Scheduled Deliveries Not Linked to Healthier Babies

Scheduled Deliveries Not Linked to Healthier Babies

It might be a sign of the times: In a world where people carry computer-phones in their pockets and exert an unprecedented degree of control over their environment, more and more pregnant women are seeking to schedule their babies’ births.

In fact today, nearly one in four women plans to be induced for delivery – a rate that has nearly doubled since the 80s.

But induction, even though it has come a long way in 20 years, doesn’t always work as planned. And when it fails to move labor along, doctors may need to tap additional interventions, like cesarean delivery – a common but nevertheless major surgery that’s not without risks to moms.

Moreover, new research by University of Rochester Medical Center obstetrician Dr. Christopher Glantz suggests that overall, these self-imposed “convenience” interventions don’t appear linked to benefits to newborns.

“Like virtually all medical therapies and procedures, these interventions entail some risk for the mother, and there is no evidence in this study that they benefit the baby,” Glantz said. “In my mind, if you are getting the same safe outcome for baby with high and low rates of intervention, I say ‘do no harm’ and go with fewer interventions.”

To hear more on this issue, listen to Dr. Glantz in the clip below.

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Glantz is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicineat the University of Rochester Medical Center.

To learn more about his study, click here.

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*  The above story is adapted from materials provided by University of Rochester Medical Center

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