Patient's question:
Doctor, hello, I am about to go into labor right now. My friends have told me that normal childbirth is extremely painful and agonizing. How can I have a normal delivery without suffering so much and still give birth to my child? I don't want a cesarean section because I don't want a long scar that looks ugly.Doctor's answer:
How to deliver smoothly depends on whether the fetus can pass through the birth canal smoothly, which depends on the size of the fetus, the position of the fetus, and whether there are any abnormalities.1. During the delivery process, the size of the fetus is one of the important factors determining the ease of delivery. If the fetus is too large and the head diameter is too big (mainly the bi-diameter of the head), even if the pelvis is normal in size, it can cause relative pelvic and result in difficult labor. The average bi-diameter of the head at normal full-term delivery is 9.3 cm.
2. Fetal position The birth canal is a longitudinal tube. If the fetus is in longitudinal presentation (head first or buttocks first), the longitudinal axis of the fetal body aligns with the pelvic axis, making it easier to pass through the birth canal. In the case of occiput presentation, the head passes through the birth canal first, making it easier to deliver compared to buttocks presentation. However, it is necessary to clearly identify the sagittal suture and anterior and posterior fontanelles to determine the fetal position. The sagittal suture and fontanelles are important landmarks for determining the fetal position. During delivery, the cranial bones overlap, causing the head to deform and the circumference to decrease, which facilitates the delivery of the head. In buttocks presentation, the smaller and softer fetal buttocks deliver first, and the vaginal expansion is insufficient. When the head delivers, there is no opportunity for the skull to deform, making the delivery of the head difficult. In shoulder presentation, the longitudinal axis of the fetal body is perpendicular to the pelvic axis. A full-term living fetus cannot pass through the birth canal, posing a great threat to both the mother and the child.
3. Fetal abnormalities If a part of the fetus develops abnormally, such as hydrocephalus or conjoined twins, due to the excessively large head or body, passing through the birth canal is often difficult, which is also very likely to cause difficult labor.