Group: number of elective early births drop in WA
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
SEATTLE (AP) -- Health advocates say the number of induced early births has dropped in Washington state.
Doctors with the Washington State Hospital Association reported that the number of babies born after 37 weeks and before 39 weeks of pregnancy dropped by 65 percent statewide -- or about 650 fewer early elective births -- between the third quarter of 2010 and the fourth quarter of 2011.
The group says that advances in medicine have given women the expectation that babies born early will be healthy.
But the group says new research has shown that babies born before 39 weeks risk vision and hearing problems as well as having difficulties staying warm.
Doctor Jeff Thomson says it's worth waiting the full term if there are no health risks to the baby or mother.
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