McGill Expert: Labor inductions may be boosting rate of earlier births

Story: Rates of labor induction nearly doubled from 14% to 27% over the last 10 years in the United States. At the same time, the average gestional age of babies decreased by three days. Researchers now believe the sharp increase in induction is leading to earlier deliveries and that the impact of earlier delivery on the long-term health of infants warrants attention and investigation. While the research is based on U.S. data, the same conclusion can be applied to Canada. The work was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The research was lead by Dr. Michael Kramer, McGill University and Scientific Director at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health.

McGill expert: McGill University's Dr. Michael Kramer

Source: Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64U32620100531