#469: Should 38-Week Induction For Big Babies Become A Thing?

#469: Should 38-Week Induction For Big Babies Become A Thing?

From Birthing Instincts by Dr. Stuart Fischbein + Midwife Blyss Young

June 10, 2026 · 1h 34m · Episode 469

About this episode

Blyss and Stu discuss the implications of inducing labor at 38 weeks for suspected big babies and analyze the supporting studies.

This week, Blyss and Stu take a deep dive into the increasingly popular recommendation of inducing labor at 38 weeks for suspected “big babies”. Prompted by a recent social media post from a prominent obstetric influencer, they examine two studies being used to justify earlier inductions for "big babies" and ask an important question: do the data actually support the conclusions being promoted? Along the way, Blyss and Stu challenge listeners to look beyond headlines and social media summaries, examine how studies are designed, and consider whether interventions are being recommended based on meaningful risk reduction, or simply because they can be. The episode emphasizes the importance of respecting nature's design, individualizing care, and helping families understand the difference between relative risk, absolute risk, and true informed choice. References: AJOG MFM Article: Induction at 38 weeks for large-for-gestational-age or macrosomic fetuses decreases the incidence of cesarean delivery: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials https://www.ajogmfm.org/article/S2589-9333(26)00008-X/fulltext The Lancet Article: Induction of labour versus standard care to prevent…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dr. Stuart Fischbein, Blyss Young

Topics covered

  • induction of labor
  • big babies
  • risk assessment
  • informed choice
  • study analysis

Keywords

  • induction
  • big babies
  • labor
  • macrosomia
  • risk reduction

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AJOG MFM, The Lancet

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