Effect of caesarean section on brain maturation.

UNLABELLED: The rates of caesarean section (CS) are increasing worldwide. The short-term effects of CS in the newborn have been described and long-term reported risks of alterations of pathophysiology include altered microflora, increased risk of childhood asthma and childhood-onset type I diabetes mellitus. There has been emphasis on the respiratory morbidity related to the timing of elective CS. More recently, a population study demonstrated dose-dependent effect of each week of gestation on the need for special education. This highlights the importance of intrauterine brain development towards the end of pregnancy and hitherto largely unexplored possible effects on neurodevelopment if it is interrupted.
CONCLUSION: The timing of CS is important not only because delivery before 39 weeks can increase respiratory morbidity, but also owing to the fact that ongoing intrauterine brain maturation could be significant for future neurodevelopment.