Reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120330164854.htm
Summary: In recent studies on women pregnant and delivering babies, researchers have noticed a difference in the last 40 years. Today, it take 2.6 hours (on average) longer for a woman to give birth than it dis in the 1960's. Another observation was that babies were born 5 days earlier than they would have been 40 years prior than today. It was also discovered that babies born today tend to weigh more than babies that were born 40 years ago. Researchers believe that it has to do with different labor practices and the distribution of the hormone oxytocin.
Critique: I thought this article was interesting. When i grow up, i want to be a registered nurse on the labor and delivery floor so i find articles relating to births interesting. I wonder if there is more to it than just different practiced and oxytocin distributions.
Impact: This may impact all the women who are wondering what the difference is between when they had a baby then when they're child or grandchild is having one. It also can impact pharmacists or doctors who are researching medicine or things to change about labor practices.
Maybe the babies weigh more because the world is getting fatter by the minute and they wanted a head start... Haha just kidding. But I do think it is interesting that it takes longer and they are born earlier. I wonder what labor practices are different than 40 years ago. There's probably a lot more technology involved, but I also wonder what affect ultrasounds have on babies. Does it give off radiation? I've also heard that taking those medicines that make labor painless (cant remember the name) may cause autisim (not sure if that's true though so don't quote me!) I think it's so cool you want to be a neonatal nurse. But all those stinky diapers.... Bleh! Haha:)
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