Could elective cesarean sections influence the birth weight of full-term infants?

Abstract

Elective cesarean section performed in PHs may be associated with low birth weight among full-term infants.

Is the economic crisis affecting birth outcome in Spain? Evaluation of temporal trend in underweight at birth (2003–2012)

“…considered that the reduction in mean birth weight in descendants of Spanish mothers described before the crisis was the consequence of changes in the distribution of gestational age among term newborns, with a significant increase in births born at 37 and 38 weeks, and a decrease in those born at ≥39 weeks. Similar changes in the distribution of gestational age at birth in other developed (Davidoff et al, 2006), and developing (Murta et al, 2006), countries have been explained by an increase in obstetric interventionism (induced vaginal deliveries or Caesarean sections) originally intended to reduce foetal distress and mortality but currently extensively used in low-risk deliveries (Joseph et al, 2002). These trends of an increasing contribution of risk profile women, and high and growing obstetric interventionism have been proposed to explain the rises in prematurity and LBW rates described in European countries before the crisis (OECD, 2012;EURO-PERISTAT Project with SCPE and EUROCAT, 2013), and may also be contributing to the increasing incidence of underweight at birth both before and during the crisis.…”

Maternal Characteristics and Temporal Trends in Birth Outcomes: Comparison between Spanish and Migrant Mothers

“…Some authors consider that the change in the reproductive patternsnamely, delayed age at first maternity-is to a great extent responsible for these increase in adverse birth outcomes, and also for an increasing need for intervention in deliveries, especially Caesarean sections [7,9,11,32]. However, different publications suggest that beside maternal age, extensive unnecessary medical intervention in delivery might also be playing an important role [7,22,33].…”

Hour of birth and birth assistance: From a primate to a medicalized pattern?

“…Intervened deliveries are more expensive, Caesarean section is more life threatening and seems related to increasing preterm and low birth weight babies (Hä ger et al, 2004;Althabe and Belizá n, 2006;Liu et al, 2007;Lumbiganon et al, 2010;Murta et al, 2006;Norman et al, 2009). The benefits of nocturnal labor together with the evolutionary adaptive pattern are often rendered ineffective by unnecessary hospital policies and procedures.…”