Inducing Pregnant Women At 37 Weeks Could Lower The Risks Associated With Birth, Say Experts

Even though women are ‘supposed’ to give birth at around the 40-week mark, anyone who’s already a parent knows that most babies don’t arrive when they’re supposed to.

In fact, most babies put in an appearance at any point between 38 and 42 weeks. But should they be given a little nudge to enter the world a little earlier than they were planning?

That’s what some experts are suggesting – that pregnant women be induced once they reach 37 weeks.

Despite current guidelines stating that uncomplicated pregnancies should be induced in weeks 41 to 42 (if they're overdue), experts have found that inducing at 37 weeks could help lower the chances of babies being stillborn or developing serious health conditions.

Taking into account risk factors including smoking, maternal age and being a first-time mum, experts looked at the success rate of labour induction over a 13-year period in Denmark – where a quarter of pregnant women have their labour kick started.

Looking at almost 800,000 births, researchers found that the risk of stillbirths decreased from 1.9 to one per 1,000 births from 2000 to 2012.

The risk of asphyxia also decreased by 23 per cent from 2003 to 2012 and the incidence rate of cerebral palsy also decreased by 26 per cent from 2002 to 2010.

And that’s not all. The number of large babies (weighing over nine pounds and 15 ounces) born went down by a third while injuries to the baby's peripheral nerve, linking the brain and spine, fell by 43 per cent.

But there was a negative – the study found that the risk of the baby’s shoulder getting stuck during delivery increased by almost a third.

“Another similar study we conducted recently also demonstrated a halving of stillbirths following the implementation of proactive labour induction practice,” says professor Ojvind Lidegaard, co-author of the study from the University of Copenhagen.

“Our results therefore suggest an overall improvement in perinatal outcomes following a national change towards a proactive management of post-term pregnancy through labour induction.”

But John Thorp, the editor-in-chief of BJOG: An International Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology where the findings were published, warns that findings need to be analysed further before being implemented.

“Labour induction is a simple intervention, but demands a closer surveillance during labour and hospital settings must be able to support such changes,' says Thorp.

Meanwhile professor Alan Cameron, vice president for clinical quality at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that induction is common and safe but can be less efficient, and more painful, than spontaneous labour.

“Induction can also place more strain on labour and these factors must also be considered,” he says.

“Treatment and care should always take into account women’s individual needs and preferences. Women should have the opportunity to make information decisions in partnership with their healthcare professionals.”

What do you think? Should labour be induced or should it happen naturally? Let us know in the comments below.

[New Mummy Blog: A Positive Labour Story]

[Duchess Of Cambridge Pregnancy Update: Could Kate’s Second Baby Arrive Sooner Than April?]