Yale research shows link between C-sections, breathing problems in preterm infants

A new Yale study of preterm births has found the possibility that Cesarean sections might not be as harmless as previously thought in some cases. Researchers looked at the records of 2,885 premature births where the babies were considered small for their gestational ages. They discovered that babies in this particular population who were born before 34 weeks of pregnancy had higher odds of developing respiratory distress syndrome if delivered by C-section versus vaginally. The increased probabilities were found when controlled for other factors such as maternal age, weight and ethnicity.This information could lead to an evaluation of delivery techniques, especially when involving premature births. “Further research is needed to determine the optimal mode of delivery for this population,” said Heather Lipkind, senior author on the study.