Baby breathing difficulties when delivered via C section

I’ve had 2 babies delivered by planned c-sections and had no issues at all 🥰

One of my twins struggled with oxygen when she was delivered, she was off respiratory support within a few hours.

I've had 2 sections and both babies were fine with their breathing, first one failed his initial hearing test cause of fluid still in his ears but passed a couple of weeks later. The condition you mention is TTN and it usually resolves itself in a few days, it's rare that the baby needs to get oxygen support.

They have a lot of mucus on their chest when born via c section, the midwife basically told us to over feed the baby until they throw up and it should get all the mucus out and then just feed normally 😊

It’s quite common for babies born via c section to have extra fluid in their lungs which they tend to clear out. It tends to sound a little like they’re congested

The fluid is usually squeezed out when vaginally delivered.

Happened with my LO, asked the midwife a once or twice and they weren’t concerned. Just said it’ll clear. Passed all her checks. She’s currently 5 weeks, almost 6, and it’s all cleared out :)

My baby had no problems

As others have said, it's common to have extra fluid in their lungs because it's not squeezed out the way it is with a vaginal delivery. However, problems are usually very minor. Usually just some additional congestion for a few days or weeks.

Yes, mine came out with difficulties but he stabilized soon after and has had no issues after

Had an emergency c section and my son did not have any problems

My baby sounded a bit grunty and congested after the section but had no troubles with breathing or oxygen sats and it cleared in a few days, also he was delivered at 36+6 at 5lbs and hadn't had any steroids.

my daughter had a lot of mucus in her body, dr said it was due to c-section , her body didn’t have time to release apt of the mucus s that usually gets release during natural birth

1 emergency C-section and no issue (but I had the contractions so helps, as the contractions helps the pulmon movement of the babies to start)
1 planned C-section and my baby had breathing issue at birth, she stayed in NICU 1week. But now she is totally fine ! Also I had an infection as well that might have affect as well, and C-section was planned at 38weeks (I was at risk because of very close 2 births by C-section) while my 1st had to be induced at 42weeks because he didn’t want to come out. So my 2nd was most likely supposed to stay in my belly 1mo more I guess

No issues here

My boy needed a bit of oxygen (about 5 minutes I think?) and then he was fine, he was born 37+3

No problems with my little boy

I've had 3 via csection with no problems.

I had an elective c-section and my baby did indeed have breathing difficulties and needed a couple days in the NICU. I would still do it again as there’s a lot more stuff that can go wrong during a vaginal delivery than during a planned c-section. I only lost 250ml of blood.

My c-section baby hasn’t had any issues with breathing

Had an emergency c section and my little girl had absolutely no problems

I’ve had 2 and no problems with either (37+5 and 38+3)

I had 2 csections and my first was born at 37 weeks and unable to breathe on her own and was in nicu for 15 days and was an 8 pound baby. She was put on a ventilator for a while.

My second, also 8 pounds and born at 37 weeks was absolutely fine with no issues.

We were told the medical information we were given prior to our first section was wrong and caused the issues as I should have had steroids at 32 weeks but I had it scheduled but the doctor cancelled it. I got the steroids with my second pregnancy and all was fine.

Neither of my babies had breathing issues or needed any assistance (born weeks 37 and 38). Just a bit sniffly for a week.

how did it clear?

they did a lot suction while in the hospital it cleared on its own but it took about a month . i actually got scared on night thought she couldn’t breath properly so i called the ambulance, they turned her upside down and got a lot out that way

Both my babies needed some oxygen after my c sections. But I was put fully under. So not sure if that’s why?

Yes with our first (emergency section) he was in the NICU for the first 24 hours due to oxygen levels and mucus on his lungs causing some breathing issues. He was absolutely fine after that though and we were told it’s relatively common. Just had our second last week via elective, he had no issues at all and we were discharged the following day x

I had an emergency c section in February. No breathing issues. 38+6

Thank you for all your comments it's been very helpful!

Ours didn’t have any immediate breathing difficulties but he was very congested with the mucus and had a horrible episode where he was trying to cough it all up during our first night. He was absolutely fine but it sounded like he was choking so I was really scared!

It is a risk though and one you need to consider.

Both of my girls were c-section. One at 38 weeks and one at 35 weeks none of them needed NICU and were breathing fine.

As the lady said above, a good amount of (normal) fluid from the lungs is squeezed out during VB. Some section babies are more congested and others may require a little positive pressure or o2 post birth when transitioning, others are fine or just need a good rub (stimulation). Another thing to remember is that stats are always a little skewed, eg included in the c section group you’re also looking at c-sections for medical reasons, emergencies etc and those babies may have other reasons for requiring respiratory support. Having attended all different types of births through work, the majority of babies who did need a little extra o2 didn’t need to come to NICU for resp support.

I’ve chosen a c-section and for me personally this wasn’t enough of a factor to outweigh other risks but it’s super personal so go with your gut (my niece was a 5 hr un medicated home birth and had lots of fluid on her chest so even a textbook physiological birth can have similar issues if quick)