Early neonatal mortality and asphyxia related deaths are greater for night births

Studies from Wales and Scotland in 1998 showed a positive correlation between intrapartum asphyxia and night time births. Gunther et al investigated this relation through a retrospective cohort study of 380 980 births in Hesse, Germany, in 1990-8 (p 274). Their results confirm the previous studies, with babies born at night having a higher relative risk of early neonatal death (1.86) and asphyxia related death (3.89) than those born in the day. The authors speculate that the higher mortality might be caused by tired staff working at night after a full day's work.

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Relevant Article

Early neonatal mortality, asphyxia related deaths, and timing of low risk births in Hesse, Germany, 1990-8: observational study

Günther Heller, Björn Misselwitz, and Stephan Schmidt
BMJ 2000 321: 274-275. [Full Text] [PDF]