Medical, surgical intervention at birth leaves baby at greater illness risk

JAIPUR: Research published in the journal 'Birth' showed that babies born after a medical or surgical intervention were at increased risk of health problems. This comes even as a larger number of babies are born with medical or surgical intervention worldwide. Babies born thus are at higher risk of short-term concerns like jaundice and feeding problems and longer-term illnesses like diabetes, respiratory infections and eczema.A team of researchers spread over five countries analyzed data from nearly 500,000 healthy, low-risk women who gave birth in New South Wales between 2000 and 2013. Health of children between first 28 days and up to five years of age was studied. Intervention could be either when labour is induced; surgical intervention included caesarean section and instrumental delivery using forceps or vacuum.Researchers found that babies who experienced birth with the use of forceps or vacuum or augmentation of labour had the highest risk of jaundice and feeding problems. Babies born by caesarean section had higher rates of being cold and needing treatment in the hospital compared to babies born via vaginal birth. By five years of age, children born of emergency caesarean section had the highest rates of metabolic disorders like diabetes and obesity. Rates of respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, metabolic disorders, and eczema were higher among children who experienced any form of birth intervention than those born vaginally. Researchers said this added to the growing evidence that children born of vaginal birth, spontaneously, had fewer health issues.Researchers hypothesize that labour and birth exert a positive form of stress on the fetus. This impacts genes responsible for fighting off bugs, weight regulation and suppressing tumours. Too little or too much stress could impact the expression of these genes. Scientists also think that vaginal birth provides the opportunity to pass gut bacteria from mother to baby, aiding the creation of a healthy microbiome.WHO has recommended that the caesarean rate should be under 15%. In the top 20% by income in India, delivery by caesarean section is about 30%, while it remains a low 5% among the poorest, according to research released by medical journal Lancet last year.