Some studies suggest C-section babies cry less immediately after birth due to lower stress hormones, showing less distress on maternal separation initially, but other research indicates C-section infants can be fussier or have different long-term stress responses, potentially linked to altered gut microbiome or lack of tactile learning, with outcomes varying greatly by individual and circumstances.
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.
In a C-section, this natural compression does not occur, which can leave excess fluid in the baby's airways. This fluid can make it more challenging for the baby to take their first breaths and may delay the onset of crying.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lack of Beneficial Bacteria: Babies born via C-section or exposed to antibiotics may lack beneficial bacteria, contributing to colic.
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.
Although the children born by a caesarean section scored higher on total insecure attachment, disorganized attachment and anxious-ambivalent attachment to their mother than children born by a vaginal delivery, the t-tests showed that there was no significant difference of total insecure attachment of the child to its ...
The microbiomes of C-section babies look a lot different from those of babies born vaginally. In particular, they have lower numbers of Lactobacillus, Escherichia, and Bacteroides bacteria in their guts.
The earliest signs of autism involve the absence of typical behaviors—not the presence of atypical ones—so they can be tough to spot. In some cases, the earliest symptoms of autism are even misinterpreted as signs of a “good baby,” since the infant may seem quiet, independent, and undemanding.
Further, the researchers found that the method of delivery independently predicted infant sleep duration, with infants delivered by emergency cesarean section sleeping approximately one hour less per day than infants born by vaginal delivery.
Babies born by caesarean section often do not cry immediately; it can be a couple of minutes before they do so, as they have not had quite the same stimulus to start breathing that a baby has after vaginal birth.
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.
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.
In reality, the third week might be the hardest week postpartum, since everything seems to feel “normal,” but so much is happening at the same time. This being said, the third week will be an important week to focus on your mental health.
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.
Colic usually starts when babies are about 3 weeks old. It gets worse when they are between 4 and 6 weeks old. Most of the time, colicky babies get better after they are 6 weeks old, and are crying for less than 1 hour per day by the time they are 12 weeks old.
If possible, your baby will be placed on your chest for skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding. If this is not possible, your baby will be wrapped in blankets and brought to you. In some cases, babies born by cesarean section will first need to be watched in the nursery for a short time.
Digestive Challenges
We often see more reflux, gassiness, or colic-like symptoms in babies born by C-section. This may relate to both nervous system immaturity and the absence of beneficial bacteria typically passed through the birth canal.
An association was demonstrated between cesarean delivery and subsequent ASD diagnosis of the child. Cesarean delivery was linked to an increased likelihood of ASD (crude OR=2.46, 95% CI: 1.40-4.33).
Is it safe to climb stairs after a C-section? Avoid frequent stair climbing for the first 2–3 weeks. If necessary, do it slowly and with support to prevent C-section healing mistakes.
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.