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Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
Published on: September 16, 2019
Breathing patterns in term infants delivered by caesarean section
1Department of Neonatology, Bnai-Zion Medical Centre, the B Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. alona500@netvision.net.il
Aim:
To compare the breathing patterns of infants born by elective caesarean section to those infants delivered by caesarean section after a failed trial of labour.
Methods:
Healthy term infants born by caesarean section were studied. The study group (n = 13) had no trial of labour, whereas infants in the control group (n = 13) failed a trial of labour. Polysomnographic study was performed at 36 h of age. Heart and respiratory rate, type and duration of apnoeas, arterial oxygen saturation and lower limb movements were analysed.
Results:
Term infants born by elective caesarean section had a shorter duration of pregnancy and weighed less. Their heart rate was faster, they had more mixed apnoeas, and during quiet sleep they had more central apnoeas of longer duration.
Conclusion:
Cardiorespiratory patterns in infants delivered by elective caesarean section are different from those delivered by caesarean section after a failed trial of labour.
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