These days, millions of women schedule C-sections to fit in with their schedules. Some even schedule delivery for as soon as their baby reaches full term -- which is 37 weeks.
Well, anxious moms beware, because if you schedule them more than seven days before your due date, you're putting your child's health in jeopardy.
Due dates are set at 40 weeks gestation and infants are considered full-term at 37 weeks. According to a U.S. study, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, babies who are born via Caesarean more than a week before their actual due date have more complications, including breathing problems, even though the baby is still full term.
In the study, the researchers, led by Dr. Alan Tita of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, focused on 13,258 who had a single child at a planned Caesarean and who had previously given birth the same way. All of the infants were followed until they left the hospital or for four months.
What the researchers found was more than 1/3 of the C-sections were performed BEFORE 39 weeks and the babies delivered at 37 weeks were twice as likely to have health problems, including breathing troubles, infections, low blood sugars or the need for intensive care. 15% of those at 37 weeks had complications and 11% of those born at 38 weeks had complications.
So moms, even though you're anxious to meet the newest member of your family, you might want to hold out until AT LEAST the 49th week -- and not a day before.
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