Giving birth by caesarean increases placenta-related risks
The London News.Net
Wednesday 2nd May, 2007 (ANI)
London, May 2 : The findings of a new study suggest that women who give birth to their first child by caesarean are more likely to have placenta-related problems during their following pregnancies.
Researchers analysing data from the US National Centre for Health Statistics between 1995 and 2000 have found that the risk of a placenta attaching low down in the womb, or rupturing increases by almost 50 percent during the second pregnancy for such women.
The researchers now insist that women who are considering giving birth by elective caesarean should be informed of the risks, both of which cause bleeding during pregnancy.
Study leader Dr Qiuying Yang, from the University of Ottawa, said the study, which involved data from 5 million pregnancies, was the largest to have been conducted so far.
Dr Yang added that the study was important as it showed the link between caesareans and subsequent pregnancy complications.
Studying the findings the researchers found that women who delivered their first babies though caesarean faced a 47 percent higher risk of placental praevia in their second pregnancy when compared to women who gave birth naturally.
Placental praevia is a condition where the placenta attaches over or near the internal opening of the cervix.
They also noted that these women also faced a 40 percent higher risk of placenta abruption, a condition where the placenta separates from the womb prematurely.
"More than 1% of pregnancies with a prior caesarean section had one of these events, which had a 50% increase compared to women without previous caesarean section," the BBC quoted Dr Yang, as saying.
"This has important implications on the management of these pregnancies. It also introduces new and important evidence in the debate on the risks of caesarean sections 'on demand,'" he added.
The researchers said scarring inside the womb caused by caesareans may affect the attachment of the placenta in future pregnancies.
Professor Philip Steer, BJOG editor-in-chief, insisted that the study showed the need for doctors to inform women of the possible risks of giving birth by caesarean.
"Women need to be informed of the possible risks that can happen throughout the pregnancy and it is important to have their scheduled ultrasound scans to detect if the baby is developing safely. Should a woman encounter unusual bleeding during her pregnancy, it is best if she sees the doctor immediately," he said.
The findings are reported in BCOG, an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
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