interesting article

[Illiana]

http://www.time.com/time/health/arti...pstories-polar

Talks about the rising rate of C/S and inductions in the US and why its such a concern to the ACOG.

[~Katie~]

Moving to Birth and Beyond...

[thencamehenry]

I also saw that and thought it was interesting to see that research is backing up my long-held suspicion that the increase in inductions is fueling the rising c-section rates in our country. Of course there are situations where any intervention could be life-saving. But I really don't get why so many women I know are such control freaks about what could otherwise be normal births. If we would just leave well enough alone...

I was pleased to be reading it in a mainstream publication with ACOG sources because I think it comes across as more legit to the typical mainstream mama than an article in, say, Mothering.

[elanorh]

Thanks for the link! This is just the sort of "mainstream" type article which is so nice to share with family/friends to explain why my OB likes to say, "Keep cooking that baby!" Inductions are treated as a convenience, not a risk, and I've debated this several times with my sisters.

[MegBoz]

Research shows that after 41 weeks' gestation, at which point it is standard policy to induce labor, it may lower the risk of medical complications for mother and baby — including the risk of stillbirth — and even decrease the likelihood of C-section delivery,

This makes me .
Actual average length of "uncomplicated gestation" for a first-time mom is 41W1D. How can you say that routine induction at 41W0D therefore makes any sense? It strikes me as beyond insane.

Of course, I have read there is some truth to the fact that 41W induction reduces the rate of stillbirth, but I believe the rates are so small to begin with - whereas the risks of negative outcomes from induction are NOT small.