A birthing woman’s average labor time was barely four hours. These days, labor is a six and a half-hour marathon, at least according to a new federal study that compared almost 140,000 births from two different time periods. (…)

While the exact causes of longer labor times are unclear, the study suggests a few contributing factors, such as differences in today’s mothers from the mothers of yesteryear, namely that first-time mothers today are four years older on average, boast higher body masses, and are a more racially diverse group than their 50s-era predecessors. Babies are also bigger today, with the average newborn being 4-ounces heavier at birth than it would have been in 1960.

{ Jezebel | Continue reading }

photo { Erwin Olaf }

health, kids | April 3rd, 2012