Comparison of Neonatal Arterial Blood Oxygen Saturation Rate Immediately After Birth in Normal and Elective Cesarean Delivery

Objective: Ninety percent of neonates pass the transition from fetal life to outside uterus successfully, and only 1% needs intensive support for survival. The quantity of oxygen saturation immediately after birth shows the need for resuscitation immediately after birth. The present research was carried out with the objective of comparing saturation rate of arterial blood hypoxia in neonates born with normal vaginal delivery and cesarean method. Materials and Methods: 220 neonates born with elective cesarean section and normal delivery were studied in an analytical-descriptive study. Demographic questionnaire was completed. Then a pulse oxymeter with its sensor fixed on the right wrist of the neonates was used. Heart rate was recorded and the level of oxygen saturation (SaO2) under 90% was considered as hypoxia. To compare the quantitative and qualitative variable between the two groups, paired t test and chi-square test was used, respectively. Pearson correlation test was used to study the correlation between the variables. Results: The age range of mothers was 16-38 years. The mothers’ average age, gestational age and neonates’ weight were not significantly different between groups. The average SaO2 in minutes 1, 3 and 5 was 72%, 81% and 89%, respectively in vaginal delivery, which showed a significant difference compared to cesarean neonates with average of 65%, 75% and 83%, respectively. No significant difference was observed after10 minutes. Also there were not significant statistical correlation between mothers age, number of pregnancies, sex and weight of neonate with SaO2 of arterial blood after 1, 3, 5 and 10 minutes after birth. Conclusion: With respect to the results of the present research SaO2 was higher in neonates of vaginal delivery in comparison to cesarean neonates. Encouraging mothers to delivery vaginally and also using aid-oxygen is proposed for the cesarean neonates at birth.