Delayed neurological adaptation in infants delivered by elective cesarean section and the relation to catecholamine levels.

ABSTRACT

We have studied the effect of mode of delivery and catecholamine (CA) surge at birth on neurobehaviour 1, 2 and 5 days after birth. Fifteen full-term infants were delivered by elective cesarean section (CS) and 15 full-term control infants were born vaginally. Infants born after elective CS were less excitable and had significantly reduced number of optimal responses during the first 2 days after delivery, compared to the controls. On the 5th day no significant neurological differences were found between the groups. Adrenaline and noradrenaline (NA) in umbilical arterial plasma were analysed in all infants. The mean values of NA were lower in the CS infants as compared to the vaginally delivered infants. Statistically significant correlations were found between low CA levels and poor muscle tone and/or lower grade of excitability in the CS infants. These results suggest that the high CA surge at birth might be of importance for the neurological adaptation after birth.