State Health Department and March of Dimes Louisiana Announce 40-Week Pledge

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), the Louisiana March of Dimes and a group of Louisiana hospitals announced a new, voluntary 40-Week Initiative today. The Go the Full 40 Initiative is a voluntary pledge by hospitals to end non-medically indicated induced pregnancies, which helps reduce c-section rates and ensures newborns reach 40 weeks gestation.  Early elective deliveries are non-medically necessary deliveries of babies before 39 weeks of gestation. These deliveries may put the health of the newborn at risk and increase the likelihood of serious medical complications. Early elective deliveries are also more expensive than standard deliveries.

The increasing number of infants born prior to 39 weeks has become a growing national concern. The 40-Week Initiative works to promote the long-term, systematic changes necessary to improve birth outcomes, improve premature birth outcomes and reduce c-section rates.

For more information, contact the March of Dimes Louisiana Chapter at 225-295-0655.

 

Read more to see participating hospitals.

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