Caesarean Sections: Breathing Risks and Your Baby

If you are planning to opt for caesarean birth, or c-section, you might want to think again. Elective caesarian births have increased worldwide, but can pose a risk to your baby’s respiration. Recent research done by Anne Hansen from Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark showed that c-section babies are four times more likely to have breathing problems. The majority of elective c-sections are being done in the 37^th or 38^th week of pregnancy, which poses a greater risk to the baby.

The research indicated that 10 percent of babies born by caesarean section during the 37^th week experienced respiratory problems and only 2.8 percent of vaginally born babies during the same week had similar problems. During the 39^th week, the ratio drops to 2.1 percent for caesarean infants and 1.1 percent for vaginally born infants. Babies with breathing problems are often placed in incubators and given oxygen treatment.

Hansen’s study did not explain why breathing risks increased for caesarean births, but some say that it is because of the hormonal and physiological changes in both the mother’s and baby’s bodies during labor. The mother releases stress hormones during labor that pass on to the fetus, which may be the determining factor for healthier infant breathing, helping to clear out the baby’s lungs.

Caesarean sections are meant to be for emergency or life-saving situations. If the baby is in crisis, which is in most cases determined by the fetal heart rate, an emergency c-section could save the lives of both mother and baby. A measurement of the pelivs or pelvimetry, could also determine the pelvic measurements are too small for the passage of the baby, and then a c-section would be appropriate. C-section should be a last resort choice for birth, but today the numbers for elective c-sections ire rising dramatically.

Many modern mothers choose to have c-sections over natural delivery because of past trauma with previous children or out of a fear of labor. Giving birth does not have to be a traumatic experience. The best way to eliminate the fear is to have an education. There are birthing classes available to help a couple learn what will be happening and prepare them for labor and delivery. When a mother takes care of her body and learns about giving birth, the fear will soon subside and she will be able to bear her children naturally, decreasing the infant’s chances of the respiratory problems that may occur with caesarean births.

Join Dr. Vicky's Educational Forum and receive your weekly tips, monthly newsletters and conference calls. As a new member, you can also “ASK DR VICKY” an online question that may be included in your upcoming FREE teleconference call. Topic for this month is: “Pregnancy, Newborns & Pediatrics.”

Healthy Answers Online is one of the only websites of its kind providing nutritional secrets, suggestions and the latest information and technology available to maximize health and eliminate the common discomforts of pregnancy and improving the outcomes of her and her unborn baby. The site also addresses issues related to newborns, babies, kids, children, parents, fertility, labor and delivery, post-partum and breast feeding.