Push or Pull: An Examination of Baby Delivery Methods

Abstract

Abstract

Background: There are two ways to deliver a baby: c-section and vaginally. As procreation will always be a factor in life, it is important to examine the respective risks and benefits of each and consolidate the information into one, organized piece. Objective: The aim of this research is to gather information with the goal of learning whether or not it is possible to pick a definitively superior method of delivery. Design and Method: The research method employed was a systematic literature view of medical journals, clinical reports and analysis as well as opinion pieces by experts in relevant fields. The results of these peer-reviewed works were reviewed and analyzed, before being summarized and reported in this paper. The research question is: Can a definitive, blanket statement be made in favor of one method of delivery over the other? Results: The most significant outcome of this study is the understanding that it is not possible to state that one method of delivery is always beneficial over the other; each method has its’ own pros and cons that need to be taken into account while also realizing the natural variation in health, medical history and other social factors between different patients. Conclusions: The volume of comparative medical literature with regard to delivery models needs to be expanded significantly. Additionally, it is of vital importance to ensure that this research is made accessible and understandable to the general public. Keywords: The key terms used in the research were as follows: “vaginal vs csection”, “risks of csection”, “bacterial exposure vaginal delivery”, “risks of vaginal delivery”, “benefits of csection”. Sources used include Google Scholar and Academic Search Premier. Additionally, the resources of the Purchase College Library were also utilized.