Does time influence the onset of labor?

A study by Japanese gynecologists shows that low atmospheric pressures can influence the onset of labor and premature rupture of the amniotic sac.

Does time influence the onset of labor?

Traditionally, many pregnant women think that the onset of labor and its development are related to the phases of the moon. Likewise, many midwives believe that work in delivery rooms increases coinciding with certain phases of the moon, especially during or near the full moon.

The average duration of a singleton pregnancy is 265 days from fertilization (which is exactly equivalent to 9 lunar sardonic months). The woman's menstrual cycle, although it can vary, has an average duration of 28 days (close to the sidereal month and sardonic month). This suggests since ancient times that there is a connection between the moon and fertility, fertilization, and/or childbirth.

Thus, it is often said that on full moon days, more children are born, on a new moon births are easier and faster, on a waxing moon births are very beautiful and on a waning moon the number of births decreases and more incidents occur.

Some researchers have been concerned to find out if this belief is true: they have compared birth statistics with the phases of the moon, and they have seen that the two facts have no relationship. However, it must be noted that not all studies were carried out with a significant sample of cases nor were they well designed. Furthermore, the slight increases in the number of births on full moon days and in the 2-3 days before and after are not significant. And no relationship has been found with the possible obstetric complications traditionally attributed to this lunar phase.

There are also those who believe that changes in time influence the onset of labor.

Other scientific studies have investigated the influence of some meteorological variables such as barometric pressure, temperature, and precipitation on the frequency of births.

A study by Japanese gynecologists demonstrated that low atmospheric pressures influence the onset of labor and premature rupture of membranes (amniotic sac), but a single work cannot be taken as valid, more research must be done to see if this result is confirmed ( That's science.) However, other similar studies showed opposite results.

Fighting popular beliefs is difficult, and there is no reason to do it. These types of myths will continue to be very present in society and every month, when the full moon appears, everyone will be aware of the evolution of births in the delivery rooms, and if you are pregnant, everyone will remind you that moon is full.