The European researchers have invented a study that the time of birth by a woman can have a great impact on her probability of smooth and uncomplicated delivery. If the newborns are delivered at night rather than during the day, then they are more likely to face death or can be serious to be admitted to neonatal intensive care.

This was examined on more than 700,000 births at Dutch hospitals, during the period between 2000 and 2006. It was also released as a publication in a recent edition of obstetrics and gynecology journal BJOG.

About 32% to 47% of the infants born in evening (between 6pm to midnight) or overnight (midnight to 8am) at the minor community hospitals are more probably to die, as compared to the ones born during the day hours.

“It is very important indeed to realize that risks are generally low and that the level of care in these kinds of Western countries is high. It is possible that the increased risks reflect the fact that fewer senior staff members - including obstetricians, neonatologists and anesthesiologists - are available during night shifts”, said Researcher Dr. Eric Steegers of Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands.