Caesarean or vaginal delivery - the choice of pregnant women through the eyes of 3rd-year students from the midwife program at the medical university of Varna

Abstract

There has been a clear trend towards an increasing number of Caesarean sections in the recent years. A certain percentage of these surgical births have no clear medical indications and are solely attributable to the prefer­ence of the patients to give birth this way.

The aim of this investigation is to reveal the causes for choosing a method of giving birth of pregnant women in two maternity wards in Varna, through the eyes of 3rd-year students from the Midwife program at the Med­ical University of Varna.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research included 26 3rd-year students from the Midwife program at the Medical University of Varna, who have done clinical practice in maternity wards in Varna during their ed­ucation. The applied methods were: documental, statistical, and sociological.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Data acquired from the quality and quantity analysis determined that the students observed an increase in the rate of pregnant women wishing to give birth naturally - per vias natura­les - 62%. Nevertheless, surgical delivery keeps high percentage 69%. According to students, the reason is that women who have decided to give birth naturally change their mind when the birth process begins, frightened from the pain and in a moment of uncertainty.

CONCLUSION: The way a delivery is conducted, when there are no medical indications, is highly dependent of the staff at the ward.

Informed choice and trust in doctors and midwifes are crucial for the type of the delivery.