Study finds inducing babies at 37 weeks cuts risk of cerebral palsy by more than 25%

A study piloted in Denmark has suggested that inducing babies at 37 weeks can lower the risk of the baby dying or developing a serious health condition, such as cerebral palsy.

The research which was conducted over a 13 year period, and which analysed 770,926 births, found that there was a drop of 26 per cent in the cerebral palsy rate between 2002 and 2010 in babies that had been induced at 37 weeks.

Professor Ojvind Lidegaard, co-author of the study, from the University of Copenhagen, said “We have seen significant reductions in newborn asphyxia, neonatal mortality, macrosomia and peripheral nerve injuries.

“Another similar study we conducted recently also demonstrated a halving of stillbirths following the implementation of proactive labour induction practice.

“Our results therefore suggest an overall improvement in perinatal outcomes following a national change towards a proactive management of post-term pregnancy through labour induction.”

The findings were published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaceology.

John Thorpe, BJOG’s editor-in-chief, said that further scrutiny was needed before the findings were implemented elsewhere.

“Labour induction is a simple intervention, but demands a closer surveillance during labour and hospital settings must be able to support such changes,” he said.

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of Medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex Medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of Medical negligence. He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in Medical negligence claims. Tony also acts as the Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled. Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk. Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist Medical negligence Legal Aid and no win-no fee solicitors for free legal advice on the freephone number below.

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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