Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/139497
"Don't fool with Mother Nature. There's nothing better than the human uterus for a fetal-growth environment." are many medical reasons to induce labor. And babies who go into labor naturally are responding to hormonal cues and have fewer respiratory problems." One reason for those fewer problems, which doctors only recently learned, is a natural reabsorption process. When the birthing process starts, the fluid in the lungs begins being reabsorbed into the baby's body, with about 30 percent reabsorbed before the onset of labor, another 30 percent reabsorbed during labor, and the remainder absorbed after laboring. "So when the normal process is interfered with, more respiratory problems can occur," Toney says. "When you look at 4 million babies being delivered in the United States per year, births between 37 and 38 weeks account for tens of thousands of babies needing oxygen for a period of time and almost 3,000 babies a year requiring a ventilator," Toney says. "And there's a slight increased risk in even mortality. Some of these babies can have respiratory failure and unfortunately die. The risk is small, but if it happens once, that's once too many times." Other risks of early induction: Sometimes due dates are wrong, and a mom who thinks she's 37 weeks has not reached that mark yet, further increasing the chance of complications. An induction also might not work, leading to a C-section because labor was falsely started, a procedure that, in itself, carries higher risks, Toney says. Long-term issues, from a NICU separation leading to unsuccessful breastfeeding attempts, to a child's not excelling in school, are also both real concerns, Toney says. A study published in Pediatrics found lower reading and math scores for children who were born Dr. Joe Toney, director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Sky Ridge Medical Center, says research continues to validate hospitals' 39-week rule for elective inductions. between 37 and 39 compared with those who were past 39 weeks (Pediatrics, Vol. 130, No. 2, Aug. 1, 2012). A fetus's brain at 35 weeks weighs only two-thirds of what it weighs at 39 to 40 weeks, the March of Dimes points out. Parents often ask Toney when brains stop developing. "And I say: When you die. Even a full-term baby's brain hasn't finished developing, or we'd all come out walking and talking." Once she explains the issue to parents, Garcia says, there's seldom an argument. "Most moms want what's best for their baby." The Colorado Hospital Association has set a goal of reducing the state rate for "elective" deliveries prior to 39 weeks to no more than 4 percent by the end of the year. The rate was about 7.4 percent in January. Hanson, who says he would never recommend an elective 37-week birth to his own family member, says the fewer early inductions, the better."At that point, it really isn't about you. It's about your baby." Taking care of Mom during pregnancy can mean the difference between a full-term and pre-term birth. Here are some factors, shared by Dr. Kristen Garcia of North Suburban Medical Center, that can lead to early births: Low maternal birth weight Smoking and substance abuse • Short interval between pregnancies • Uncontrolled diabetes • Uncontrolled high blood pressure • Poor prenatal care • • Health & Wellness Magazine • 29