Knee-to-chest flexion manoeuvre to reduce respiratory distress after planned caesarean birth: a feasibility study.

Background: Planned caesarean section (CS) is a risk factor for neonatal respiratory distress caused by a greater volume of airway liquid in the absence of uterine contractions.Performing a newly conceptualised knee-to-chest flexion (KCF) manoeuvre at birth, mimicking uterine contraction-induced flexion may aid in expelling excess lung liquid.

Objectives: To test whether performing a KCF manoeuvre at birth is feasible in infants born after planned CS and to test whether KCF leads to visible expulsion of lung liquid.