Contrary to longstanding beliefs, a new clinical trial suggests that first-time moms over the age 35 may not face greater likelihood of cesarean delivery. This could be possible if labor is induced before their due date.
Forbes reported that researchers from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust in the United Kingdom have found that older first-time moms who had their labor induced during the 39th week of pregnancy did not face any increased risks of C-section. The study, published in the March issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, claimed that labor induction did not pose any negative effects on the mothers and their newborns.
The researchers, led by Kate F. Walker, conducted the study by recruiting 619 first-time moms with low-risk pregnancies. Half of the women, with ages 34 and up, were randomly assigned to have a labor induction during their 39th week of pregnancy, while the rest waited until labor begins naturally.
The researchers found that majority of the women with planned induction showed no increased risk of needing a C-section compared to the other group. Moreover, they did not find any difference in health on the moms and newborns under labor induction.
Despite the positive findings, Walker said that the study was not comprehensive enough to determine effects on rare complications. "The ideal course would now be to perform a much larger trial to prove a reduction in stillbirths," she added.
In an article of WebMD, Dr. William Grobman, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said that there is no clear evidence if it is beneficial for women who have healthy pregnancies to seek induced labor. "This was a very good study, but it shouldn't lead to any massive change in practice," he commented.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of labor induction in the United States has been slightly declining in the past years after two decades of steady rise. At present, labor induction is only advised for women who have certain medical conditions that may harm the baby in the womb.
