Babies & moms: the consequences of a cesarean

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Although there is a global tendency to increase cesareans, studies have shown that this modality can be a severe risk for babies and mothers

Although there is a worldwide tendency to increase cesarean sections, there are several studies that warn about the dangers involved in the health of the baby and the mother in the long term, specifically when many are practiced without a valid medical justification.

Leer en español: ¿Puede la cesárea tener un impacto negativo en tu salud y la de tu bebé?

According to the newspaper Saber Vivir, it is more likely that, compared to babies born by natural childbirth, those born by cesarean section suffer from cuts in the operative act, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels and hypothermia.

Also, according to recent research, being born by cesarean section increases the risk of suffering immunological diseases; like diabetes type 1, obesity, rhinitis, eczema and food allergies. Also listed in the list are respiratory illnesses that originate because, by not going through the birth canal, the lungs are less squeezed and it is more likely that there is accumulated fluid.

The abrupt transition that the baby undergoes from intrauterine to extrauterine life when it is born by cesarean section is also responsible for the lower hormones that regulate stress and, according to La Vanguardia, it is conjectured that it makes children have worse reflexes and tone muscle at birth

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And the mother?

Recently the American journal PLoS Medicine has analyzed the different studies published to date regarding the risks and benefits of cesarean section, both for the mother and the baby.

As is well known, the short-term risks associated with the cesarean section for women are quite delicate: from infections in the bladder, uterus, and wound, to injuries in the urinary tract and increased chances of bleeding and blood clots.

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However, the long-term problems are much more severe: according to the PLoS Medicine study, cesarean delivery can negatively affect future pregnancies, raising the risk of spontaneous abortion, increasing the chances of secondary uterine infertility and previous placenta.

Also, the recovery of the cesarean is usually slower and more complicated than that of vaginal delivery, and in the medium or long term, there could even appear adhesions in the scar tissue that affect both the uterus and the abdominal muscles.

LatinAmerican Post | Luisa Fernanda Báez

Translated from "¿Puede la cesárea tener un impacto negativo en tu salud y la de tu bebé?"