Infant deaths in the United States declined 2 percent in 2006, but the rate still remains well above that of most industrialized countries and is one of the indicators suggesting that Americans pay more but get less from their health care system.  We are spending twice what other countires do and we are falling further and further behind in important measures like infant mortality.

This sad statistic is growing with the passage of years.  The United States ranked 29^th in 2004, with a rate of 6.78 deaths per 1,000 live births, tied with Poland and Slovakia.  In 1960 the US ranked 12^th and 23^rd in 1990.  Based on these figures it’s obvious that we are going the wrong way.  Instead of having the infant mortality rates decline they are increasing. 

Researchers are speculating that the reasons for the early deaths might result from factors such as preterm delivery, low birth weight, socioeconomic status and lack of access to medical care. 

Preterm birth is a significant risk factor for infant death.  From 2000 to 2005, the percentage of preterm births in the United States jumped 9 percent, to 12.7 percent of all births.  The most rapid increase has been among late preterm (34-36 weeks of gestation).  Of these births about 92 percent were by Caesarean section.

According to Dr. Alan Fleishman, medical director of the March of Dimes foundation, the growing number of preterm births might be induced for the sake of convenience.  Many women are reportedly tired of being pregnant during the last few weeks of pregnancy and therefore ask to have their labors induced. Doctors complied with their request because until recently they didn’t realize that the risks to the babies of early induction are quite substantial.

Dr. Mary D’Alton of Columbia University agrees that early induction needs to be avoided unless there is an urgent medical need to mother or baby.  Dr. D’Alton suggests that doctors should wait to induce labor until 39 weeks of gestation.

It’s positive that medical personnel are beginning to realize that hastened birth is detrimental to the welfare of babies.  HypnoBirthing ® practitioners agree with this view point.  We realize that normal gestation is 40-42 weeks and we know that inductions are rarely needed.  The baby knows when it is time to get born and a well rehearsed HypnoBirthing mother will allow her birthing body to take over when the time is right.