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. 2023 May 1;32(2):72-82.
doi: 10.1891/JPE-2022-0030.

Research Update: Healthy Birth Practice #1-Let Labor Begin on Its Own

Debby Amis

Research Update: Healthy Birth Practice #1-Let Labor Begin on Its Own

Debby Amis. J Perinat Educ. .

Abstract

This article is an adaptation for print of Debby Amis's presentation at the 2022 Lamaze Virtual Conference. She discusses worldwide recommendations as to the optimal time for routine labor induction for low-risk pregnant persons, the recent research about the optimal time for routine labor induction, and recommendations to help the pregnant family make an informed decision about routine induction. This article includes an important new study not included in the Lamaze Virtual Conference that found an increase in perinatal deaths for low-risk pregnancies that were induced at 39 weeks as compared to low-risk pregnancies not induced at 39 weeks but were delivered no later than 42 weeks.

Keywords: childbirth education; decision making; evidence-based practice; interventions/complications.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Amis, D. (2022). Low-risk cesarean rates in the United States.
Sources: Gronman, W.A., et al., (2018) and annual CDC National Vital Statistics Reports, 2014–2022.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Amis, D. (2022). Results of the INDEX study.
Source: Keulen, et al. (2019). *MII = medically indicated inductions.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Amis, D. (2022). Results of the SWEPIS study.
Source: Wennerholm, et al. (2019). *MII = medically indicated inductions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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