Table 2.
Neonatal characteristics according to mode of delivery
| All included | Planned caesarean section | Vaginal delivery | Spontaneous onset of deliverya | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 158 | n = 60 | n = 79 | n = 98 | |
| Gestational age (weeks)b | 40 (39–41) | 39 (39–39) | 41 (40–41) | 41 (39–41) |
| Birth weight (g)b | 3655 (3315–3920) | 3463 (3203–3760) | 3690 (3360–3960) | 3725 (3410–4010) |
| Sex | ||||
| Female, n (%) | 72 (46) | 30 (50) | 37 (47) | 42 (43) |
| Male, n (%) | 86 (54) | 30 (50) | 42 (53) | 56 (57) |
| Apgar scoreb | ||||
| 1 min | 9 (9–9) | 9 (9–9) | 9 (9–9) | 9 (9–9) |
| 5 min | 10 (10–10) | 10 (10–10) | 10 (10–10) | 10 (10–10) |
| 10 min | 10 (10–10) | 10 (10–10) | 10 (10–10) | 10 (10–10) |
| Cord pH arteryb | 7.28 (7.22–7.32) n = 143 | 7.31 (7.28–7.33) n = 57 | 7.24 (7.19–7.30) n = 69 | 7.24 (7.19–7.30) n = 86 |
| Cord pH veinb | 7.35 (7.31–7.38) n = 144 | 7.37 (7.34–7.38) n = 58 | 7.33 (7.29–7.37) n = 70 | 7.34 (7.30–7.37) n = 86 |
| Any respiratory distresscn (%) | 15 (9) | 4 (7) | 6 (8) | 11 (11) |
| Age at discharge, daysb | 2 (2–3) | 2 (2–2) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (2–3) |
| Discharge diagnosis from maternity ward, n (%) | ||||
| Healthy babyd | 145 (92) | 54 (90) | 75 (95) | 91 (93) |
| Transient tachypnea of the newborn | 4 (3) | 2 (3) | 1 (1) | 2 (2) |
| Prenatal hydronephrosis | 3 (2) | 2 (3) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) |
| Ventricular septal defecte | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 (1) | 1 (1) |
| Otherf | 5 (3) | 2 (3) | 1 (1) | 3 (3) |
CPAP continuous positive airway pressure
aSpontaneous onset of delivery = vaginal birth, vacuum extraction, or acute caesarean section
bMedian (interquartile range)
cDefined as need of assisted ventilation, CPAP within the first hour, diagnosed with transient tachypnea of the newborn or admission to the neonatal ward due to respiratory distress
dInfants discharged as “healthy baby examined at maternity ward”
eInfant was not sampled at birth or at 2–5 days of age
fSkin rash, obstetrical brachial plexus palsy, subgaleal hematoma, congenital dislocation of the hip