Final answer:
Temporary respiratory problems are more common after cesarean birth primarily because the baby's lungs have not been compressed in the birth canal, which is necessary to help expel fluid and prepare the lungs for breathing air.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temporary respiratory problems are more common after cesarean birth because the baby's lungs have not been compressed in the birth canal. This compression normally helps to expel amniotic fluid from the lungs to prepare them for breathing air. The lungs of a fetus are partially collapsed and filled with fluid during gestation since they do not need to breathe in utero; the placenta supplies all the necessary oxygenated blood. When a baby is delivered via cesarean, they miss out on this natural expulsion of fluid.
Additionally, the presence of pulmonary surfactant is crucial for the lungs to inflate properly at birth. It reduces the surface tension within the alveoli, aiding in the process of expanding the lungs. Infants, particularly those who are preterm, may have insufficient levels of this surfactant, which can lead to further respiratory complications like Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS).