Evaluating the water birth practice, which has become popular in recent years, Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan from the Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, said, “Water birth is known to shorten the duration of labor, relieve pain, and contribute to the mother having a more comfortable birthing experience. However, for water birth to be performed, there should be no health or pregnancy risks for the mother.”
Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan. “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 Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Vice Dean, Midwifery Department Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan drew attention to the importance of midwifery services in the birth process and provided information about the water birth practice, which has become popular in recent years.
Interventional vaginal birth…
Providing information about interventional vaginal births, Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan stated that these births involve medical interventions to protect the health of the mother and baby during delivery. Dr. Esencan emphasized medical necessity and added: “These interventions include methods such as electrofetal monitoring (EFM) – connecting the device that listens to fetal heart sounds, accelerating labor with oxytocin, i.e., labor serum, episiotomy, amniotomy, forceps, or vacuum use. However, these interventions can have negative effects on maternal and infant health unless medically necessary.”
Is vaginal birth after C-section possible?
Stating that vaginal birth after C-section is when a woman who previously delivered via C-section gives birth vaginally in her next delivery, Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan said, “Scientific data show that vaginal birth after C-section is an important option for reducing the C-section rate. However, this birthing method must be carefully evaluated by an expert team, taking into account the mother's decision regarding the birth method, previous C-section incision, and risk factors such as uterine rupture.”
No risk should be present in the mother's health and pregnancy for water birth!
Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan also touched upon the topic of water birth, which has gained interest recently, and continued:
“Water birth, a method where the mother gives birth in a pool filled with warm water during labor. This method is known to shorten the duration of labor, relieve pain, and contribute to the mother having a more comfortable birthing experience. However, for water birth to be performed, there should be no risk in the mother's health and pregnancy. Close monitoring of the health status of the mother and baby during the procedure is also important.”
Midwives must constantly update their knowledge and skills!
Pointing out that natural births are those that occur with as little intervention as possible, Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan said, “In this process, midwives play an important role in preparing pregnant women for childbirth. Midwives, who inform expectant mothers from the pregnancy period and observe the birth process, intervening only when complications arise, ensure that childbirth is completed in its natural flow. Midwives constantly updating their knowledge and skills, detecting deviations from normal early and taking necessary precautions, play a critical role in ensuring healthy and safe birth processes.”
C-section should not be preferred unless medically necessary!
Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan also noted that it is important for expectant mothers to collaborate with midwives in choosing the birth method, and said, “Every expectant mother should make a decision based on her own health condition, medical necessities, and risks. It should not be forgotten that normal birth is more beneficial for maternal and infant health in the long run, and C-section delivery should not be preferred unless medically necessary.”
Do painkillers like epidural anesthesia increase normal births?
Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan also stated that epidural anesthesia is a method that reduces pain during normal birth and makes the birth process more manageable for many women, noting the following:
“This is also a factor that can increase normal birth rates. While epidural can help the mother have a more comfortable birthing experience, 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?
Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan also expressed that the role of midwives in the natural birth process is very important, saying, “For normal birth rates to increase, midwives need to reclaim their place in childbirth, and midwives and pregnant women need to be brought together more effectively. The widespread availability of qualified midwifery services helps expectant mothers have a safe and healthy birth process by providing the continuous support they need during labor. Births with midwife support 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 bond with the baby after birth, facilitating her adjustment to motherhood.”
Every birth is unique…
Explaining that when women are sufficiently informed about the benefits of normal birth and consciously prepared for childbirth through education, C-section delivery will only be preferred in cases of medical necessity, Dr. Lecturer Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan concluded by saying, “Pregnancy and childbirth should be considered a natural function of the female body, and interventions should be avoided unless there is a medical necessity. The healthy completion of birth for both mother and baby depends on providing an appropriate birth environment, qualified midwifery services, and mothers being consciously prepared for childbirth. Although C-section delivery is necessary in some cases, it should be approached by moving away from misconceptions and without burdening the mother with guilt, accepting that every birth is unique.”