Water birth shortens the process and relieves pain!

Evaluating the practice of water birth, which has become popular in recent years, the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, Asst. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan stated that "It is known that water birth shortens the birth time, relieves pain and contributes to a more comfortable birth experience for the mother. However, there should be no risk to the mother's health and pregnancy -to have a water birth."

Asst. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan statted that "Pregnancy and childbirth should be considered a natural function of the female body and interventions should be avoided unless there is a medical necessity."

Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Vice Dean, Midwifery Department Asst. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan drew attention to the importance of midwifery services in the birth process and gave information about the water birth practice, which has become popular in recent years.

Vaginal birth with intervention...

Informing on interventional vaginal births, Asst. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan said that these births involve medical interventions to protect the health of the mother and baby during birth. Asst. Prof. Esencan drew attention to the medical necessity and added that "These interventions include electrofetal monitoring (EFM)-connecting a device that listens to baby heart sounds, accelerating labor with oxytocin, that is, the use of epidural, episiotomy, amniotomy, forceps or vacuum. However, these interventions, unless medically necessary, can have negative effects on maternal and infant health."

Is vaginal delivery possible after cesarean section?

Stating that vaginal birth after cesarean section is the vaginal delivery of the next birth of a woman who gave birth by cesarean section before, Asst. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan expressed that "Scientific data reveal that vaginal delivery after cesarean section is an important option in reducing the cesarean rate. However, this type of delivery should be carefully evaluated by a team of experts, taking into account risk factors such as the mother's decision regarding the mode of delivery, previous cesarean section, uterine rupture."

There should be no risk to maternal health and pregnancy for water birth!

Referring to the issue of water birth, which has attracted attention recently, Asst. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan continued her remarks as follows: "Water birth is a method in which the mother gives birth in a pool filled with warm water during birth. This method is known to shorten the delivery time, relieve pain and contribute to a more comfortable birth experience for the mother. However, in order for a water birth to be performed, there should be no risk to the mother's health and pregnancy. It is also important to closely monitor the health status of the mother and baby during the application."

Midwives should constantly update their knowledge and skills!

Pointing out that natural births are births that take place without intervention as much as possible, Asst. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan stated that "In this process, midwives play an important role in preparing pregnant women for birth. Midwives, who inform expectant mothers from the pregnancy period and observe the birth process and intervene only when complications develop, ensure that the birth is completed in its natural flow. Midwives' continuous updating of their knowledge and skills, their early detection of deviations from normal and taking the necessary precautions play a critical role in the realization of healthy and safe birth processes."

Cesarean section should not be preferred unless there is a medical necessity!

Noting that it is important for expectant mothers to cooperate with midwives in choosing the method of delivery, Asst. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan stated that "Every expectant mother should make a decision in line with medical requirements and risks, taking into account her own health status. It should not be forgotten that normal birth is more beneficial in the long term for the health of the mother and baby, and cesarean delivery should not be preferred unless there is a medical necessity."

Do painkillers such as epidural anesthesia increase normal births?

Stating that epidural anesthesia is a method that reduces pain during normal delivery and makes the birth process more manageable for many women, Asst. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan stated the following remarks:

"This is a factor that can increase normal birth rates. While an epidural can help the mother go through the labor process more comfortably, it can also have some disadvantages, such as prolonging labor and reducing the mother's control during the second stage of labor. When used correctly, this method can help the mother relax during childbirth."

Why are midwifery services important?

Stating that the role of midwives is very important in the natural process of birth, Asst. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan expressed that "In order to increase normal birth rates, midwives need to retake their role in childbirth, and midwives and pregnant women need to be brought together more effectively. The spread of qualified midwifery services helps expectant mothers to have a safe and healthy birth process by providing the continuous support they need during childbirth. Midwife-assisted births are one of the factors that make the birth process more natural and positive. The safety, respect, privacy and physical-emotional support provided to the mother in the birth environment help the mother manage the birth process more comfortably and accelerate the postpartum recovery process. Midwife support also helps the mother to adapt to motherhood by making it easier for the mother to bond with the baby after birth."

Each birth is unique...

Explaining that when women are adequately informed about the benefits of normal birth and consciously prepared for birth with education, cesarean delivery will only be preferred in cases of medical necessity. Prof. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan said that "Pregnancy and childbirth should be considered as a natural function of women’s body and interventions should be avoided unless there is a medical necessity. The completion of the birth in a healthy way for the mother and the baby depends on the provision of a suitable birth environment, qualified midwifery services and conscious preparation of mothers for birth. Although cesarean delivery is necessary in some cases, it should be handled with an approach that accepts that each birth is unique, without moving away from false beliefs and without imposing guilt on the mother."

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)