Unplanned C-Sections Aren't Bad: Study

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Most women are certainly not crossing their fingers and hoping for a cesarean birth; mainly because it costs so much it will probably take a lot from their bank accounts. Well, there are also some women who choose to undergo C-section because it is more convenient and not necessarily painful.

According to a new study published in Journal of America Medical Associates, planned C-section babies appeared to have more health problems as they grow up compared to those who have undergone normal deliveries and unplanned C-section. The researchers were expecting for a different result as they thought that planned C-section would produce healthy babies because of its procedure.

New York Times reported that several studies have already suggested that C-section children are at higher risk for medical health issues like allergies and obesity. Some study also confirmed that C-section procedure is associated to a certain type of diabetes.

Dr. Mairead Black, who is from the University of Aberdeen and the lead researcher of the study, explained what could be the real reason behind it.

"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," Dr. Black said.

She also said that unplanned C-section could benefit from the bacteria exposure compared to a scheduled procedure because the woman is already in labor. Normally, when a woman decides to undergo C-section, she will get scheduled even before she feels that she is about to go in labor, New York Times reported.

The director of the nonprofit organization Childbirth Connection programs at the National Partnership for Women & Families, Carol Sakala, seemed to agree with Dr. Black's observation.

"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," said Dr. Sakala. "What is the effect of cutting off those processes so casually on such a large scale?"

Meanwhile, a neonatologist from the University of Florida, Dr. Josef Neu, said that there is a natural process wherein a baby will consume maternal microbes through his or her gastrointestinal tract and mouth during labor.

"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," he said.

Dr. Neu added that the maternal microbes will help develop the immune system of the infant and protect him or her from any abnormalities that may cause autoimmune disorders.