Does Induced Labor Put First-Time Moms and their Babies at Risk?

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, opting for induced labor for convenience rather than medical necessity puts first-time moms and their infants at health risk.

Also known as “elective induction,” the research shows that deciding to have induced labor raises the risk of having a Caesarean section, which increases the mother’s chances as well of greater blood loss and longer recovery time.

The study evaluated the medical charts of 485 first-time moms who delivered their babies at the University of Rochester Medical Center in 2007. The results showed that about one-third of those who opted for induced labor had to have a C-section, versus those whose labor was not induced.

C-sections, considered major surgeries, put mothers at risk for “infection, complications and more surgeries.”