Cost of vaginal delivery by state

What is vaginal delivery?

There are two ways that babies can enter the world: through vaginal birth, or through a surgical procedure called a Cesarean section (C-section). The best type of delivery is a safe one for the mother and baby.   

A vaginal delivery is the most common type of birth, involving a fetus passing through the female birth canal called the vagina. Vaginal deliveries can be spontaneous or induced. A spontaneous delivery happens on its own, when the mother begins having uterine contractions that increase in number and intensity. Experiencing these contractions is called labor. Labor contractions ready the woman’s body for birth by moving the baby further down into her birth canal and expanding the cervix to at least ten centimeters.  

An induced pregnancy follows much the same process; however, labor does not begin spontaneously.   Instead, medications that simulate birth hormones are given to stimulate contractions and begin labor.  The amount of medication is adjusted to achieve active labor with effective contractions. Induction is used when the baby is full term, and the mother or baby might experience health problems by further delay in the birth.  

Whether spontaneous or induced, the average labor is around 12 to 24 hours for a first-time birth, and 6 to 8 hours for a woman who has previously delivered.

How safe is vaginal delivery?

Overall, vaginal births are very safe, and do not carry the risks of a surgical delivery. However, there are several obstetrical complications that your care team will be monitoring you for. Modern medicine allows labor and delivery teams to watch the fetal heart rate, which may show indications if the baby is becoming too stressed. The mother’s vital signs, pain level, and the process of cervical dilation will also be closely monitored.   

Most complications of a vaginal delivery can be detected and prevented, but as with any type of birth, there is always a small amount of risk for both the baby and mother. According to the CDC, about 700 women in the US die each year from complications during labor and delivery. While this is certainly a tragedy, it represents a small fraction of the more than 3. 5 million births each year.

How can I have a normal vaginal delivery?

While there are never any guarantees that everything will progress and end in a normal vaginal delivery, chances are very good!

There are several things that a mother can do to increase the chances of a smooth birthing process.  

·   Take a childbirth class. This can give you lots of information about the birthing process, infant care, and ways to cope with labor pains.  

·   Choose a physician and birthplace that values your birth plan. If your goal is a vaginal birth, ask questions about what might prevent that, and C-section rates. Some facilities have different criteria for induction or conversion to C-section. Find the one that you are most comfortable with.  

·   Be as healthy as possible. This means a healthy diet, moderate exercise, and abstaining from things that are bad for you or the baby.  

·   Keep moving throughout pregnancy. Finding ways to stay active, even in the last term, is important. Walking, yoga, dancing – whatever works and encourages movement.  

·   Assemble your birth team. Figuring out who you want in the room with you and making sure you have emotional support is important. Don’t leave these decisions to the last minute and be sure to minimize your stress by  having great support in place.  

·   Trust your body. You may not know what it is doing – but it does! Your body was designed to have vaginal birth, and it is an amazing process. Be patient and go with the flow. 

How can I make my cervix open faster?

Many women want to facilitate the birth process and encourage their cervix to dilate.   The primary way is to keep the body relaxed and loose, but there are some techniques that women can use to encourage the process:

Move around. The weight of the baby puts pressure on the cervix, which encourages dilation. Walking or standing and slowly swaying back and forth are effective and gentle techniques.  

Use an exercise ball. This is a large inflatable ball that is used to sit on and rock back and forth. This helps loosen the pelvic muscles and keep them relaxed.  

Relaxation techniques. Reduce tension and stress by practicing deep breathing exercises and meditation.

Laugh. There is always something to find humor in! Our bodies release feel-good hormones when we laugh, and it releases tension.  

Sexual Intercourse. Stimulation and orgasm can promote dilation and relax the body.

What type of delivery is best?

Truly, the safest way for baby and mom is always the best way. As we have discussed, a vaginal birth is less risky, and has a faster recovery time. However, many mothers need C-sections for medical reasons, and that may be the safest method for them. Once a woman has had one C-Section, is it more difficult (but not impossible) to have a vaginal birth. These births are called a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, or VBAC for short. VBACs require extra monitoring and a physician that is familiar with and supportive of the process.   

Everyone on the care team, as well as the mother, should work together to understand that a healthy outcome for all is always the best type of delivery.

Which delivery is more painful?

While contractions and labor are certainly painful, the pain is usually short-lived and disappears soon after birth. Recovery from a vaginal birth is quick, and some mothers spend barely more than 24 hours in the hospital. Some associated soreness in the perineal area can last several days and up to two weeks.  Some vaginal births can cause tearing of tissues around the vaginal area and may require stitches. In this case, additional pain may be present during the first days and week after birth.   

A C-Section is painless at the time due to numbing anesthesia, but leaves a surgical incision that requires a healing period, and will be painful for a few weeks. The C-section is usually considered the more painful of the two types of birth. C-sections also carry an increased risk of infection at the surgical site.