A recently released study found, after examining 160,000 children,  that babies born at 34 to 36 weeks were 36 percent more likely to have developmental delays including learning difficulties in kindergarten than those born during the 37^th to 41^st week of pregnancy.  

These findings are significant because they support arguments against scheduling Cesarean section births more than a few days early.  Cesarean sections are often scheduled for convenience to accommodate the mother’s or the doctor’s agenda.  Up until now there was suspicion, but no evidence to support that “late preterm” infants (children born at 34 to 36 weeks) might have behavior and learning difficulties.  The study found that slightly more than 4 percent of late preemies had developmental delays, versus nearly 3 percent of the other infants.  This indicates that about 14,000 of about 360,000 late preterm children born each year are affected.  

The new results add to the evidence that even in late pregnancy, “maturation is a continuing process” said Dr. William Engle, a pediatrics professor at Indiana University medical school.  Dr. Williams, who was not involved in the study, further stated “there doesn’t seem to be some magic gestational age where development stops.”

Until recently, babies born up to a month early were referred to as “near term” infants, but recent studies have shown that they may develop problems shortly after birth that are similar to those affecting very premature babies.  These include breathing difficulties, problems regulating body temperature and jaundice.  

To HypnoBirthing® practitioners these findings are not a surprise.  HypnoBirthing teaches that nature is the most excellent guide for the length of a healthy pregnancy.  Each baby is different and each birth is different. 

I’m personally acquainted with a pair of siblings who clearly demonstrate the difference between an early C- section and a natural HypnoBirthing birth.  The oldest child was born by an early C-section and he is receiving special pre kindergarten help because he has difficulty concentrating and learning.   His mother was wise in getting him the early help and there is good reason to believe that he will benefit from the intervention.   His sister is a HypnoBirthing baby who was born at full term.  She is a calm and smiling baby very interested in the world around her and she is developing excellently.  Her mother reports that the difference between her children’s temperament and behavior is profound and that she feels the early, forced birth of her first child might be instrumental in causing his present difficulties.