It can be risky to have an Early Elective Induction, especially before 39 weeks. Often because “due dates” are inaccurate, this practice can lead to problems with the babies after they are born. Not to mention the risks of induction!
I was excited to see this post by Birthing Beautiful Ideas where she gave some great information on elective inductions (meaning not medically indicated). She also mentioned a new resource at The Leapfrog Group, where they have a list of hospitals and what the rate of their early elective births are. They say the target should be 12% or less.
I have listed the rates at the hospitals I have been a doula at. (South Orange County).
- Kaiser Permanente Orange County – 7.1%
- Mission Hospital – Declined to respond
- Hoag Memorial Hospital 7.3%
- Saddleback Memorial Medical Center- 4.0%
- St. Joseph Hospital – 6.9%
While the hospital rates are good to know – I think that it is equally important to know your care providers rates! However I know some hospitals, such as Saddleback have a rule that no inductions before 40 weeks unless medically indicated. So this helps to have lower rates among all the OBs working there.
For more information on Inductions – early or not – see my Free Induction Video.
The Leapfrog Group study is going around the U.S. right now and I have issues with it…well not the study itself but the way the hospitals reported the information. Here in Chattanooga, some of the hospitals are listed at 0%. They must have a different way of determining elective inductions that most of us do.
Some of the local hospitals even have rules against inducing against 39 weeks if not medically necessary, but it is so easy for a doctor to provide a reason to induce. The Leapfrog Study is helpful, but not completely truthful due to differences in reporting for each hospital.
http://confessionsofamisplacedalaskan.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/chattanooga-induction-stats-false-information/
Thanks for telling me this! I think that it is probably a step in the right direction, but if hospitals have different ideas of what an elective induction is then it wouldn’t be accurate.
I would love to have a honest way to know what hospitals statistics are. I am glad someone is at least looking into this and bringing awareness.