In a recent research conducted by University of Illinois at Chicago, by Dr. Judith Hibbard and colleagues from the Consortium on Safe Labor it was found that pre-mature babies that is babies born before the normal gestation period of 39-40 weeks, say between 34-37 weeks, are at a three times higher risk of respiratory problems.

This fact was found based on a study conducted in 19 US hospitals between the years 2002-2008 over 233,844 deliveries.

Some of the common respiratory problems were found to be RDS, transient tachypnea, pneumonia and respiratory failure and these also led to graver medical problems as longer hospitalization, the need for a ventilator or antibiotics etc.

The research methodology of the study included researchers examining respiratory illnesses at every gestational period, keeping in control other factors like maternal medical conditions or length of labor and mode of delivery, and birth weight.

While RDS was the most common respiratory disorder (in 11% of 34 week deliveries), transient tachypnea was the second most common disorder (6.4% of 34 weeks deliveries).

The occurrences of these illnesses were negligible in 39 week deliveries. This study offers a caution to the patients who request medically unnecessary inductions.