Hassan Boskabadi - Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Maryam Zakerihamidi - Department of Midwifery, School of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Tonekabon, Iran
Fatemeh Bagheri - Department of Pediatrics Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

Background & Objective: Caesarean sections without indication, compared to normal vaginal deliveries, bring about many consequences for the mother and her fetus. Therefore, this study aimed at comparing the characteristics of neonates born by normal vaginal deliveries and caesarean sections. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted from 2015 to 2019, 736 term neonates aged 3 to 12 days old with a weight > 2.5 kg and a gestational age > 37 weeks referred to a neonatal clinic were studied after obtaining their parents’ full consent. A researcher-made questionnaire examining maternal personal information, neonate’s characteristics, breastfeeding status, and the type of delivery was completed. The obtained data were analyzed via SPSS 22, using a t-test and Chi-square test. Results: In the present study, out of the 736 term neonates, 409 neonates (55.6%) were born by normal vaginal deliveries and 327 neonates (44.4%) were born by caesarean sections. There were statistically significant differences between the two methods of delivery in terms of the frequency of breastfeeding per day (P=0.002), the frequency of urination per day (P=0.007), the first postpartum defecation time (P=0.027), and neonates’ chief complaint (P=0.004). Conclusion: The results of the current study showed that the neonates born by normal vaginal deliveries, compared to those delivered by caesarean sections, had a more favorable status, regarding the frequency of breastfeeding, the frequency of urination per day, and the first postpartum defecation time. Moreover, the level of weight loss (g) per day and the percentage of daily weight loss were higher in the neonates born by caesarean sections compared to the other neonates.

Breastfeeding, Cesarean section (CS), Neonatal characteristics, Normal vaginal delivery (NVD)