Today’s Oregonian article Effort in Oregon looks to halt elective births before 39 weeks by Joe Rojas-Burke gives an update on our 39 weeks / Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait campaign. Noting we now have 34 hospitals on board putting a hard stop on non-medically necessary inductions and c-sections prior to 39 weeks gestation. The article also points out reasons why this effort is so important.
In addition to all the physical health reasons like lung, brain and other organ development as well as fewer admissions into the NICU; the article cites a recent study on tests scores:
In a study earlier this year, Yale University researchers compared third-grade test scores of 215,000 New York City kids. Those delivered before 39 weeks gestation scored significantly lower on math and reading tests. And for each week earlier than 39 weeks that delivery took place, the lower the test scores dropped. After 39 weeks, gestational age made no difference in test scores.
Read the whole article in today’s Oregonian or online.
