MA Thet Thet Htet, 25, who is expecting her first baby, is excited as her due date approaches.

“As soon as I knew I was pregnant, my friends and relatives suggested a caesarean delivery to reduce pain during the birth. But I know the difference between normal delivery and caesarean, and I choose normal delivery,” she said.

She said that the normal delivery is more natural, and less risky than an operation.

“If it means I suffer more pain, I’ll get through it because I have the mind of a mother,” she said.

Ma Thet Thet Htet also knows that natural delivery can confer more health benefits on mother and child alike.

Obstetricians and gyn-aecologists, as well as mothers themselves, say the development of medical techniques has encouraged more pregnant women to have a caesarean.

“Some women want the operation to avoid pain, and some because of advice from astrologers. They strongly believe in astrologers and want to give birth on the date fixed by the astrologer,” said Dr San Yee.

She added that the operation was suitable for women with certain health conditions, such as low blood pressure, or in case of obesity or short stature.
“If the child’s development is abnormal, the need for an operation can be urgent,” she added.

Though there is little difference between caesarean and normal delivery, Dr San Yee advocates normal delivery where possible.

“And taking advice from astrologers should be banned,” she added. She also noted that many women have the operation under the influence of their doctors.
“They want to give birth when their doctor is available because they don’t want to go to another doctor,” she said.

Caesarean operations are quicker, taking about an hour, while normal delivery can take nearly half a day. And the operation costs a lot more.

Ma Nu Nu Htwe, 34, who had her second baby last May, said it cost K150,000 for a normal delivery, but K350,000 for a caesarean.

“I also had to stay in hospital for three days, incurring charges for accommodation and nurses’ pay,” she said. Her first baby was delivered by caesarean, she said , adding that she had the operation for her second because of her “old age”. The second baby was also born according to the astrological forecast, though she says she does not believe in astrology.
“But I had the caesarean because the astrologers predicted good health and business success,” she added.

Ma Mon Mon, 39, whose second daughter was born in 2008, said she spent K850,000 on the caesarean. She also had the operation for her first child in 2006, at a cost of nearly K500,000.

“Because of my health condition and my age, I needed to have the operation,” she said.

“For one day in hospital, I had to pay accommodation fees, nurses’ pay, specialists’ charges and other fees,” she said.

Ma Pa Pa, 24 who had her baby four months ago by caesarean, said she feared the pain of natural childbirth. “I’d already decided to have the operation. I like it because it’s quick,” she said.

Ko Thein Winn Oo, 31, who has two daughters aged seven and one, said his wife gave birth by normal delivery on each occasion.

“Normal delivery is our traditional way. And my wife didn’t need the operation,” he said.

He added that when he visited friends whose wives had had the operation, they said they were not comfortable because of the stitched at their womb.
“I think caesarean is more dangerous than normal delivery,” he added.