Caesarean babies 'face death risk'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A study involving more than 94,000 women found higher risks for mothers and babies when Caesareans were compared with normal births.

Experts found that women having a Caesarean delivery had twice the risk of illness - such as hysterectomies, blood transfusions and admission to intensive care - and death as women giving birth normally. They also had a five times higher risk of having antibiotics after birth than those giving birth normally.

Those having a Caesarean included some women opting for one as a lifestyle choice.

Babies were also at twice the risk of admission to a neonatal intensive care unit and had more than 70% higher risk of death.

That figure included elective Caesareans and those chosen by a doctor, but excluded emergency caesareans for life-threatening conditions and those for breech births.

Breech babies born by Caesarean had a much higher chance of survival and lower overall risk than if they had been born normally, the study by a team at Oxford University found.

The team analysed available data on 94,307 women who gave birth in Latin America, which included a mix of normal and Caesarean births.

Of the total number, 31 821 (33.7%) were Caesarean deliveries, of which 58.5% were operations needed once labour had started and 41.5% were elective.

The experts said there were various paths to a woman having a Caesarean, including in an emergency, where complications were suspected and for "social-cultural-economical-legal factors, including women's demand".