Newborn Vitals in the First 10 min Do Not Differ With Mode of Delivery.

Abstract

We compared the physiological transition of neonates > 35 weeks old that are born vaginally versus those born by elective LSCS using SpO2, heart rate, and temperature in the first 10 min of life. We recorded the SpO2 of babies at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 s until 5 min (15-s intervals) and every 30 s after that until 10 min. Heart rate was recorded using a stethoscope at 30-s intervals by counting for 6 s and multiplying by 10. The Temperature was recorded every 1-10 min via a digital thermometer. The study included 221 neonates, with 111 being born vaginally. Baseline characteristics such as gestational age, sex, and weight were comparable. The mean duration of skin-to-skin contact was higher in the vaginal deliveries as compared with LSCS (32.1 [8.6] vs. 4.6 [4], p < 0.001). The mean SpO2 in both groups at different time intervals was not statistically significant up to 6 min. It was higher in normal vaginal deliveries until 9 min (statistically significant). After 9 min, it was similar in both groups. Heart rate and temperature were similar in both groups. Physiological parameters in the newborn do not differ much despite the difference in delivery methods.