Whats the problem with elective C-section?
One concern about elective C-sections is that they are often done too early. When a baby is born, its lungs must make the switch from being fluid-filled to being able to take in air. Natural changes that occur just before birth and during labor help prepare the baby’s lungs to make this change. The closer the baby is to the time when birth would naturally occur, the more likely it is that the baby will be able to breathe normally after birth. A normal pregnancy is usually 40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period in women who have regular 28 day cycles. Guidelines recommend that a doctor wait until a baby is 39 weeks before doing an elective C-section. This helps ensure that the baby’s lungs are mature. But it can be hard for a doctor to be certain of a baby’s gestational age. Delivering a baby before 39 weeks can raise the baby’s risk of problems after C-section. Recent research has shown that about one out of three elective C-sections is done earlier than 39 weeks. Eve
