Mummies prefer normal deliveries over C-sections

Increase in number of pregnant women opting for natural deliveries over C-sections is a healthier sign, feel city gynaecologists

A gynaecologist at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital Dr Meenakshi Deshpande averages at least 20 deliveries a month. But she is thankful that barely two-three of them are planned Caesarean section deliveries. A rage until a couple of years ago, Deshpande says that both patients and doctors have started a reverse trend of going back towards natural births.

"It's true that people had started to exploit C-sections. For bizarre reasons they would want to get operated.

One was the pain they imagined, even though painless labour is possible or to match horoscopes, certain dates etc. Thankfully, all that is coming to an end, people are demanding for normal deliveries rather than C-sections."

'Keep it normal'
Dr Sanjeev Khurd, president of Pune Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society, agrees that there is a definite shift in Pune towards normal deliveries again. "Yes, a few years back things had started to go out of proportion. C-sections seem like a relatively easier option, but off late the situation has improved. Nine out of 10 women ask for vaginal births," added Dr Khurd.

At the government-run Sassoon Hospital, where more than 200 deliveries take place in a week, Dr Uma Wankhede said less than 15 per cent of the entire volume is C-sections. "Mothers have started realising the importance of a normal delivery. We do get a few cases where women ask for planned C-sections, but that community has dwindled now."

New methods
Besides awareness, Dr Deshpande credits this change to newer formulae like ante-natal classes, aerobics for pregnancy and even trends like water births and hypnobirths that encourage people to go natural.

"Now, there is a movement of sorts, groups have come up u2014 mothers support, mother groups for natural births, newer fads. It's good, anything that helps is welcome," said Dr Deshpande.