The Magic Number: Doctors, Parents Aren't Always Waiting for Babies To Arrive Anymore

There are a wide variety of reasons that a woman may have an induction - the stimulation of uterine contractions to achieve a vaginal birth before labor begins on its own. A provider recommend an induction because of maternal health issues (infection, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or another medical condition). Sometimes, inductions are simply elective decisions.

Dr. Robert Bonebrake, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist with Methodist Hospital Perinatal Center, sees no downsides as long as the parents of the baby are comfortable with the idea.

Though the practice can vary from physician to physician, it's something that he discusses with the majority of his patients.

Research shoes that the risk of stillbirth is at the low point at 39 weeks, and inductions don't come with a higher risk of C-sections as once thought.

"If you go to 40 weeks, the risk for stillbirth starts to stabilize and creep up a bit," he said. "You're waiting for something to happen that you want to avoid."

Momaha: The Magic Number: Doctors, Parents Aren't Always Waiting for Babies To Arrive Anymore