What to Know About Non-Invasive Prenatal Care, Natural Birth and C-Sections

Giving birth is a magical thing – but also a major medical event, which brings with it key risks for parent and child alike. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were well over 600,000 live births recorded in 2022 – the vast majority of which were healthy or otherwise resulted in a healthy child. Still, there are instances in which pregnancies can suffer complications – and in which interventions can bring complications of their own.

NHS statistics also point to the fact that only half of birth’s on average are ‘spontaneous vertex’, or standard vaginal births. Around a fifth of live births culminate in an emergency caesarean section, while 15% culminate in an elective one. These interventions are medical marvels in their own right, but carry their own risks; what is there to understand about non-invasive prenatal care, and the risks of intervention in birth over natural birth?

What is Non-Invasive Prenatal Care?

Prenatal care involves a screening process, designed to ascertain the health of the foetus and recommend the next steps for parents-in-waiting. The first screening test is commonly an ultrasound, which is by nature non-invasive; a picture of the foetus is built from ultrasound imaging, allowing paediatricians to assess its condition.

In instances where early screenings demonstrate a higher likelihood of developing a chromosomal condition like Down’s Syndrome, non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is recommended for further investigation. Invasive alternatives involve the retrieval of samples from the amniotic sac, which can bring discomfort and risk.

Intervention During Labour, and Risk

Potentially invasive procedures are not limited to this prenatal testing process, though. Birth is a traumatic event in and of itself and one which the body is often not fully capable of managing alone. Painkillers in the form of epidural injections are used to minimise the traumatic impact of pain during longer bouts of labour – and where birth complications are present, caesarean sections are undertaken.

The caesarean section, or c-section, has been transformative in improving outcomes for problematic pregnancies. However, the introduction of surgery to labour also introduces risks; negligent surgeon or nurse behaviour, for example, can increase the likelihood of a baby being born with a brain injury – opening the hospital up to brain injury claims from parents.

Natural Childbirth

Much is made of the concept of ‘natural childbirth’, wherein medical interventions such as pain relief and surgical removal are eschewed in favour of an unassisted birth. There is some evidence to suggest that epidurals slow the labour process, increasing the likelihood that surgical implements become involved in a birth.

However, the risks inherent to intervention are often lower than the risks that can come from attempting to birth without assistance. The trauma and strain can increase risks to the child, particularly with regard to infection. Natural births are also often coupled with holistic principles, which are difficult to quantitatively evaluate in terms of parent and child health. There are possibilities for ‘natural birth’ within healthcare, such as water births; ultimately, parent and child safety should always come first.