A group of 17 Oregon hospitals have decided to stop performing elective birth inductions and c-sections before 39 weeks of pregnancy.
Joanne Rogovoy of March of Dimes says babies born before then tend to have higher complication rates for things like feeding and breathing problems.
"We've gotten a little bit complacent that 37 to 42 weeks is a full pregnancy and you're done being pregnant at 38 weeks, your work schedule, your families coming in. Possibly you want to make sure that your provider will be on service and will be able to deliver you. I think it's many things that come together," Rogovoy said.
Rogovoy says when labor and delivery units at the 17 hospitals receive a delivery request before 39 weeks without a documented medical reason, they'll decline to admit the patient.
The March of Dimes group hopes to convince Oregon's 36 other delivery hospitals to follow suit. The effort is part of a national campaign.
