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. 1997 Nov;77(3):F237–F238. doi: 10.1136/fn.77.3.f237

Plasma prolactin concentrations after caesarean section or vaginal delivery

L Heasman, J Spencer, M Symonds
PMCID: PMC1720725  PMID: 9462197

Abstract

The umbilical venous plasma prolactin concentrations of three groups of term infants were compared immediately after birth. Samples were taken following seven vaginal deliveries, eight emergency caesarean sections performed during labour, and 12 elective caesarean sections before labour. Mean concentrations of prolactin were significantly lower in the elective caesarean section group compared with the labour groups. This result indicates that the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary axis is stimulated during labour which could explain the increase in plasma prolactin concentrations at birth.

 Keywords: caesarean section; labour; prolactin

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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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Plasma prolactin concentrations in infants born vaginally or by caesarean section subjected (emergency) or not (elective) to labour. Horizontal lines indicate mean values; each patient is represented by an individual symbol.

Selected References

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