New research published this week in the journal New England Journal of Medicine questions the benefits of a Caesarean delivery in the case of women who don’t need it, but choose to have it out of personal reasons.

The study notes that a C-section increases the risks for the baby by 50 percent or more if performed before 39 weeks of gestation.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a nonprofit advocate for women’s health care, says a normal pregnancy can last from 37 to 42 weeks, but the average length is 40 weeks. But the organization recommends waiting until the 39h week of gestation for an elective C-section because the baby’s lungs should be fully developed by then.
 
Despite this recommendation, some women opt to deliver a little earlier for a variety of reasons, including being eager to see their baby, being tired of pregnancy or for convenience. Their choice might compromise the health of their newborn, according to Alan Tita, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who said “there are definitely risks associated with delivering early.”
 
The study analyzed 13,258 cesarean sections done at 19 medical centers from 1999 to 2002. Thirty-six percent of the C-sections took place before 39 weeks of gestation, the study found. Overall, about 10 percent of the babies at birth had at least one of the following problems: respiratory distress, low blood sugar, infection or need for a respiratory or intensive care. However, those born at 37 weeks were twice as likely and those born at 38 weeks 50 percent more likely to have a problem than those at 39.
 
“Faced with the likelihood that there is no other problem, I think it’s prudent to wait until 39 weeks to avoid subjecting these babies to adverse outcomes,” Dr. Tita said.