The number of expectant mothers opting for cesarean sections has significantly increased. Common reasons cited include fear of pain, concerns about body shape changes, worries about lacking strength for natural birth, and increasingly, fears about the baby's zodiac sign or birth time being unfavorable. Many mothers-to-be seek to schedule cesarean deliveries on "auspicious dates" long before their due dates.Have expectant mothers considered the potential long-term effects cesarean delivery may have on their babies?
Babies born via cesarean section have lower immunity
Research indicates that there is little difference in immunity between boys and girls born vaginally. However, compared to vaginal delivery, newborns delivered via cesarean section exhibit relatively weaker immunity and lower resistance to infections.
Comparing complement levels in umbilical cord blood between vaginal and cesarean delivery newborns, the vaginal delivery group showed significantly higher immunoglobulin levels. This is because newborns delivered vaginally acquire immunoglobulins from the mother during labor, particularly during passage through the birth canal, due to compression from uterine contractions.
Thus, cesarean delivery may reduce newborn immunity and infection resistance, increasing the risk of neonatal infections. Therefore, we recommend that expectant mothers opt for natural childbirth whenever possible, as it better supports newborn health.
Additionally, among cesarean-delivered infants, male babies experience a greater decline in immunity than female babies. Medical experts explain that genes controlling immunoglobulin synthesis (primarily responsible for boosting immunity) are located on the X chromosome. Since females possess an extra X chromosome compared to males, female babies delivered via cesarean section exhibit stronger immunity than male babies.
Cesarean Births Linked to Rising Incidence of "Wet Lung Syndrome"
In recent years, the number of newborns hospitalized for "wet lung syndrome" has steadily increased. The majority of these infants were delivered via cesarean section. In fact, babies born via cesarean without labor or premature infants face a higher risk of developing severe wet lung syndrome.
Additionally, babies require a preparatory period before birth to allow their lungs sufficient time to absorb amniotic fluid. Uterine contractions and vaginal delivery help expel excess fluid from the infant's lungs.
We recommend that if a cesarean section is necessary, it should ideally be performed after the ninth month of pregnancy.While fetal lung development is generally mature by 35 weeks, a cesarean at 37 weeks is still considered premature. For preterm deliveries (less than 37 weeks) requiring cesarean section, administering maternal steroids may be considered. This approach carries no risk to the fetus and reduces the likelihood of pulmonary edema, though balancing maternal medication risks is crucial.
In fact, expectant mothers should ideally opt for vaginal delivery, avoiding cesarean sections based on personal preference or convenience. Otherwise, this may compromise the infant's health.
Effects of Cesarean Anesthesia on the Fetus
Mothers undergoing cesarean delivery almost always require anesthesia during surgery. However, nearly all anesthetics and analgesics exert central nervous system suppression and readily cross the placental barrier into the fetus.
Anesthetics affect the fetus in two ways: directly suppressing the fetal respiratory and circulatory centers, or indirectly through maternal respiratory and circulatory suppression. Excessive anesthetics or maternal hypoxemia due to respiratory suppression during surgery can impair the baby's oxygen supply and waste removal, directly threatening the fetus's life.
Under normal circumstances, cesarean section remains a surgical procedure that inflicts significantly greater physical damage on the mother than vaginal delivery. It also delays postpartum breastfeeding and recovery. Childbirth, like pregnancy itself, is a natural and normal experience for women.
We believe expectant mothers should trust in nature's power and their own potential, maintaining confidence in vaginal delivery.
Cesarean-born babies are more prone to sensory integration disorder
Sensory integration disorder occurs when a child's thoughts and actions are misaligned, often failing to translate thoughts into controlled behavior. Cesarean delivery is indeed a contributing factor to this condition.
Every movement of the fetus within the womb is intricately linked to its future destiny. The natural passage through the birth canal represents the first crucial opportunity for coordinated interaction between the developing brain and body. Cesarean delivery deprives the child of this foundational sensory integration experience.
If a baby develops sensory integration disorder and receives unscientific early childhood education, they may face significant challenges in learning and behavior as they grow older. Poor academic performance could even lead to misdiagnosis as having intellectual developmental disorders.
Moreover, sensory integration disorders are often difficult to detect through routine examinations, delaying timely intervention. This can lead to severe physical reactivity, impaired perceptual functions, and attention deficits, further undermining the child's self-awareness and self-esteem.
Cesarean-born children are more prone to ADHD
The majority of children diagnosed with ADHD were born via cesarean section.The altered birth canal during cesarean delivery changes the "environment" the child encounters upon entering the world. This disrupts the sensory stimulation and neural contact that occur during normal vaginal birth, making the child more susceptible to developing neurological and psychiatric disorders like ADHD during their growth.
Children with this condition often exhibit numerous "bad habits," such as frequent eye blinking and shoulder shrugging.Additionally, they struggle to focus on reading, frequently talk out of turn in class, and despite having average or above-average IQs, often perform poorly academically. This can be a major source of frustration for parents and may even strain marital relationships. Therefore, expectant mothers should carefully consider their delivery method and avoid opting for cesarean sections without thorough consideration. It is also crucial to approach children with ADHD appropriately, seek timely treatment, and understand their "habit patterns"—most hyperactivity symptoms can be modified.