Babies can enter this world by either a vaginal birth or a surgical delivery by Cesarean section.

While natural birth is far more common than a Cesarean delivery, the chart below offers our mothers of her childbirth options with some pros and cons for each approach.

	Natural Vaginal Delivery	Cesarean Section
What is Involved	Birthing room procedure Delivery through vagina Baby arrives when ready	Surgical procedure Delivery through incision on abdomen and uterus
When Indicated	Good contractions Strong bearing down Small or normal baby size Normal or not malposition Not small pelvis	Fetal distress Failure to progress Abnormal presentation Low lying placenta Contracted bony pelvis Multiple babies
Benefits for	Faster recovery Breastfeeding within 2 hrs Faster resumption of diet Less postpartum depression Higher future fertility Improved immune system	Better for high risk deliveries Planned birth date and time Emergency or birth complications Less birth trauma and pain Slow but steady recovery Less viral infection transmission
Issues to Consider	More Pain during and after Perineal stretching and tears Increased risks of haematoma, incontinence and uterine prolapse	More blood loss Longer hospital stay Breastfeeding later Increased baby respiratory risk Surgical and anesthetic risks Possible scarring