Atmospheric conditions, lunar phases, and childbirth: a multivariate analysis
Abstract
Our objective was to assess extrinsic influences upon childbirth. In a cohort of 1,826 days containing 17,417 childbirths among them 13,252 spontaneous labor admissions, we studied the influence of environment upon the high incidence of labor (defined by 75th percentile or higher), analyzed by logistic regression. The predictors of high labor admission included increases in outdoor temperature (odds ratio: 1.742, P = 0.045, 95%CI: 1.011 to 3.001), and decreases in atmospheric pressure (odds ratio: 1.269, P = 0.029, 95%CI: 1.055 to 1.483). In contrast, increases in tidal range were associated with a lower probability of high admission (odds ratio: 0.762, P = 0.030, 95%CI: 0.515 to 0.999). Lunar phase was not a predictor of high labor admission (P = 0.339). Using multivariate analysis, increases in temperature and decreases in atmospheric pressure predicted high labor admission, and increases of tidal range, as a measurement of the lunar gravitational force, predicted a lower probability of high admission.
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Various factors could influence birth frequency in humans, which could mask the influence of the lunar phase.
“However, various factors could influence birth frequency in humans, which could mask the influence of the lunar phase.”
From Lunar Cycle Influences Spontaneous Delivery in Cows (2016) · cites this paper as [3]
Two studies from the USA, one from Germany, and one from Brazil showed no lunar influence on hospital admissions for labor.
“Two studies from the USA [11, 12], one from Germany [16], and one from Brazil [3] showed no lunar influence on hospital admissions for labor.”
From Lunar Cycle Influences Spontaneous Delivery in Cows (2016) · cites this paper as [3]
Weekends tend to yield reduced childbirth frequency, and there are peaks in labor admission rates on Mondays and Fridays.
“For instance, obesity affects the length of gestation [17], weekends tend to yield reduced childbirth frequency, and there are peaks in labor admission rates on Mondays and Fridays [3].”
From Lunar Cycle Influences Spontaneous Delivery in Cows (2016) · cites this paper as [3]
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Lunar Cycle Influences Spontaneous Delivery in Cows
Yonezawa, T., Uchida, M., Tomioka, M., & Matsuki, N. (2016) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161735 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Ochiai, A. M., Gonçalves, F. L. T., Ambrizzi, T., Florentino, L. C., Wei, C. Y., Soares, A. V. N., De Araujo, N. M., & Gualda, D. M. R.
- Affiliations
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Ochiai, Angela Megumi
- Venue
- International Journal of Biometeorology
- Published
- 2011-07-09
- Volume
- 56
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 661-667
- ISSN
- 0020-7128 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-1254
- OpenAlex
- W2043412578
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- International Journal of Biometeorology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Scientific Electronic Library Online (São Paulo Research Foundation, Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Keywords
- childbirth, outdoor temperature, atmospheric pressure, tidal range, lunar phases, spontaneous labor
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Atmosphere, Brazil, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Multivariate Analysis, Moon, Parturition, Young Adult, Tidal Waves
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