(February 25, 2014) Jackson, Tenn.- West Tennessee Healthcare and Jackson Madison County General Hospital won an award for an important topic. The work for which, had been put in over multiple years.
The award was given to them for decreasing early elective deliveries that are done at the hospital. The effort was helmed by the medical staff and the nurses in labor and delivery.
Tina Prescott, Chief Nursing Officer at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, explained what early elective delivery meant.
“It’s August and [mom] is hot,” she said in an example, “ and it’s 38 weeks and she’s thinking ‘Oh, I’ve just got 2 more weeks to go, c’mon lets go ahead and induce this labor,’ but our physicians and staff, they really encourage and have educated moms that it’s better to wait because, there’s a lot of brain, lung, and liver development that happens within those last two weeks.”
Prescott expanded on some of the negatives of the early induced labor, “…what they can have is some problems with temperature regulation or blood sugar regulation and end up spending some time in our Neonatal ICU (intensive care unit). That delays time with mom and is an added stressor to the family. So, waiting until after 39 weeks can prove to be beneficial for the baby and mom.”
Prescott said that a normal, full term is 40 weeks for a baby.
