MANILA, Philippines?Mothers should now think twice before choosing a caesarean section especially when there is no medical or emergency reason to have it.

According to one expert, babies delivered through caesarian section are significantly more likely to develop allergic diseases and infections later in life than children born naturally.

?The reason is that the bacteria present in the mother?s birth canal that are proving to be beneficial in the development of a new-born baby?s immune system,? said Dr. Bengt Björkstén, emeritus professor of Allergy Prevention and Pediatrics at the Karolinska Institutet at Stockholm, Sweden.

Björkstén, who recently visited the Philippines, is one of the world?s leading expert in pediatric immunology who did studies on the role of intestinal microorganisms in the development of a baby?s immune system.

Stimulate

He explained that as the baby is being born, the bacteria residing in the mother?s birth canal colonizes the baby?s ?sterile? intestine, thereby enabling the baby?s immune system sufficient time to identify the ?invaders,? and afterward, develop protective immunity against them.

Such process could not happen during caesarian section because the sterile condition that the procedure is carried out keeps the baby from encountering these bacteria.

Caesarian section is a procedure in which the baby, rather than being born vaginally, is surgically removed from the uterus.

The risks identified include the development in children of asthma, food allergy, gastrointestinal infections, alteration of response to food allergens, allergic rhinitis, wheezing, hay fever, gastroenteritis and infectious diseases in the early years of the baby?s life as well as the development in adults of asthma.

?These risks linked to caesarean births?whether chosen by the woman or her doctor?are higher, regardless of variables such as demographics, medical and pregnancy history, gestational age of the fetus, pregnancy complications, where the baby is born and the skills of those helping deliver the baby,? he said.

Björkstén noted that those born or who had to undergo caesarian section should not lose hope as his findings may pave the way for a means to strengthen a newly born?s immune system and lessen the chance from acquiring these risks.

Rising

Björkstén?s studies came as a response to the rates of caesarean section for nonemergency cases that have risen dramatically in developed as well as in developing countries.

From previously being considered a ?last ditch resort? the procedure is now being performed with such frequency that many view them as routine.

Mothers who elect to undergo the procedure cited reasons like being quick in comparison to most labors, pain-free (the operation is carried out under anesthetic). Other reasons are the mother?s fear that the baby may be ?squashed? and damaged in the normal delivery process and the fact that with the advancement of technology and doctors? experience, the procedure has been made much safer to perform.

25 percent

On average, 25 percent of babies worldwide are currently born by caesarian section according to the latest figures.

However, the World Health Organization stated that no region in the world should be justified in having such procedure greater than 15 percent.

?As more and more women subscribe to planned caesarean section, we also noted the rising prevalence of allergies in the general population,? he reported.

Aside from Björkstén?s findings, a recent Lancet study noted that women are three times more likely to die during a caesarian section than during a normal delivery.

Hemorrhage, infection, paralytic ileus, pulmonary embolism, respiratory distress of the newborn and adverse effects on future pregnancies are only a few of the possible consequences of a procedure gone wrong.

Björkstén?s visit to the Philippines was through Nestlé Nutrition Institute, a multidisciplinary educational organization dedicated to the science of healthy nutrition, providing information, guidance and support to bridge the latest scientific discoveries and their application to achieving optimal nutrition.