The Takeaway: A retrospective review of more than 7,300 midwife attended births in three Colorado hospitals found that labor induction did not increase the likelihood of cesarean birth compared to expectant management. Researchers from the CU Anschutz College of Nursing found that prolonged pregnancy beyond 41 weeks – not induction itself – was associated with higher C-section rates. The study also highlights how integrated midwifery care may contribute to strong maternal and newborn outcomes.
Inducing labor does not increase the likelihood of cesarean birth, according to a retrospective review of more than 7,300 births overseen by midwives across three Colorado hospitals.
Labor induction rates in recent years have significantly increased said the study’s lead author, Denise Colter Smith, PhD, CNM, assistant professor in the CU Anschutz College of Nursing. And while research funding for midwife-led studies is limited nationwide, she and her team are committed to answering the most pressing questions in the field by applying rigorous methodology to more widely accessible retrospective data.
“Midwives attend nearly half of the births at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, and this study is a great example of what midwifery care can do at scale,” Smith said.
In the following Q&A, Smith discusses what the study reveals about induction, spontaneous labor and the role of midwives in supporting safe births.