We do have a weapon to combat elective inductions:  published scientific
studies describing this as dangerous to the baby.  Both morbidity and
mortality  are impacted by slight prematurity.

 Nancy Powers points out that these "just a little early" babies are often
managed as if they were term. She points out they are at 5-10 times  the
risk for hospital re-admits due to poor feeding with resultant weight loss
or jaundice.
     N Powers, Slow Weight Gain and Low Milk Supply in the Breastfeeding
Dyad, Clin in Perinatol 1999; 26(2):399-430.

More recently, researchers have stated that:  "Mild - and moderate-preterm
birth infants are at high relative risk for death during infancy and are
responsible for an important fraction of infant deaths."
       Kramer, et al:  JAMA 2000, 284:843-49.

 Kramer, et al called for reconsideration of elective inductions due to this
finding. Having a copy of these studies and sharing it around would be an
excellent consciousness raising exercise in a community.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
LactNews Press
www.lactnews.com

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