Austrian Study Shows: This is How Much Influence the Moon Has on Births

The background, according to the authors: It has been shown, especially with melatonin, that the concentrations of this hormone are significantly lower during the night of a full moon compared to other moon phases. During the birth process, it may also increase the contractility of the uterus. Hypothetically, hormonal influences under the effect of moon phases could have an impact.

Moon Study: Data from Almost 500,000 Births

The scientific work by Karin Windsperger (MedUni Innsbruck) and her co-authors, including experts from MedUni Vienna, was based on data from 462,947 deliveries at all 82 obstetric hospital departments in Austria over a period of eight years. 241,518 of the births occurred during the day (6:00 AM to 9:00 PM), and 220,429 babies were born between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Newborns after at least 23 weeks of pregnancy and more than 500 grams of birth weight were considered. The moon phases at the respective dates were categorized into new and full moon as well as "other".

Initially, it was analyzed whether the moon phases have an influence on the standardized birth rate (SBR). The researchers: "As the primary outcome parameter, we wanted to investigate whether different moon phases during the day or night have an influence on the birth rate. Therefore, we used the SBR as an adjusted calculation to eliminate potentially confounding variables such as known fluctuations regarding weekdays, months, and years. The SBR represents the quotient of the observed number of births per moon phase (Obs) divided by the expected number of births (Exp)." Secondarily, the duration of labor and the condition of the newborn were evaluated.

Same Proportion of Deliveries - Same Condition of Newborns

The moon may supposedly influence processes on Earth, but in the parameters considered by the scientific study, it played no role. The respective proportion of births did not differ according to the moon phases. The researchers: "Of the 462,947 (...) births, 242,518 (52.4 percent) occurred during the day and 220,429 (47.6 percent) at night. More specifically, 8,137 (3.4 percent) cases were daytime births during a new moon, 8,089 (3.3 percent) were daytime births during a full moon, and 226,292 (93.3 percent) were daytime births during other moon phases. Of the nighttime births, 7,616 (3.5 percent) occurred during a new moon, 7,560 (3.4 percent) during a full moon, and 205,254 (93.1 percent) during other moon phases." Thus, there were only fluctuations in the small per mille range.

There were also no differences in the babies. "Overall, 45,614 (18.8 percent) births during the day resulted in a temporarily unfavorable condition of the newborn, of which 1,590 (3.5 percent) occurred during a new moon, 1,546 (3.4 percent) during a full moon, and 42,478 (93.1 percent) during other moon phases. In 41,927 (19 percent) of the births at night, there was a temporarily unfavorable condition of the newborn, of which 1,408 (3.4 percent) occurred during a new moon, 1,435 (3.4 percent) during a full moon, and 39,084 (93.2 percent) during other moon phases," the researchers summarized their results.

Maximum Total Duration of Labor Influenced by the Moon

Only in the maximum total duration of labor was there a tendency towards a statistically significant extension at night outside of full and new moon phases. The average duration of labor was six hours during the day and five hours at night. These averages were the same in both categories for all moon phases.

(APA/Red.)

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