Inducing labour reduces perinatal mortality but increases special care baby unit admissions

Inducing labour after 37 weeks of pregnancy can reduce the death of a baby before, during or immediately after birth.

But statistically, for every 1,040 women who have an elective induction of labour from 40 weeks, one newborn baby will be saved but seven more will be admitted to a special care baby unit.

The findings come from a Scottish study published on the British Medical Journal website today.

Pregnant women are induced from 37 weeks to reduce pregnancy complications and at 41 weeks to reduce infant death.

According to data held on more than 1.2 million women who had single pregnancies after 37 weeks gestation, elective induction of labour was associated with lower death rates and without increasing the need for a caesarean section.

But it was associated with increased rates of admission to special care baby units.

The authors say this “has the potential to reduce perinatal mortality in developed countries without increasing the risk of operative delivery.”