Spontaneous delivery is related to barometric pressure

Abstract

A causal relationship was noted between the number of rupture of the fetal membranes, delivery and barometric pressure, suggesting that low barometric pressure induces rupture of the fetal membranes and delivery.

Associations of Meteorology with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Preeclampsia, Preterm Birth and Birth Weight

“…Five studies examined barometric pressure [65,71,72,73,74]. One large study conducted in England (482,765 births) [65] reported no association of preterm birth with daily mean barometric pressure, or with the largest daily drop in barometric pressure.…”

“…Three studies focused on labor onset [72,73,74], but could not be pooled because of the heterogeneity in the definition of categorical variables for barometric pressure. A small USA study (162 births) reported a significantly higher occurrence of labor onset in the day following, than preceding a drop in barometric pressure (defined as ≥0.06 inches of mercury in 24 h) [74].…”

“…Another USA study of 2,435 births reported no significant difference in the frequency of labor onset between days in the lower tertile of daily mean barometric pressure versus the two other (higher) tertiles, although a significant decrease in the frequency of labor onset was observed after 3 consecutive hours of falling barometric pressure [73]. A study of 2,278 births in Japan reported no differences in the frequency of labor onset, whether barometric pressure was above or below a threshold of 1,011 hPa, however an increase in the frequency of rupture of the membranes was associated with barometric pressure below that threshold [72]. A small USA study (1,088 births) jointly studied labor onset and rupture of membranes as a single outcome and reported no significant association with hourly barometric pressure [71].…”

Atmospheric conditions, lunar phases, and childbirth: a multivariate analysis

“…King et al (1997), in Texas, USA, found an increased rate of labor onset associated with reductions in atmospheric pressure in a sample of 162 patients. In a study of 2,278 women in Tokyo, Japan, increases of rates of the rupture of membranes and childbirth were correlated with a reduction in the atmospheric pressure (Akutagawa et al 2007). In Illinois, USA, Hirsch et al (2010) used logistic regression models to associate onset of labor and meteorological variables such as atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity.…”

“…However, the scientific data concerning lunar influence upon labor admissions are controversial. Although climatic conditions, predominantly atmospheric pressure, have been reported to be factors that influence labor (Akutagawa et al 2007;Driscoll 1995;Hirsch et al 2010;King et al 1997;Noller et al 1996), there have been few studies using multivariate analysis with which to assess this association.…”