The question of normal birth vs. cesarean section is one that every mother-to-be must struggle with before pregnancy. Although a normal delivery does not leave scars and has a quick recovery, the pain is unimaginable; a cesarean delivery does not have to go through the pain and does not have the concern of vaginal relaxation, but it will leave a long and big scar. Cesarean section is painful and there is a risk of infection, what should I choose? What should I do if my vaginal laxity affects my sex life after a normal birth? The increased weight of the baby throughout the pregnancy and the overload of the pelvic floor can lead to vaginal laxity. Mothers-to-be can do proper pelvic floor exercises to promote pelvic floor blood flow. Postpartum pelvic floor exercises are also needed to improve vaginal laxity and stress incontinence and to improve the quality of sexual life. This exercise is simple and effective but takes some time. People are just afraid of pain! Do you think a C-section doesn’t hurt? The pain will continue after the anesthetic effect, and there are uterine contractions of postpartum pain, and to help contraction nurses will press the uterine fundus, such pressure for cesarean section of the wounded mother, with “life is worse than death” to describe it is not too much! The painful side incision of natural birth is better than the direct cesarean? Lateral incision is a method to increase the exit of the birth canal, to prevent serious lacerations during vaginal delivery, and to protect the perineum. Not everyone needs a lateral incision, but only when there are indications, so don’t worry too much! Is this how you imagine the process of normal labor to be? The first stage of labor: the uterus starts to contract regularly until the uterine opening is completely opened. Under normal circumstances, it takes about 12-16 hours, and it may take longer for first time mothers. The second stage of labor: the process from the opening of the uterus to the delivery of the baby, which takes about 1-2 hours for first time mothers and less than 1 hour for mothers with a history of delivery. The third stage of labor: within half an hour after the baby is delivered, the placenta will be slowly delivered. What else should you pay attention to in a normal labor and delivery? A fast delivery is not necessarily a good thing, especially for anxious mothers whose delivery does not take more than 3 hours. If the baby passes through the birth canal too quickly, it is very easy for the mother to tear her perineum, vagina or cervix. So giving birth too fast is not necessarily a good thing! Don’t worry too much if your baby is still late in coming out on your due date. It is normal to deliver within two weeks after the due date (42 weeks of pregnancy), but if there are no signs of labor one week after the due date, you should be admitted to the hospital in time. Some special cases, such as obstructed labor, abnormal fetal position, abnormal placenta, abnormal fetal condition, and uncommonly, physical exhaustion during labor or fetal distress of the pregnant mother, require a cesarean section. However, there is no doubt that it is not justified to consider a cesarean section without any medical indication. Do you think a cesarean section is something you can do whenever you want? 1, emergency cesarean section: as the name suggests, “emergency cesarean section” is an emergency operation for pregnant mothers to contact the delivery and take out the baby in the “shortest possible time” to ensure life safety. This happens when the mother has chosen to have a normal delivery before the birth, but has a temporary change of plans and has to switch to a cesarean delivery after considering various factors. Generally, emergency cesarean section occurs in these situations: placental abruption, contraction cessation, abnormal fetal heartbeat, umbilical cord prolapse, etc. At this time to immediately let the fetus born, otherwise the consequences are unthinkable. 2, elective caesarean section: elective caesarean section refers to the indications for caesarean section, the pregnant mother and the fetus in good condition, under the premise of planning and preparation, the elective surgery launched before delivery. In China, “good timing” is not only the reason why many pregnant mothers choose to have a cesarean section, but also an important factor affecting the timing of elective cesarean section. (1) Timing of elective cesarean delivery Studies have shown that pregnant mothers with combined gestational diabetes usually undergo elective cesarean delivery between 39 and 40 weeks of gestation; other pregnant mothers, such as those with breech position, pelvic factors, and a history of previous cesarean deliveries, often choose to undergo elective cesarean delivery between 38 and 39 weeks of gestation. There is an overall international preference to perform elective cesarean sections between 39 and 40 weeks of gestation to reduce neonatal respiratory morbidity. (2) Indications for elective cesarean delivery Fetuses delivered without or through the vagina can cause certain injuries to the mother-to-be and the baby. These include: pelvic stenosis, soft birth canal abnormalities, fetal weight >3500g, fetal distress, advanced first birth, history of obstructed labor, incomplete breech presentation, etc. A cesarean section should be performed to end the labor. The process of labor and delivery is influenced by many factors, so it should not be “chosen” according to personal preference or even as a matter of course. We hope that pregnant mothers will keep their weight under control, be active in exercise and labor and delivery, listen carefully to the doctor’s advice and guidance, and make the right choice according to the situation at the time of delivery!