Labor induction doesn’t always reduce caesarean birth risk or improve outcomes for term pregnancies

In recent years, experts have debated whether most birthing individuals would benefit from labor induction once they reach a certain stage of pregnancy. But a new statewide study in Michigan suggests that inducing labor at the 39th week of pregnancy for people having their first births with a single baby that is in a head down position, or low risk, doesn’t necessarily reduce the risk of caesarian births. In fact, for some birthing individuals, it may even have the opposite effect if hospitals don’t take a thoughtful approach to induction policies.