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Want A Shorter Labor and A Healthier Baby?

Going into labor spontaneously protects both you and your newborn.

By Jeanne Faulkner


Let nature run its course. Babies delivered before 39 weeks have more complications. So in 2001, Intermountain Healthcare, Utah, whose 21 hospitals handle 30,000 births a year, began to eliminate elective inductions for first-time mothers before 39 weeks. They found that those with a low (0-2) Bishop Score (a measure of how "ripe" the cervix is), even at 39 weeks, had labors that averaged 21 hours and C-section rates of almost 50 percent. With a score of 10, labor lasted 91/2 hours and C-sections dropped to 8 percent. The result: Inappropriate elective inductions declined by more than 50 percent.

Read more about Induction
June/July 2008
Jeanne Faulkner, R.N., is a labor and delivery nurse and mother of four in Portland, Ore.

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User Comments:

  1. I live about 30 minutes away from the hospital...so my doctor thought it would be best to induce thatn to take the risk of labor pains starting during rush hour so far away! everything worked out fine, we arrived at around 9.00 am and he was born at around 6.00 pm.
    — Vivian
  2. So according to your induction... you had plenty of time to get to the hospital. I'm sure 30 mins would have cut it!
    — Lulu
  3. I would never want to induce because of a 30 minute drive! I have a 30 minute drive from my work to the hospital. When my labor starts Im going to work as long as I can, and then head to the hospital. I want to spend as little time as possible pacing the hospital room in misery.
    — Tina

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