| Abstrakt: |
This study assesses whether a full term, AGA, elective cesarean section (S) baby with a normal prenatal and delivery room course requires SNC. Ninety-four S babies born over a 2 year period were retrospectively compared for nursery complications to 94 well baby controls (C) delivered vaginally. The groups were of similar birth weight, gestational age, sex, and date of birth. As expected, the S group had a greater mean maternal age (28 vs 26,C; p < 0.02).Five babies (4S,lC) had problems recognized in the regular nursery that required SNC. Two (lS,lC) were erythroblastotic requiring exchange transfusions. The other 3 (all S) had, respectively, respiratory distress requiring supplemental O2(onset ½ hr. old), hypoglycemia (@ ½ hr. old) and hypocalcemia (@ 3 d. old). Other problems not requiring SNC included transient (duration < 90 min) tachypnea or grunting (5S,lC), physiologic jaundice (7S, 10C) and conjunctivitis (lS). Mean age at first void, stool, and feed were similar in both groups.These data suggest that special nursery care of full term, AGA, elective cesarean section babies with a normal prenatal and delivery room course is medically unnecessary and financially burdensome. In addition, it probably increases parental stress and impedes maternal-infant bonding. |
