Up to 26% of babies born vaginally may experience tiny hemorrhages in the brain, say researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. The researchers say these hemorrhages are mostly a normal part of being born and do not lead to any damage or complications. They stressed mothers should not choose to have Cesarean sections as a result of reading this news.

You can read about this new study in the journal Radiology.

Dr. Honor Wolfe, a co-author of this study, said “This study demonstrates that intracranial hemorrhages are much more common in newborns than expected. For parents and obstetricians, hearing that 26 percent of babies have bleeds in the head is frightening, and it may lead some to conclude that C-section is safer. But, we have no evidence that these bleeds are problems later in life, and women have delivered vaginally for centuries.” Dr. Wolfe said she does not think patients should change plans for delivery based on the findings in this study.

This study aimed to look at brain development in 97 newborns, 65 with vaginal delivery and 23 with cesarean delivery. Their brains were scanned using 3.0-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging without sedation – after informed consent was obtained from a parent.

Dr. Keith Smith, also a study co-author, said “We need to recognize that this happens commonly after birth and isn’t indicating any abnormalities. It’s not a cause for alarm. The fact that we’re seeing so much higher an incidence is a reflection of the fact that this was done with very high resolution imaging”.

Even so, the researchers were surprised that so many newborns had experienced slight bleeding in the brain during their birth. They found the incidence of bleeding was not influenced by such factors as forceps, vacuum extraction or a long labor – the common factor was vaginal delivery.

The researchers stressed they found no evidence that this slight bleeding caused any damage or complications for the baby. They have decided to monitor the babies’ development over the coming years.

“Intracranial Hemorrhage in Asymptomatic Neonates: Prevalence on MR Images and Relationship to Obstetric and Neonatal Risk Factors”
Christopher B. Looney, BS, J. Keith Smith, MD, PhD, Lisa H. Merck, MD, MPH, Honor M. Wolfe, MD, Nancy C. Chescheir, MD, Robert M. Hamer, PhD and John H. Gilmore, MD
Radiology 2007;242:535-541
Click here to see abstract online

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today