Doctors have long believed that a caesarean section carries fewer risks than a vaginal delivery for premature and growth-restricted babies, but a new study has found that this approach may in fact be doing more harm than good.
Caesarean sections are routinely performed in cases where the baby has been diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and where delivery becomes necessary prior to 34 weeks gestation, on the basis that these infants would be unable to cope with the stress of a vaginal delivery.
However a study conducted at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore has found that delivery by caesarean section in such cases is not associated with decreased incidence of complications for the infant, and in fact, those that are delivered vaginally tend to have better respiratory outcomes.
βWe found that infants delivered vaginally were not at a significantly increased risk for any neonatal complications,β says study co-author Dr Erika Werner. βIn fact, infants delivered by caesarean had significantly higher odds of breathing problems after birth.β
GALLERY: What happens after birth?
While the study focused on premature and low-birth weight babies, the findings may also have implications for women considering an elective caesarean at full term.
Despite efforts to reduce the number of caesareans being performed in Australia, the rate has increased by more than 70% in the past 20 years, and around 1/3 of Australian babies are now delivered by caesarean section.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is currently working with James Cook University on a study comparing health outcomes for mothers and babies following a caesarean section, but the results of this study are some years away.
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29 Comments
My baby was IVF and so my Ob convinced me to have a caesar stating that I was having a big baby and my placenta was on the low side and so a caesar would be the safest option for my baby. I trusted her and because I was scared as most new mums are, I went along with the caesar option. My beautiful baby was born 6 pounds healthy and my placenta was not low and so I could have done this naturally. I recovered fine from the procedure, but mentally has been another story. I regret never having experienced natural childbirth and feel the doctors took something away from me. Sure I have this beautiful child but I know in my heart I could have done this naturally. So my advice is, get as much support and information as you can and don't let them bully you into a Caesar if you don;t need one.
ReplyThe information discussed in this article is not new information. Why is it being reported as though it is. It is well know that even elective caesareans present a greater risk than VB, however this additional risk is very,very small. The drive to the hospital is likely to present a greater risk. Surely by now we should be at the stage of allowing women the type of deliveries and births they want. Be it a VB in hospital, an elective caesarean (whether medically required or not) or a home birth. Furthermore, why do people feel the need to explain or justify why they had a caesarean, it is enough just to say that they (or their sister or whoever) had one.
ReplyI had 3 caeserians because I had cervix problems. If the cervix can't dialate you can't give birth!!! It's as simple as that. I had problems falling pregnant and my GP solved the problem by performing a cervical cauterisation which hindered the cervix being able to dialate during labour. My specialist rang the GP during my labour and discovered this was the reason why after 10+ hours I hadn't dialated. I went on to have 2 more caeserians successfully and all my children were healthy and even though I took a little longer to recover, my children were beautiful. They are now adults and have never looked back thanks to my Dr. You must have faith in your Dr.
ReplyFour kids 4 ceasars! NO GUILT HERE. I would have died in the first labor if not for the hospital and being at the hospital for the birth. Unbeknown to me or my doctor my pelvis was the wrong shape and too small for any chance of a normal birth. My bub was 8lbs12oz and any bub I had would have had to be very very close to 6lbs for any chance of a normal birth. As it turned out all of my bubs were well over 8lbs the last over 9! People need to just butt out and let people make up their own minds. I personally hate the idea of a natural home birth, water birth ect ect ect.Too many possibilities to my mind of things that could go wrong so I was happy to have a hospital birth! But it is not my place to tell someone else how they should deliver their own children. I hated the idea of a natural birth scared me silly I hate pain! but I would have done it, as it turns out I needed serious help!
ReplyWhy is my comment not here? You have one of the worst sites on the whole Internet. Why don't you hire a 12-year-old Geek to do it right?
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