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Study raises questions about hastening childbirth

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    Small differences in birth timing tied to test scores later in life

  • Duration 3:25
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Well a new study on full term births shows -- difference of a week or two and birth timing.

Can affected kids' test scores -- child.

Is considered full term if the mother gives birth between 37 and 41 weeks premature babies are born before 37 weeks.

And are known to have an increased risk of problems.

In this new study researchers found that babies born at 37 or 38 weeks did slightly worse on third grade math and reading tests.

Then kids born a week or two later.

Researchers say it's only a minor difference but that it should be something for women to consider especially if they -- to schedule a caesarean sections.

Joining me now is doctor Jonathan -- offseason -- and ecologist at rainbow babies Children's Hospital in Cleveland.

And doctor -- having this kind of all the rage in recent years try to do is working moms go in and they set up the C section to happen at 3839.

Weeks and our funny now.

Might not be a good idea.

Right -- actually -- for a long time in the in the unit how do we sort of said.

-- focus on that the tiniest baby is the one pound babies and we serve ignored -- -- the babies who are closed -- -- day saying other going to be five.

But what we're realizing is that the brain is rapidly developing in those last several weeks and so extra time in the womb can really make a difference.

When you talk about 3738.

-- 39 weeks is there's something that you consider really the benchmark inning.

It is the last -- so severely important and is it maybe because we talk about you know nine months is it may be important to go even a little further to say look we want you have this thing naturally as long as it takes maybe the -- just saying it's not ready.

I think you're I think that we know that 39 and forty weeks tends to be.

Right now we consider to be the best but you know nature knows best and once again a lot of times this.

I you know my -- -- -- is going out of town or I'm just tired of being pregnant or you know if I deliver before January 1 is a tax advantage up those kind of reasons just don't cut it anymore.

And actually at our hospital we do not allow.

An elective induction we don't allow early delivery before 39 weeks without a medical indication.

If we talk about shorter delivery times I mean is this also may be effective for moms who -- at 373839.

Weeks and I'm gonna have that extra glass of wine now -- Or I think my baby is pretty much -- in the final stages I can at least do the things that I couldn't have done fifteen weeks ago was this maybe is this may be a warning against that kind of behavior as well.

Absolutely you know the brain is 50% of the brain development occurs.

In those last several weeks and if you actually looks at that picture that of the developing bring you see it goes from very smooth and -- underdeveloped.

Even those last week so holding off on that celebratory glass of wine until after delivery is something I'd recommend.

Yeah and it is there is there something again when you think well look it if your had your baby at 38 weeks to 37 weeks.

Is mom should she be a little bit concerned now or do you think -- there's just not quite enough evidence to fully find out.

What the results are going to be about that.

Right I think I think it's important to realize that this study is looking at populations.

A 128000.

Children but for the average 37 weaker the average thirty -- they do just fine.

So I would recommend for those -- not to worry too much about it.

Doctor -- off great to see you thank you --

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