Early detection of growth problems halves risk of emergency C-sections

EXPECTANT mothers can half the chances of undergoing an emergency Caesarean if problems with a baby are first spotted by ultrasound scans during pregnancy.

A study looked at 211,163 expectant mothers over 10 years in Holles Street, the Rotunda and the Coombe Hospitals.

Researchers looked at babies who died of still births or soon after they were born.

Those who died due to complications inside the mother amounted to 634 and were the focus of the study.

Where a diagnosis of a problem with the baby’s growth was diagnosed through ultrasound scans before the birth, the likelihood of emergency Caesarean was halved, the research by the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI) showed.

Emergency Caesarian sections were carried out on 31% of undiagnosed mothers-to-be. However, when a problem with the baby was diagnosed through scanning, emergency Caesarians only took place in 17% of cases.

“The important thing is there is a near 50% reduction in emergency Caesarians by diagnosing the baby,” explained study’s author and final-year medicine student Mark Dempsey.

While emergency Caesarians can help save babies’ lives, complications can arise.

These can include: the baby getting cut; damage to the mother’s abdomen, or future rupturing of a uterus during further pregnancies.

“Scanning is the way to go. The study shows how important it is we find out there are problems there, so there is a better birth delivery, some woman only get one scan but very early on,” added the RCSI researcher.

“If you go to other countries, they’ll definitely scan twice. It just shows the importance, as the Government won’t put money into something like this.”

If a child is Down Syndrome, its heart beat may seem quick during a delivery, but this does not mean an emergency removal is necessary, according to the study’s authors. If the problem is diagnosed early through scanning, a more relaxed birth can be planned for, according to the RCSI researchers.

“Then they’re (expectant mothers) prepared, they’ve been told about this, they’re expecting something wrong. It’s horrendous to be delivering your baby and then all of a sudden, they’re rushing you into an operating table, maybe putting you asleep. They go through this awful operation to remove the baby and they’re not expecting it,” added Mr Dempsey.