Babies born by C-section more at risk of ailments than those born naturally, says study
Posted on: 24/Dec/2015 2:47:30 PM
New research has shown that babies who are born with a planned C-section are more at risk to develop health problems than those born with an emergency C-section. The study tracked full term, first borns in Scotland over 15 years. According to the study, the process of labour may give the baby a healthy start. The findings were published in the journal JAMA. The study was conducted by scientists at the University of Aberdeen.
Says the lead researcher, As cesarean births had increased in Scotland and worldwide, (we) wondered what, if anything, children born by C-section are missing out on. Our thinking was: If a baby is born naturally, it comes into contact with bacteria from the mother, which might help with immune system development. Even attempted labor may provide some exposure to bacteria. But babies delivered by a planned C-section, which is usually scheduled to take place well before the first pang of labor, may miss out entirely. When you don`t wait for labor to begin on its own, you cut short all kinds of physiological changes and preparations for birth that are taking place toward the end of pregnancy.
Previous studies have found that children born by C-section are at a higher risk for problems such as obesity, allergies and Type 1 diabetes. During their study, researchers found that the differences between an emergency C-section and a planned C-section were slight. The biggest difference was in the risk for Type 1 diabetes. All the C-section babies were more likely to use an asthma inhaler at age 5.
According to a neonatologist, During labor, a newborn absorbs maternal microbes into its mouth and gastrointestinal tract. The theory is that maternal microbes train the infant`s immune system, so it doesn`t overreact or become destructive and precipitate autoimmune disorders like Type 1 diabetes. It`s an education process that says, Calm down, you`re going to be seeing this antigen again, you don`t have to be so aggressive... The broad-spectrum antibiotics prescribed to the mother before a surgical delivery were another concern; the antibiotics can be transmitted to the baby through breast milk if not before birth, decreasing the diversity of natural bacteria.
The findings are a reminder that although C-sections are appropriate in some circumstances, they are a poor substitute for labor.
