Study: C-Section Babies Miss Out on a Dose of Beneficial Bacteria

[Staashi 371]

spread it far and wide

The gift that keeps on giving.

[Jenn! 918]

Having children via C-section with no allergies etc. does not contradict the assertion that C-section delivery makes these conditions more likely.

Anyway, I had to fight hard to not have a c-section - they brought a bunch of doctors is to try to make me feel bad. Ultrasounds had continually predicted his weight at 2 lbs over what he actually was.

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

Yea, but antibiotics are given for group B Strep if the mother is a carrier and if one has chlamydia while in labor that went unchecked by the doc he is in deep...well, you know... for not testing for such at the beginning...I am talking about a "healthy, normal vaginal" flora...anyhow...this is still one sick topic lol

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

Jenn it is true that one must fight the medical establishment in order to have a labor/delivery with a minimum of unnecessary interventions these days...lawsuit prevention is more important than having better outcomes. Having less interventions actually increases mother/baby mortality rates. Of course high risk mothers need them, but most woman are not...anyhow, will get off my rather sleepy soap box lol

[Anna C. 4]

It's statistics, which means not all c-section babies will suffer from allergies and such, but they are more likely. Staph is nasty, while a healthy mother (no STDs, bacterial vaginosis or GBS) who delivers a baby vaginally won't pass any bad bacteria to baby that way (and believe me, STDs are tested like 3 times throughout pregnancy, GBS swap is done at 36 weeks and you'd know if you have a vaginosis - all those things can be treated and are treated on a regular basis with antibiotics).

I think the c-section rate in the US is quite horrible and it is hard to even find a health practitioner who is willing to work with a mother for a vaginal delivery. My obgyn (I didn't have much of a choice, Tricare, moved in my last trimester, sooo.... little choices) tried to paint every single horror scenario he could think of. He told me since I am so small it is highly unlikely for me to deliver vaginally. That 20% of all babies get stuck with their shoulders... Let's see what else? Birth without epidural is foolish and like a root canal without anesthesia... Continuous fetal monitoring is necessary and absolutely mandatory... Episiotomies are mandatory for all first time moms... After 24 hours of labor he will do a csection... Just a few gems from that person... If you research the topic a little, all of that stuff is total BS.

My water broke, I had contractions a couple hours later, and 24 hours after the water broke my son was born with assistance of a midwife that worked for the stupid obgyn. She mostly respected our wishes, but her hands were tied by the obgyn who called the shots via phone.

We are now expecting our second baby and for now see a practice of a DO/midwife, but I already have a feeling they are way too interventionist for me. I would opt for a homebirth but CPMs are illegal in my state (CNMs that do homebirth are in Denver, that's oh well). So I think I will opt for the freestanding birthing center in Denver (might as well drive there!). So I'd rather drive for 2 hours in labor than going to any of the hospitals close by. Mind you our local Cheyenne hospital has a 42% c-section rate and the obgyns' reputation is not exactly golden, even among mamas who don't long for a natural birth. This is the one of the two things I really miss about my home country: homebirth or birthing center births are easily and readily available (and paid for by insurance) and good chocolate (sorry, I just love our chocolate).

Edited June 27, 2010 by Anna C.

[DoneWaiting 15]

The possibilities of infection/bacteria or any other kind of complication exist regardless if birth is via C/S or natural birth.. Perhaps the C/S choice from the medical point or even as a family [gee- women] provides may a less invasive option for both mother and child, or may be is less “time” consuming for the medical practice and possibly little less medical malpractice claims. Listen [read], I am pro-either option, perhaps because I will never experiment the pain endure during labor.. but I may not have the courage to see my wife suffering such pain during labor [ ].. But, since we are considering to increase the family count in the near future I will be supportive to either option my wife picks..