The report assessed babies over a 20-year period

Babies born at Antrim Area Hospital were surveyed over a period of 20 years.

Three hundred and thirty babies born by Caesarean were compared with the same number of babies born naturally.

It was found they were twice as likely to be admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties.

One of the report's authors, consultant paediatrician Dr Calum McLeod, said the findings should not put mothers off having Caesareans.

"It's just helping to put another piece of the asthma jigsaw in place so we can develop a better understanding of what causes the commonest childhood disease," he said.