Cesarean Delivery vs. Natural Birth: Which Is Best for You?

A cesarean section (C-section) is considered the second most common method of childbirth. It is usually performed under specific medical circumstances, while natural vaginal delivery remains the first and preferred option among obstetricians. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends prioritizing natural birth whenever possible — and preparing for it early during pregnancy — for the health and safety of both mother and baby.

Expectant mothers often find themselves torn between the decision to have a cesarean birth, which involves a surgical incision in the abdomen, and natural childbirth, which, despite being traditional, can also bring certain complications and discomforts.

To help clarify the pros and cons of each method, Nadormagazine spoke with Dr. Nahed Al-Zomor, a consultant in obstetrics and gynecology, who explained the advantages and disadvantages of both. Here’s what she shared:

Reasons for Undergoing a Cesarean Section

A mother holding her newborn.

A cesarean section involves delivering the baby and the placenta through a horizontal incision in the lower abdomen. Doctors typically resort to this method in special cases related to either the mother or the baby, and sometimes at the mother’s request — often due to misconceptions about natural birth.

Common medical reasons for a cesarean include:

A large baby that may be difficult to deliver naturally.
Multiple pregnancies (twins or more).
Previous cesarean delivery: Many doctors recommend repeating a C-section for safety reasons.
Abnormal fetal position, such as breech presentation (when the baby’s feet or buttocks come first).
Advanced maternal age, particularly above 35 years.
Maternal obesity, which can complicate natural labor.
A naturally narrow pelvic structure, which makes it impossible for the baby’s head to descend into the birth canal safely.

In the latter case, doctors usually recommend a cesarean for all future deliveries to avoid risks to both mother and baby.

Main Disadvantages of Cesarean Birth

A newborn after a cesarean section.

Although a C-section allows the mother to give birth without experiencing labor pain, it is not without risks. Complications may include:

Internal adhesions forming in the abdominal wall during suturing.
Injury to nearby organs such as the bladder or intestines.
Infection of the uterine lining (endometritis) or wound infection at the incision site.
Urination difficulties, painful constipation, and headaches due to anesthesia.

Doctors often recommend coffee after surgery to help alleviate post-cesarean headaches.

Other common complaints include gas accumulation, abdominal bloating, and delayed return of the abdomen to its normal shape — all difficult issues to manage.

A serious potential complication is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots in the legs, caused by limited movement after surgery. Rarely, amniotic fluid embolism can occur — when amniotic fluid enters the mother’s bloodstream and reaches her lungs, leading to respiratory distress, irregular heartbeat, or even cardiac arrest, which can be life-threatening.

Benefits of Natural Birth for the Baby

A newborn baby.

Natural delivery offers several health advantages for the baby:

The natural contractions of labor put the baby under a safe amount of pressure, helping to expel fluid from the lungs and prepare them for breathing air independently after birth.
This reduces the risk of respiratory issues that are common among babies born via cesarean, who miss out on this natural preparation.
Cesarean births are often performed before full gestational maturity, so babies may have underdeveloped lungs and require neonatal intensive care.

For mothers, natural birth offers faster recovery:

Most women can go home within hours after delivery and start caring for their newborn immediately.
Even if an episiotomy (a small perineal incision) is performed, recovery is usually much quicker than after a cesarean.
Cesarean mothers, on the other hand, often need several days of hospitalization, struggle with movement, and may find it difficult to bond or breastfeed early, affecting early emotional connection.

Additionally, infection and blood clot risks are much lower after natural delivery, as there’s no abdominal incision.

Natural birth also avoids adhesions and scarring that may occur during abdominal surgery, which can affect both the mother’s future health and abdominal appearance.

Limited Disadvantages of Natural Birth

While the disadvantages of natural childbirth are few and manageable, they may appear short-term or later in life. Most can be prevented with proper care and exercises.

Possible drawbacks include:

Painful and exhausting labor, especially for first-time mothers, which can last for hours.
Failure of the cervix to dilate properly despite strong contractions, which may require an episiotomy (a perineal incision) followed by suturing — leading to temporary pain and discomfort while sitting.

With repeated natural deliveries, some women may develop urinary incontinence or pelvic floor weakness (known as “pelvic prolapse” or “tehbeeta” in Arabic) as they age, particularly approaching menopause.

However, this can be prevented by practicing Kegel exercises starting mid-pregnancy, which strengthen the pelvic muscles, support the uterus, ease natural delivery, and reduce the likelihood of prolapse.