Does the baby gain weight during labour?
The present study was based on 6940 live singleton births without obvious congenital abnormalities delivered at 24-32 weeks. The birthweight of children born by Caesarean section was lower than that of those born vaginally. This applied whether the baby survived or died during the neonatal period; whether or not there was maternal hypertensive disease; and whether the delivery was at 24-28 or 29-32 weeks. Birthweight for gestational age was greater in those born by emergency Caesarean than those born by elective Caesarean section. After consideration of a number of potential confounding factors, these findings accord with the hypothesis that the baby might gain weight during labour.
Chard
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Bartholomew's and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, UK. Tim_Chard@compuserve.com
D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*