Inducing labor at 39 weeks is safe and linked to lower risk of C-section, study finds

AUGUST 8, 2018

Induced labor at 39 weeks linked to lower C-section risk

A large new study finds that inducing labor at 39 weeks — when a pregnancy has reached full-term — doesn’t result in any higher risk of perinatal death or severe health problems in infants. And women who had labor induced were less likely to have a C-section or experience problems with blood pressure than women who didn’t. In a joint statement, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine said the findings show it’s a reasonable option for certain women. “I think it’s going to have a very big impact on obstetric practice not just in the U.S., but around the world,” Dr. Kate Walker, an obstetrician and researcher at the University of Nottingham, tells me. More here.