Early C-Section Risks Baby's Health

This is regarding elective c-sections, not emergency or crash c-sections.  My youngest was a crash c-section at 38 weeks, he did have some respiratory issues, but seeing as he was in distress and I was already in labor waiting for another week was not an option.  Heck, my middle child was born naturally at 36 weeks but....

That being said, if I was planning on scheduling an elective c-section I would wait until after 39 weeks just because of the risks.  I know those last few weeks of pregnancy SUCK bigtime, but it isn't worth it.  More women need to be educated about the risks of early c-sections and make decisions accordingly- it isn't just about how uncomfortable you are and how much you want to see your baby.

WOW  guess im a bad seed. I had my 1st c section 38 weeks and im having my second at 38 weeks and 4 days lol..

Did you know that most first time moms deliver between 41 and 42 weeks?  How big was the study? How did they define bad outcomes?  If the ones delievery by c-section after 40 weeks were first timers with long labors before the surgery and the ones delivery between 39 and 40 weeks where schduled with NO labor then don't you think that might skew the results?  I don't recommend scheduling a c-section at all.  VBAC if possible and that means waiting for labor waiting until whenever baby is ready.  You are NOT over due until a full 42 weeks!  Stop trying to force everybody into a tight little box!

ABSTRACT

Methods We studied a cohort of consecutive patients undergoing repeat cesarean sections performed at ... from 1999 through 2002. Women with viable singleton pregnancies delivered electively (i.e., before the onset of labor and without any recognized indications for delivery before 39 weeks of gestation) were included. The primary outcome was ...

Results Of 24,077 repeat cesarean deliveries at term, 13,258 were performed electively; of these, 35.8% were performed before 39 completed weeks of gestation (6.3% at 37 weeks and 29.5% at 38 weeks) and 49.1% at 39 weeks of gestation. One neonatal death occurred. As compared with births at 39 weeks, births at 37 weeks and at 38 weeks were associated with an increased risk of the primary outcome (adjusted odds ratio for births at 37 weeks, 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7 to 2.5; adjusted odds ratio for births at 38 weeks, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.3 to 1.7; P for trend <0.001). The rates of adverse respiratory^...

Conclusions Elective repeat cesarean delivery before 39 weeks of gestation is common and is associated with respiratory and other adverse neonatal outcomes.

I had to shorten to get it to fit.  This study was of 13,258 unnecessary c-sections.  That is what elective repeat means.  That is why the went from 24.077 to 13, 258.  There were reasons for the other 10,819 c-sections so they got eliminated from the study.  Isn't it great that they are studying the best way to perform unnecessary surgery!  There was no mention in the abstract of any dangers of waiting past 40 weeks. 

I had my son right on the day of 39 weeks, and my son is a healthy little boy and no breathing problems. And I thought after 36 weeks is when it's okay to deliver them? I'm sure it is better to wait till 40 weeks, but I no tons of babies born early and they're all fine! :)

  My very 1st pregnancy (our daughter,Bliss) ended in a stillbirth@ 39weeks so I was watched very closely and when it was discovered  that there were signs of placenta shutdown, my son was delivered via c-section @36 weeks, 5days. He was small,  but had no breathing problems, but did have some feeding issues(wouldn't latch on 1st few days). I have a total of 4 c-sections and they were all earlier than the recommended 39 weeks. My 2nd was our daughter, who was scheduled@ 37 weeks exactly. She had no breathing or feeding issues.3rd c-section was my son scheduled @ 37 weeks 5 days and he did have some breathing issues that resolved itself w/in a few hrs after birth. My 4th(and final) was our daughter, just born this past Oct and she was scheduled @ 38wks 2day and was absolutely fine....  b/c of my 1st pregnancy I wanted my babies to be born as soon as it was safe, I always had concerns that b/c of their method of delivery, there would be some complications,but all in all, my babies faired very well:)

My first c-section was an emergency and it was done at 41 weeks. My son weighed 9lbs 13 oz and they were very worried about him developing diabetes but he turned out fine.My second was a scheduled c-section and it was done at 39 weeks 1 day. My daughter was born happy and healthy, but they did worry about her weight gain and felt we decided to take her too soon. But ultimately both of my c-sections turned out just fine and my children are happy and healthy!!

This past December my husband and I had to go to the emergency room; because I started to bleed; I was at 35 weeks. It all happened so fast, they put me on a monitor, by then my contractions were getting worse. All at once the nurse runs in and started calling for all hands and get this doctor and page that doctor, I had no clue what was going on. The contractions were stopping my babys heart, so they threw an oxygen mask on me, somewhat told me what was going on while they wheeled me to the operating room. They had to do an emergency c-section and I was told that my son "could" be transported to Childrens hospital, because of his lungs, they thought more than likely something would be wrong with his breathing. The doctor pulled him out and it seemed like forever before he cried, when my husband and I heard him cry, I heard my husband breathe and we both started to cry, but it was not over, yet. Soon the nurse from Childrens, said your baby can stay with you momma, his oxygen was 100%. I was filled with relief, joy and so much love. I pray that he has no future complications.