A new study was done that showed that inducing labor at 39 weeks does not impact child development. When it comes to pregnancy, it may only be 40 weeks, but it will always feel longer than that for the woman who is going through it. As she nears the end of her pregnancy, she may be anxious for it to end, and she may even want to be induced. There are many reasons why a medical provider may suggest an induction, but there are many who may be concerned about the risks of inducing a pregnancy, and are uneasy with this suggestion.
This is why studies are so important, as they work to guide medical practice and reassure women who may find themselves in these situations. According to Medical Xpress, a new study was done that showed that inducing labor at 39 weeks does not lead to any impairments in child development.
This study was done by the University of Melbourne, and it can be read in full here. It found that children who were born following an induced labor, or C-section, at 39 weeks are at no greater risk of being “developmentally vulnerable” when compared to children who were born at term, or past.
The researchers looked at data from over 88,000 children who were born between the years 2005 and 2013. In Australia, where the study was conducted, induction of birth is common at around 39 weeks, and they wanted to look to see if this had any impact on the health and development of children.
They looked at five different “health domains” throughout their study:
- Social competence
- Emotional maturity
- Communication skills
They wanted to look at more than just a child’s educational skills, like reading and writing to get a full picture of a child’s cognitive development.
They also found that it didn’t matter how a child was born either, and this means whether there were complications that required forceps, a vacuum, or a c-section. All the babies were at similar risk of cognitive impairment, and this can bring comfort to women who had to deliver early, or who had to have medical interventions to assist them in delivering their child.
Studies will likely continue to evolve over time, and will continue to give parents reassurance that their baby will be just fine, whether they come on their due date, or a bit before.
Sources: Medical Xpress, JAMA Network