Vaginal delivery after two caesarean may cause death– Gynaecologists

Embarking on natural birth after two or more caesarean sections is very dangerous and may lead to death of the mother and child, leading maternal health experts have warned.

Former President of the Nigerian Medical Association, who is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, however, said the number of pregnant women delivering their babies through CS is increasing in Nigeria and dismissed claims that deaths from the surgical procedure are on the rise.

The gynaecologist, who gave an insight into the dangers of going for vaginal delivery after two cesarean sections said, “First, the woman may deliver without any problem. Second, the woman may deliver and rupture her uterus, bleed to death and the baby survives. The woman delivering through the vagina could get her uterus ruptured, leading to death. The baby could also die.

“So, it is a tragedy. We need to sensitize our people in churches, communities and meetings to go to the hospital. It does not matter how you deliver your baby. The most important thing is for you and your baby to be okay.”

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According to him, CS is not a punishment but an acceptable option for vaginal delivery.

Prof. Ujah further explained, “And when we do that, we reduce death from ruptured uterus or from mismanaged cases in churches or prayer houses.

“Women should forget about vaginal delivery after two or more CS because what we are looking for is not the root of delivery, we are looking at the health of the mother and the baby.

“They shouldn’t try it because the uterus will give way. The place is weak and once you stitch a place, the place becomes weak.

According to him, “The unfortunate thing is that we have many contending factors. One of the problems is culture and customs. Among the women in the southeast, there is this feeling that if a woman does not have a vaginal delivery, she is not a woman.

The don urged pregnant women to go for antenatal care in hospitals, where they would be attended to by skilled birth attendants, and not to joke with their health. He also enjoined them to plan for their delivery.

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Also speaking, another maternal health expert and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Solomon Avidime, advised pregnant women with small pelvises to stop refusing to undergo caesarean section due to cultural and religious beliefs.

He said such refusal comes with many risks, warning that delivering a big baby through a small birth canal can cause serious complications, including the death of the baby.

Prof. Avidime explained that if a pregnant woman has a small pelvis, the possibility of vaginal delivery is limited, noting that such women are usually offered CS as an option to avoid complications.

According to new research by the World Health Organisation, CS use continues to rise globally and accounts for more than one in five (21 per cent) of all childbirths.

WHO noted that the number is set to rise over the coming decade, with nearly a third (29 per cent) of all births likely to take place by CS by 2030.