Vaginal Births or Caesarean Section
In the United States, nearly one in every three babies is born via cesarean section. While many cesarean deliveries are performed for medical and obstetrical reasons, some are simply at the request of the mother. Whatever the reason, a "c-section" is not the ideal outcome of a healthy pregnancy and increases the child's risk of health conditions.
According to new research, babies born via planned c-sections have more health problems than those born via emergency c-sections or vaginal delivery. A recent JAMA study examined 321,287 infants born in Scotland and the United Kingdom between 1993 and 2007. The researchers compared offspring born via planned cesarean section in the first pregnancy to offspring born via unplanned cesarean section and delivered vaginally. In comparison to infants born vaginally, those born by planned c-section had an increased risk of asthma requiring hospitalization and the use of an inhaler by the age of five.
As the number of c-sections increases, so does the prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, and allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.
Which Is Better: Vaginal Birth or Caesarean Section?
A baby who is delivered vaginally is exposed to the mother's bacteria. In the intestines of the newborn, bacteria or microorganisms acquired after vaginal delivery will develop and help build his immune system. The infant's gut must become colonized with microbes before his immune system can mature.
Shortly after birth, the epidermis, mouth, vaginal mucosa, and gastrointestinal system are colonized by 500–1,000 different types of microbes. These organisms are necessary for the breakdown of nutrients and offer protection against the invasion of harmful microorganisms.
Microbes have been shown in recent studies to have a profound and long-lasting effect on the development of the baby's immune system both inside and outside of the intestine. The baby's immune system recognizes harmful bacteria and ignores beneficial bacteria.
In the establishment of the immune system, the baby and the microorganisms form a kind of co-dependence. When a foreign substance is ingested, the immune system develops a tolerance to it and becomes less sensitive to it. This tolerance is critical because it reduces overreactive immune responses that cause disease-causing inflammation, such as autoimmune disease and allergies.
During a vaginal delivery, the infant's contact with the mother's vaginal and intestinal flora is critical to the infant's ability to colonize microorganisms. This direct contact does not occur during a c-section; instead, the infant receives non-maternally derived environmental bacteria that colonize the intestines. According to a 1999 study conducted in Finland, the primary gut flora of infants born via cesarean delivery may be disrupted for up to six months after birth.
Another study, conducted in 2004, compared the effects of vaginal delivery and cesarean sections on the microbiota composition of 7-year-old children. The study included sixty children, 31 of whom were born via cesarean section and 29 via vaginal delivery.
At 7 years of age, children born vaginally had significantly higher numbers of clostridia (a type of bacteria) than children born via c-section. Clostridial bacteria, for example, play an important role in immune system function; for example, children with asthma diagnosed by a physician had lower clostridial numbers in their fecal specimens, whereas healthy children had higher clostridial numbers.
You may be wondering what the difference is between a planned and an emergency c-section. If anything, you'd think that planned c-sections are performed under more controlled conditions and thus pose less risk to the baby's health, right?
Even if the mother eventually requires a c-section, the baby is exposed to bacteria that he would not be exposed to during a planned c-section. The baby is also getting ready to give birth. When labor begins on its own, physiological changes occur in both the mother and the infant to prepare.
When labor begins, for example, fluid is cleared from the baby's lungs. The baby is also exposed to stress and reproductive hormones, which will aid in his adaptation to labor and life outside the womb. Exposure to labor and delivery also prepares the baby for breastfeeding and increases his awareness of his surroundings.
breastfeeding following a Caesarean delivery:
Breastfeeding is negatively impacted by cesarean delivery, according to a 2010 study that was published in Birth. 1,496 vaginally delivered babies and 677 c-section babies were included in the study. Researchers discovered that breastfeeding rates in the delivery room were much greater following vaginal birth than they were following c-section birth. This could be a result of mothers needing more time to start breastfeeding after surgery.
Another study examined 100 moms who had c-section deliveries and their infants for the Indian Pediatrics journal. Researchers discovered that only 6% of moms who started breastfeeding after 96 hours were successful at practicing complete breastfeeding, compared to mothers who started breastfeeding within 12 hours of surgery. According to this study, the establishment of breastfeeding is closely correlated with an early beginning, while the separation of infants from their mothers hinders nursing.
Ask for assistance if you need it if the commencement phase following a c-section is giving you difficulties. After surgery, the staff at the hospital or birthing facility can assist you in getting going and finding a comfortable position to prevent incisions and uncomfortable spots. Breastmilk contains the best nutrients in precisely the right amounts for your baby, as well as antibodies that will shield the youngster from bacterial and viral infections. You must make use of your resources and attempt to start breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth because it can be argued that babies born via c-section require breastmilk even more than babies delivered vaginally.
A VBAC is what?
Vaginal birth after a cesarean section is known as a VBAC. The majority of women with past cesarean should consider a VBAC because the annual increase in c-section rates makes this a sane and secure option. A VBAC will not only benefit the baby; there is also mounting evidence that multiple cesarean sections can seriously injure the mother.
In 2013, a study that examined 100 women who were attempting a VBAC delivery was published in the North American Journal of Medical Sciences. In 85% of the cases, the VBAC was successful, whereas 15% required another emergency cesarean surgery.
The researchers discovered that a strong predictor of a successful VBAC was cervical dilatation of more than three centimeters at the time of hospital admission. More than 6.6 pounds at birth was linked to a reduced success chance for VBAC.
The greatest method to increase your chances of having a successful experience while trying a VBAC delivery is to educate yourself about them by attending a childbirth class on them and researching their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, you should choose a hospital with excellent facilities and a person with knowledge of VBAC deliveries for the delivery. Employing a doula with experience in VBAC may also be beneficial.
RESOURCES:
https://www.nature.com/nrneurol/
2022. NP. Malika Katrouche. All Rights Reserved.
