U.S. Birth Weights Falling, But Reasons Unclear

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My wife was 2 weeks late with her first baby. Mom was small, baby was big and she (to put it mildly) split wide open. Since then, we made sure if she didn't have it at least 1 week early she would get induced.

b of CO 8:24PM January 21, 2010

What's unclear? We're becoming a third-world country. Even for college-educated women, having a child is often a one-way ticket to poverty. Don't you think the stress of economic insecurity would result in mothers bearing sickly children?

Hilary of CA 8:19PM January 21, 2010

Every one of my friends has been induced. Not even near term, but like Deb of AL said, at 38 weeks. No health reason is given about half the time, I've seen inductions for avoiding weekends, holidays, etc. Only once I've heard of the reason that the baby was "too big." He was right at 8 pounds. That is NOT too big.
I am pregnant and actively looking for a doctor that does not do inductions as routine, and it's been so much harder than I expected.
This problem is NO mystery, just look at induction rates and voila, I wouldn't be surprised if that accounted for the lower birth weights.

Melissa of MO 8:16PM January 21, 2010

The gestation period, simply put is "development at some rate of time". The ease or difficulty for the chemistry to take place may have sweetend for this process in the recent decades, with modern foods and supliments. Therefore the natural result would be a slightly faster, more efficient development. Keep in mind that 2.5 days is only about a 1% change.
Now consider how many no-human creatures of just as much complexity, develop in a much shorter time. Humans are definitely not on the leading edge in nature.

Terry 8:01PM January 21, 2010

The first thing every doctor tells a new patient receiving prenatal care is to watch their weight gain to avoid gestational diabetes, especially if their weight gain doesn't happen within standard guideline. Maybe those well educated women who receive prenatal care are listening to their doctors and those doctors aren't letting them gain enough weight.

of CA 7:56PM January 21, 2010

Vicki, I couldn't agree more. I think so many OB's have a serious case of "inductionitis", and it seems to be spreading. My sis-in-law was induced for both births, and her doc has "Induction Monday", which is what she apparently does all day. I just think the whole thing is weird. Doesn't even seem to be that 40 weeks is the norm anymore. I hear women talk about being full-term at 38 weeks. Maybe the researchers haven't accounted for the fact that the definition of "full-term" have have unofficially changed...???

Deb of AL 7:47PM January 21, 2010

Induced labor was my first thought when reading this article as well. One would think that they would account for this in their research but there is no note of it in this article. Our last child, born in 2008, was induced a week before the scheduled due date. I believe our Dr. stated that inducing labor for convenience purposes is becoming more common.

Derek of AZ 7:38PM January 21, 2010

I wonder if the practice that many MDs have of inducing labor so that the birth is more handy for them could have anything to do with it. My last child was delivered after me being induced at 39 weeks. I agreed to it because he was sitting on my sciatic nerve and causing me much pain. However, I have had friends who were induced for the MDs convenience.

Vicki of AR 7:13PM January 21, 2010