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Data shows that inducing labor at 39 weeks averts complications

On Behalf of | Jul 18, 2018 | Birth Injuries

Medical researchers have recently conducted an important study that may be of interest to expecting mothers in Texas. After analyzing a group of healthy first-time mothers, researchers found that those who were artificially stimulated, or induced, at 39 weeks were at a lower risk for birth-related complications than those induced at 41 weeks.

In particular, it averts the need for primary cesarean deliveries and decreases the chances of the baby being stillborn. Obstetricians usually recommend inducing labor at 39 weeks because the pregnancy is already considered late-term by then. At that stage, it becomes harder for the placenta to deliver essential nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, which can harm both the baby and the mother.

Researchers at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine estimated the rate for various conditions at 39 and 41 weeks. Among mothers at 39 weeks, 13.9 percent had C-sections and 16.5 percent suffered from complications like pre-eclampsia and uterine. None of these mothers had stillbirths. As for those at 41 weeks, 35.9 percent had C-sections and 21.2 percent suffered said complications.

At 39 weeks, the risk for stillbirth was 0 percent; at 41 weeks, the risk was 0.13 percent. Neonatal complications like shoulder dystocia affected 9.4 percent of pregnancies at 39 weeks and 12.1 percent at 41 weeks.

When parents believe they have a valid birth injury case, they can consult with a lawyer. The attorney could request an inquiry from the local medical board and hire experts to determine the extent of the injuries and calculate the financial side of things. This can greatly relieve the stress that parents feel. The lawyer could even handle all negotiations, potentially proving how the doctor was negligent during the delivery process. If a settlement cannot be reached, the next step is a courtroom trial.

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