8 reasons not to intervene in early labor

You intend to ask your doctor to intervene in early labor because there is an important plan to implement. However, before doing this, you should consider carefully because this can affect the health of both you and your baby.  

According to statistics, about 10 - 15% of pregnant women choose to promote delivery and cesarean section without clear medical reasons, for example, if the day is beautiful, they want to give birth in accordance with feng shui, fear vaginal delivery, unable to withstand discomfort in the last few months of pregnancy, busy. Many studies have shown that if the baby is born before 39 weeks, both the mother and the baby will be more susceptible to dangerous complications during labor.

Of course, if you have health problems like pre-eclampsia , diabetes… your doctor will intervene in labor early. However, if you don't have any health problems it's better to wait until your due date.

1. Intervention of early labor causes risks for the baby

According to research, about 25% of babies born at 37 - 39 weeks have to take care in incubators for about 4-5 days. If your baby is born 39 weeks or longer, the rate drops below 5%.

2. Baby growth and development problems

If the baby is born too early, the baby will have to be raised in an incubator because the organs in the body are still not fully developed. Your baby may have difficulty regulating body temperature. In addition, it will also become more difficult to breastfeed because premature babies are usually smaller and weaker. Breast milk helps increase immunity, helps children fight some common diseases. If the baby cannot breastfeed, the baby will more likely to experience health problems.

3. Brain problems

This is something you need to consider. The baby's brain at 35 weeks is only about 2/3 of the brain weight of the 40 week. premature babies. Being born too early increases your baby's risk of learning and behavioral problems. Babies born between 34 and 36 weeks are three times more likely to develop cerebral palsy than full term babies.

4. Breathing problems

Your baby's lungs are one of the last to develop. Therefore, premature babies are more likely to experience breathing problems. Babies born at 37 weeks have a higher risk of developing respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia than babies born between 39 and 40 weeks.

5. High risk of caesarean section

Induction can lead to a host of problems, and the ultimate solution to them is cesarean section. If you get pregnant for the first time and use fertility measures, you are twice as likely to have an emergency caesarean section . A caesarean section will make your recovery time longer.

6. Hard labor

For early intervention, your doctor will prescribe fertility drugs such as prostaglandins (oral or vaginal suppositories) to soften the cervix or the synthetic hormone oxytocin (Pitocin or Syntocinon).

In addition, your doctor may also recommend an amniocentesis. Many studies have confirmed that women who give birth with drugs often have stronger contractions during labor than with normal birth.

7. Increased risk of complications during childbirth

The rate of caesarean section has been steadily increasing in recent years. You may have heard that a caesarean section will be easier than a normal delivery, but it is actually not much better. Caesarean section increases the risk of complications and infections and requires a longer recovery time (from 5-7 weeks).

Intervention of early labor with a cesarean section can also affect your next pregnancy. Caesarean section too many times will increase the risk of bleeding, infection, removal of the uterus, damage to the intestine, bladder and abnormal placenta.

8. The relationship between you and your baby will be interrupted

If you have postoperative care or your baby requires incubator care, you won't be able to hold your baby right after birth. Studies have shown that early skin-to-skin contact will have a positive effect on breastfeeding, mother-baby relationship, stability of baby's heart rate and respiratory rate. Complications during childbirth can also lead to postpartum depression , hindering attachment.

When should a cesarean section?

There are many reasons why doctors must prescribe a cesarean section immediately, such as:

Bleeding during pregnancy

Development problems in the fetus

High blood pressure or pre-eclampsia

Gestational diabetes

Infection

Problems with the placenta or premature rupture of membranes.

Talk to your doctor about your condition to see if you need to have a baby early. If there are no health-related problems then it is better to wait until labor comes naturally.