Cesarean delivery and infant cortisol regulation

Leticia D Martinez1, Laura M Glynn2, Curt A Sandman3

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA; Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.

Psychoneuroendocrinology
|October 20, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Infants born via cesarean delivery show altered hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis function, with lower cortisol levels compared to vaginally born infants. This difference persists regardless of whether the cesarean was medically indicated or elective, suggesting a link to long-term health.

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