About C Sections and Inductions

There are several risks that a cesarean section childbirth procedure carries along with it: it is major abdominal surgery that carries risk of hemorrhage infection and so on.

In addition to the well-known risks of C sections a recent study suggests that there is one more: kids born via C sections are more likely to be obese.

Connection between C sections and childhood obesity

A recent American study suggests that kids born vaginally are less likely to become obese when compared with kids born via C section. According to the research team, the explanation for this is probably the way that C sections affect gut bacteria and hence the way that the child digests food.

C Sections and Inductions

Factors such as skin thickness and body mass were found to be related to the way in which a child is born.

The other influencing factor and probably reason for the phenomenon was the fact that women who delivered via C section were also likelier to be overweight or obese.

Maternal obesity is a strong predictor of childhood obesity as well.

Repeat C sections are safer

An elective C section is safer following a previous cesarean, found a study. Though C sections do in fact carry significant risks when compared with vaginal births, when a woman has already undergone a C section delivery it is safer if she delivers her subsequent babies surgically as well.

The chances of womb rupture, a potentially life threatening occurrence are lower with elective C sections. Uterine rupture is when the scar of a previous C section splits or ruptures.

It happens when a woman who has undergone a previous C section opts for natural birth and is undergoing labor.

The risk is low even otherwise, but the important thing is for women to be able to have the option of making an informed choice.

Induction of labor could save lives

Meanwhile another study found that when labor was induced, this decreased the risk of a baby dying. However the risk of the baby being admitted to a special care unit was seen to rise. In developed nations in about 20% of deliveries, labor is induced.

This study also sheds light on a previous misconception that inductions increase the risk of a woman having to undergo a C section. Researchers found that the risk of a surgical delivery did not rise because of inductions; that this was largely “obstetric dogma”.

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