Health chiefs say pregnant women should be induced at 41 weeks to reduce the risk of stillbirth

Health chiefs have said today that pregnant women should be induced at 41 weeks, before they are classed as overdue, to reduce the risks to themselves and their baby.

Healthy mothers-to-be have previously only been offered an induced labour on the NHS when classed as overdue, at 42 weeks. However, new evidence has shown that babies are more likely to die if the pregnancy goes beyond the 42-week point and the chance of stillbirth increases the longer the wait goes on.

According to the NHS, one in five labours (around 128,000) are induced in the UK each year.

Women who choose not to be induced at 41 weeks can continue with regular monitoring, but the draft guidelines say they should be informed that there is no evidence this can prevent poor outcomes for mother or baby.

NICE’s director of the centre for guidelines Dr Paul Chrisp, said “It’s vitally important that pregnant women faced with the possibility of induced labour are offered advice based on the latest evidence.

“By advising induced labour one week earlier, we can help ensure that women and babies are safer from harm and have the best possible outcomes during birth.”

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ vice president Dr Pat O’Brien welcomed the guidance update, adding “It’s been more than 10 years since the previous guidelines were introduced and it’s vitally important the new research published since then is acknowledged and the advice for women updated accordingly.

“This proposed update takes into account the increasing body of evidence that pregnancies that reach, or pass, 41 weeks are associated with a small increase in the risk of stillbirth and perinatal death and that induction of labour reduces this risk.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, 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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