Hospital Policies can make a HUGE difference

I found this link from Karen the Pittsburgh Doula blog – thanks!

A Florida hospital cuts their cesarean rates by 7%, by simply making a few policy changes.

The Tallahassee Memorial program was the brainchild of a neonatologist who saw a relationship between the sick babies he cared for and how many were delivered by elective inductions or C-sections. Now, physicians can’t schedule deliveries before 39 weeks without a medical reason. The hospital also recommends that physicians not induce until a woman’s Bishop’s scale score–related to fetal position and cervical dilation–indicates she’s ready.

This seems like common sense to me.  But how wonderful that this hospital is putting the safety of mom and baby ahead of convenience!