural labour. Thus, these women consider inducing the birth even before time. So, when you want to opt for normal delivery, you should avoid induction at all costs. Your gynaecologist can help you prepare for a normal birth.
Hire Labour Support
It may surprise many women, but labour support is available for all pregnant women today. Most hospitals have labour support for their patients to help them during childbirth.
A labour support is a trained midwife who can help you with normal delivery. The midwives are knowledgeable and experienced people who can help you with normal delivery. Thus, they will assist you in normal delivery while caring for your health.
When is Normal Delivery Recommended?
Normal delivery is hailed to be one of the best and most effective ways of giving birth. However, the doctor may opt for a C-section or other type of delivery depending on the health of the mother and the risks.
In normal delivery, the baby moves in the upright direction and is delivered through the birth canal. On average, normal delivery can take 10 hours, but it may also take up to 20 hours in a few cases.
The doctor may prescribe normal delivery if there are no complications in pregnancy and during delivery. However, visiting the gynaecologist can help to understand the type of delivery that is to be done.
Some of the common conditions under which a normal delivery may be recommended include:
- The ultrasound scan shows that the baby is in a cephalic position.
- Pain in the lower back can indicate that the baby is head-down or cephalic.
- If the vaginal discharge increases due to the growth of the cervix.
- Sore breasts are a good sign that you may need to undergo vaginal birth.
If you're having an increased urge to urinate during pregnancy, it is a sign that there's pressure on your bladder because of the uterus growing. Thus, you may have to opt for normal delivery.
Final Thoughts
Normal delivery is natural and can make your pregnancy journey smooth and seamless. Taking care of your health during this situation is crucial, especially to deliver healthy babies. Staying healthy will also play an important role in recovering after the baby's delivery. Having delivered healthy babies successfully, Dr Pankhuri Gautam aims to help pregnant women with normal delivery of babies. As a pregnant woman, if you want a normal delivery and a healthy baby, contact Dr. Pankhuri Gautam.