Think the full moon induces labor? That's a myth, University of Michigan doctor says
Think the full moon last night induced masses of pregnant women into labor?
Think again. That’s a myth, said Cosmas Van De Ven, the chief of the division of maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Michigan Health System.
“It’s a complete myth, but people keep asking the questions,” he said.
The eclipsed moon glows in the predawn sky Tuesday morning in this view from Stedman, NC.
AP Photo | Johnny Horne
Neither atmospheric pressure nor the lunar cycle induces labor, he said. Stormy weather doesn’t cause pregnant women to go into labor either, he added.
Associations like those tend to stick, and the questions come up in labor and delivery all the time. Van De Ven cited a few research articles, such as one titled “Birth rate and its correlation with the lunar cycle and specific atmospheric conditions,” from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology to back up his myth-busting regarding the full moon and labor.
He said he would find it much more interesting to explore why women have 28-day cycles, just like the moon.
“Is conception related to lunar cyclicity? Do we behave differently during a full moon?” he asked.
Follow-up question: “So, you mean — sexually?”
“Yes, sexually.”
His residents chuckled in the background. Van De Ven took it in stride.
The full moon that occurred Dec. 21 was also timed with a lunar eclipse and the winter solstice.
Van De Ven said he wasn’t sure his question about the lunar cycle and conception had been thoroughly researched yet. But he and other maternal-fetal medicine staff might be paying attention nine months from now to observe whether last night’s moon could have made more babies than usual.
Juliana Keeping is a health and environment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
Sarah Rigg
Tue, Dec 21, 2010 : 4:03 p.m.
Alfonso, why does only the *full* moon affect people? You do know that the tides happen every day, not just on full moons right? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/07/31/full-moon-effect-debunked-again/
alfonso
Tue, Dec 21, 2010 : 12:25 p.m.
Dr. Van De Ven is wrong if he is saying that the full moon doesn't affect blood flow. Any bartender will tell you it does. If the full moon can affect ocean tides why can't it affect blood volume or thickness (coagulability) as well? Many years ago a nurse in a Florida hospital kept records of excessive bleeding during surgery and discovered that most such cases occurred when the surgery took place during the full moon. This was reported in the literature at the time. Doctors don't like this kind of research.