Vim & Vigor - Fall 2010 - (Page 4)

Network Of Care To Induce or Not Induce The decision to have your baby before nature intended shouldn’t be made lightly Y ou’ve been carrying that little bundle for somewhere between 36 and 38 weeks. And because you already love your baby so much, it just feels like the right time for him or her to enter the world. It also feels like the right time because your ankles are swollen, it’s difficult to do everyday tasks, it’s impossible to sleep and your family is in town for the birth. You know other moms who have had labor induced prior to 39 weeks because it fit their schedules, or their physician’s. Why shouldn’t you just schedule an induction right now? In 2003, labor was induced in one out of five deliveries in the United States, a rate that has more than doubled since 1990. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists standards discourage elective inductions prior to 39 weeks, and March of Dimes recommends that labor be induced only when the health of the woman or baby is at risk. While babies born just prior to 39 weeks can be considered healthy, they are more likely to have medical problems than babies born later, at full term. Some of those problems include jaundice, as well as issues with breathing, feeding and maintaining body temperature. Of course, there are very valid reasons for inducing labor*: • The pregnancy has lasted more than 42 weeks and the placenta stops functioning well enough for the Questions to Ask Induction is sometimes needed to protect the health of both the mother and the baby, but it also has risks. You’ll want to understand the benefits and risks, and may want to ask your physician the following questions if she recommends induction before 39 weeks: • Is there a problem with my health or the health of my baby that may make it necessary to start labor early? • Can I wait to have my baby closer to 40 weeks? • Why do you need to induce my labor? • How will you induce my labor? • Will inducing labor increase the chance that I’ll need a C-section? Source: marchofdimes.com 4 Vim & Vigor • Fa ll 2 010  http://www.marchofdimes.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2010

Vim_&_Vigor - Fall 2010
Contents
CEO Letter
Community Connections
Network of Care
Heart of Trauma
What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet?
See the Future
The Female Factor
Take a Bite Out of Stress
Starring Role
Shouldering the Pain
Train Your Brain
What Now?
Choose Your Own Adventure
Unveiled
In Good ‘Hands’
From a Distance
ReConnect Leadership
Ask the Experts

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2010

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