Debunking myths about delivery

AVE you ever noticed a husband waiting outside the labour room? It looks exactly like what the movies show us — his fingers fidget, his eyes stay locked on the closed doors, and every sound from inside makes his heart skip a beat.

- VENNAPUSALA RAMYA

He paces from one end to the other, glancing at the clock that seems to have slowed just for him. One moment, he's smiling at the thought of holding his baby. The next moment, he's biting his nails, worrying if everything's okay. Well, is everything okay?

The answer to that question lies in rewinding the clock to a few hours — when the doctor entered with a question that would shape the hours ahead: 'Normal delivery or C-section?'

As expectant parents approach their due date, one of the most critical decisions they face is choosing between a normal vaginal delivery or a cesarean section (C-section). With C-section rates steadily rising, especially in urban areas, understanding the medical context of each option becomes essential, says Dr Prameela Sekhar K, obstetrician and gynaecologist at Apollo Hospital, Jubilee Hills.