Doctors pushing women to induce babies at 39 weeks to reduce stillbirths

DOCTORS are advising women to induce their babies earlier than their due date, in a controversial strategy to prevent stillbirths.

DOCTORS are pushing to deliver babies a week or two earlier than their due date, in a controversial strategy to prevent stillbirths.

Obstetricians are advising pregnant women to reduce the risk of stillbirth by having their babies induced when they are 39 weeks pregnant, instead of waiting to give birth naturally at 40 or 41 weeks.

But a leading pregnancy researcher is warning that early birthing could impair a baby’s intelligence and future academic performance.

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president Steve Robson says new international research proves that fewer babies die when doctors induce births before the due date.

“There are twice as many stillbirths in Australia than deaths from road accidents,’’ Professor Robson said.

“If you’re fair dinkum about reducing the rate of stillbirth, if there is any hint of a problem once you get to 39 weeks, the evidence is overwhelming that offering a woman an induction and delivering the baby reduces the risk the baby will die.’’

Bronwin Freke had daughter Beatrix, now 10 months old, induced early at 39 weeks. Picture: Jamie Hanson

University of Newcastle Mothers and Babies Research Centre director Roger Smith, a senior principal research fellow with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), yesterday warned that pregnancies should not be induced routinely.

He said a study of more than 400,000 Scottish children in 2010 had found that babies born early were more likely to require special needs schooling.

“At the end of pregnancy the (baby’s) brain is growing rapidly, and the optimum environment for brain growth is in utero,’’ he said.

“Thirty-nine weeks is not optimum, 40 weeks is better and 41 weeks is better still. If you’re talking about reducing the rate of stillbirths, then induction at 39 weeks will (reduce the risk).

“But how many Einsteins will you prevent and how many special education needs will you generate?’’

Professor Craig Pennell, who chairs obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Newcastle, is working with Professor Smith to develop a blood test to identify babies at risk of stillbirth due to the breakdown of the mother’s placenta.

“We need good tools to identify when it’s safe to leave people pregnant,’’ Professor Pennell said.

“We shouldn’t underestimate the benefit of the foetus remaining in utero until term. There is ongoing brain maturation.

“The movement to deliver everyone at 39 weeks is because, at last, people are realising stillbirth can happen.”

“Being induced does not increase the chance of needing a caesarean section or forceps delivery.’’

Brisbane obstetrician Gino Pecoraro. Picture: Glenn Hunt

The Australian Medical Association’s spokesman on obstetrics, Brisbane obstetrician Gino Pecoraro, yesterday said he encouraged pregnant women older than 35 years to consider an induction at 39 weeks.

“More and more people are getting induced because of increased maternal age,’’ he said. “If you’re over the age of 35 or 37, if we induce you at 39 weeks you have significantly decreased the risk of unexplained stillbirths’’.

Dr Pecoraro said women “still have the right to say no’’.

Brisbane mum Bronwin Freke agreed to have labour brought on early because she was 39-years-old when she gave birth to baby Beatrix 10 months ago.

“It was always my decision, but (the obstetrician) highly recommended that I do so,’’ she said. “I ended up needing to have an emergency caesarean because bub’s heart rate dropped.’’

Ms Freke said she was relieved the emergency happened in hospital and not at home had she waited for a natural labour.