RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare general postnatal condition of preterm infants delivered by caesarean section or born vaginally. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 605 premature newborns delivered in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic of Medical University of Warsaw in 1995-2000. The newborns were divided into two groups. There were 280 prematures delivered by caesarean section in the first group and 325 ones were born vaginally in the second group. RESULTS: The first day mortality rate in infants born vaginally was 6.8% comparing with 2.8% in ones delivered by caesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: In the study group the percentage of neonatal severe condition was similar in both groups but mortality rate in the first day of life was slightly higher in infants born vaginally.
