Choosing the right time to give birth: It carries many risks!

"The desire for the baby to be born on an auspicious date and time, the fear of pain during natural childbirth, and the belief that cesarean sections are safer for both mother and baby... are some of the reasons why the rate of cesarean sections is increasing and is predicted to increase rapidly, posing many potential risks."

A normal delivery at Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

This information was shared by Dr. Pham Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of Tu Du Hospital, at the 2025 Scientific Conference on Obstetrics and Pediatrics with the theme: "Mother and Baby Care: Innovating Practices, Raising Quality Standards," which recently took place in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Dr. Pham Thanh Hai, cesarean section is currently the most common surgical procedure in obstetrics and gynecology worldwide , and this rate continues to increase over time. At Tu Du Hospital, this rate accounts for approximately 40% of all births. A cesarean section (also known as a C-section) is a surgical procedure performed to remove the baby from the mother's womb through an incision in the abdomen and uterus. This is a common procedure that helps ensure the safety of both mother and baby when vaginal delivery is unsafe or impossible.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), cesarean sections should be performed in cases such as: a very large fetus, abnormal fetal presentation (breech, transverse, etc.); maternal conditions such as preeclampsia, placenta previa, uterine rupture, etc.; prolonged, unprogressing labor; acute fetal distress (severe decrease in fetal heart rate); and especially, cesarean sections should not be chosen unless medically indicated, as they can increase the risk of complications.

MSc-Dr. Le Xuan Duc shared this at the conference.

According to MSc-Dr. Le Xuan Duc, Medical Director of Thuan My Hospital in Thu Dau Mot, in recent years, the rate of cesarean sections in Vietnam and globally has tended to increase year by year. In our country, this rate increased from approximately 15% in 2005 to 27-30% in 2022.

The reasons stem from several main factors: the family's and the mother's desire to "choose an auspicious date and time," the fear of pain during natural childbirth, and the belief that cesarean sections are safer for both mother and baby. In addition, some mothers who have had a cesarean section in their previous birth are more likely to require surgical intervention in subsequent births.

According to Dr. Bach Van Cam, senior consultant in emergency resuscitation at Children's Hospital 1 (Ho Chi Minh City), the hospital has received several cases of newborns suffering from respiratory failure due to premature cesarean sections. Cesarean sections are becoming a "trend" as more and more families choose them without fully assessing the risks to newborns if the intervention is not properly indicated.

"Surgery before 39 weeks increases the risk of respiratory distress in infants, especially if born prematurely before 36 weeks, as this risk is even higher due to underdeveloped lungs. Vaginal delivery remains the best method when there is no mandatory indication for surgery," advised Dr. Bach Van Cam.

According to recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the rate of cesarean sections should be kept below 15% of all births, and cesarean sections should not be performed on demand unless there is a clear medical reason. Whether a pregnant woman chooses a cesarean section or a vaginal delivery is not a decision for the pregnant woman but for the obstetrician, who must consider all risk factors to ensure a safe delivery.

THANH AN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/chon-gio-de-sinh-tiem-an-nhieu-rui-ro-post823716.html