Basics
Notes
Vaginal - The baby was born through the vagina. This birth can be medical, mechanical, or physiological.
Surgical - Commonly known as a C-Section or Cesarean Section. This is a major abdominal surgery. During this procedure, a surgeon cuts through 7 layers of tissue to extract the baby from the mother's uterus. There are various types of drugs and other interventions that go along with this procedure that are discussed in greater detail in the Surgical Birth section.
Mechanical/instrumental - This is usually a vaginal birth where instruments are used to extract the baby. These births result in deep tears, trauma to the pelvic floor, and nerve damage for the mother. There can also be serious injury to the baby.
Forceps look like salad tongs/vice grips. They are used to extract a baby while a mother is pushing. Used for “failure to progress during the second stage of labor(pushing)”. Forceps can cause brain damage, brain hemorrhage, face lacerations, and skull fractures to the baby. Serve tearing for mother. This is rarely used anymore due to certain severe trauma to the mother and baby.
Video Demonstrations of forceps births
Delivery with Forceps (youtube.com)
Forceps Assisted Delivery : A - J Mnemonic (youtube.com)
#obgyn shows a forceps delivery. #shorts #birth (youtube.com)
Vacuum extraction uses a suction cup on the baby’s head while the mother is pushing to help pull the baby out. Baby will have trauma to the head from where the device was attached to them. Mother will most likely tear. Other complications are scalp wounds, skull fractures, increased risk of shoulder dystocia/baby becoming stuck in the birth canal, and brain bleed.
Video Demonstrations of vacuum births
Episiotomy is when the doctor or midwife cuts the perineum to “give the baby more space” to emerge. Episiotomies were previously routinely done at many hospitals. Some doctors still routinely do them. Episiotomies result in worse tearing than women who tear naturally, which is why many hospitals are not routinely doing them anymore. There is also a risk of permanent nerve damage for the mother. Healing an episiotomy wound is more painful (than if a woman tore naturally) and has a longer and more difficult healing process.
Natural - This one has become controversial. There are different opinions on what a natural birth is. My definition is simple. A vaginal birth without drugs or interventions. This is nearly impossible in the hospital due to policies requiring women to get IVs, cervical exams, Pitocin postpartum, ect. Some people consider a birth without an epidural to be natural. I would disagree.
Physiological - I also often refer to Physiological births as undisturbed births. These are typically homebirths without interference from a medical provider or interventions.
Freebirth - A freebirth is a birth without a medical provider present. Sometimes women will have their partner, friend, family member, or doula in attendance. Sometimes called unassisted birth.
Additional Resources
Freebirth Starter Kit (freebirthsociety.com)
Forceps Delivery: What to Expect, Risks & Recovery (clevelandclinic.org)
Vacuum Extraction Delivery: What to Expect & Side Effects (clevelandclinic.org)
EBB 206 - Evidence on Perineal Tears and the Importance of Avoiding Episiotomy with EBB Founder, Dr. Rebecca Dekker - Evidence Based Birth®
Episiotomy VS Natural Tear - What You NEED to Know! (youtube.com)