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Warning over caesarean section

12/12/2007

Babies born by elective caesarean section are more likely to develop breathing problems, new research has found.

A link between this delivery choice and newborn respiratory conditions has been suggested in the past, although the exact reasons for this were unknown.

Now a study by Danish researchers claims that babies born by elective caesarean section have a four-fold to two-fold increased risk of breathing problems compared with babies delivered vaginally or by emergency caesarean section.

The study, published online by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), suggests one explanation is that hormonal and physiological changes associated with labour are necessary for lungs to mature and that these changes may not be present in babies born by elective caesarean section.

The researchers analysed over 34,000 live born singleton babies without birth defects and with gestational ages of 37 to 41 weeks.

The four-fold increased risk was observed in babies at 37 weeks gestation. This dropped to a three-fold risk at 38 weeks gestation and to a doubling of risk in infants at 39 weeks.

"Our results also suggest that a significant reduction in neonatal respiratory morbidity may be obtained if elective caesarean section is postponed to 39 weeks' gestation," the researchers conclude.

"This information should be taken into consideration by women contemplating an elective caesarean section and by the obstetricians counselling them."