It's a mixed picture, but some studies suggest C-section babies can be "calmer" initially due to missing the stress hormones of vaginal birth, leading to less crying and faster calming, but this bypass of stress hormones might affect brain development and stress responses later, while other research links C-sections to higher long-term anxiety or behavioral issues, highlighting complex, ongoing impacts on the gut-brain axis and stress system.
It is known that cortisol levels "reflecting a fetal stress response to pain experienced during birth" remain raised for up to eight weeks. Cortisol levels are lowest in newborns from elective caesareans, as they have not had to make their way down the birth canal.
Offspring born by planned and unplanned cesarean sections were more likely to have anxiety disorders, with adjusted ORs (aORs) of 1.08 (95% CI 1.02–1.15) and 1.12 (95% CI 1.05–1.19), respectively.
This study indicated that children delivered by CS more commonly developed respiratory tract infections, asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, obesity than children delivered vaginally. Among these, obesity have a stronger association with cesarean section.
The C-section babies can display both irritability and increased likely hood of colic. Planned C-section babies are interestingly the most ratty and cranky babies I see. Scientific research absolutely confirms this showing that C-section deliveries cause a change to the friendly gut bacteria in the baby.
"Babies born by emergency caesarean section slept for an hour less per day than babies born vaginally," said Matenchuk. "We really didn't expect to find this. Previous studies haven't reported on the sleep duration of infants born by emergency versus scheduled caesarean section past the first few days following birth."
Research suggests that cesarean delivery may negatively affect children's cognitive development through direct and indirect pathways. Indirectly, cesarean births are linked to health issues like asthma, type I diabetes, and obesity, which can hinder cognitive functioning and academic performance [7], [8].
Since babies born via C-section do not pass through the birth canal and are not exposed to the same bacteria as babies born vaginally, their microbiome develops differently and has different strains of bacteria. In 2019, the largest ever study of newborns' microbiomes was published in the scientific journal Nature.
The 5-5-5 rule for postpartum C-section recovery is a guideline for the first 15 days, emphasizing 5 days in bed, 5 days on the bed, and 5 days around the bed, focusing on rest, gradual movement, bonding, and healing by limiting activity and staying near a resting spot for essential needs only. It's a structured way to encourage vital rest and set boundaries with visitors, preventing overexertion during the critical initial healing phase after major surgery.
Available epidemiological data show that atopic diseases appear more often in infants after cesarean delivery than after vaginal delivery. The composition of enteric microbiota in early days of life seems, therefore, to be a very important factor for achieving and maintaining good health in the years to come.
First-borns often internalize high expectations, leading to perfectionism. This relentless drive can result in chronic stress and anxiety, as they fear failure or disappointing others. Over time, this can erode self-esteem and lead to burnout.
After adjusting of confounding factors, there was not any significant difference between IQ scores of cesarean delivery and spontaneous vaginal delivery groups (Table 2).
The 3-3-3 rule for kids' anxiety is a simple mindfulness grounding technique where they name 3 things they see, identify 3 sounds they hear, and move 3 different body parts (like wiggling toes, turning a head, or rolling shoulders) to shift focus from worries to the present moment, helping to calm overwhelming feelings. It's a quick, portable tool to manage anxiety, but for persistent issues, professional help is recommended.
The "5-3-3" baby sleep method is a sleep training strategy where a baby sleeps for 5 hours, stays awake for 3 hours, then sleeps for another 3 hours, often used around 4-6 months to encourage independent sleep by reducing nighttime feeds and establishing routine, but it requires strict adherence and consulting a pediatrician, as it might be too rigid for some babies or caregivers.
Difficult babies have intense reactions and difficulty adapting to new situations; they cry often and have an overall negative mood. Slow-to-warm-up babies have a low activity level, and they take a long time to adapt to new situations. They are sometimes thought of as shy.
Following data collection, statistical analysis was performed. Among other findings, this study revealed that emotional and total problems at age 18 months were more prevalent in cesarean born children in comparison to vaginally born children.
Discomfort is expected after a C-section, especially around the incision and abdomen. Pain typically peaks in the first few days and improves over several weeks.
There is no hard-and-fast rule for when infants are ready to have visitors or be out in public. Some parents may wait a few months before letting their babies have contact with people outside of the immediate family. Others are okay with visitors and take their babies out to public places much sooner.
Is VBAC more painful than a C-section? Not necessarily. With a VBAC, you'll feel labour contractions, but you also have access to pain relief options. Many women who've experienced both say that while labour is intense, recovery after VBAC feels easier and faster than recovering from surgery.
Cesarean delivery was linked to an increased likelihood of ASD (crude OR=2.46, 95% CI: 1.40-4.33). The association remained statistically significant, even after adjusting the potential confounding factors (reported previously in the scientific literature) in the first model (adjusted OR=2.9, 95% CI: 1.57-5.35).
Furthermore, birth by C-section is associated with an increased risk of the baby developing immunological and metabolic disorders later in childhood (Keag et al., 2018).
Healing is faster with vaginal delivery
However, in almost all cases, you can return to most activities within two weeks. You can start having sexual intercourse in about six weeks. If you deliver by C-section, recovery may take 6-8 weeks.
The Evidence Linking C-Sections and Developmental Disorders
The study reported a 17% higher risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a 33% increased risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children born via C-section.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
The structural changes of the brain may last at least two years after birth, but the experience of mommy brain and how long this lasts after giving birth can vary from person to person. You may notice improvements within months but don't worry if you feel the effects for a longer time.