[External influences on birth deliveries: Lunar gravitational and meteorological effects]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the influence of external factors such as lunar and meteorological effects on the frequency of birth deliveries. It includes the lunar gravitational force using the scarcely investigated lunar apogee and perigee (furthest and closest distance to earth, respectively).

Material and methods: A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of all spontaneous single deliveries during a 4 year period (2015-2018). A statistical analysis was performed on the relationship of the deliveries using birth rates with qualitative lunar variables (four classic phases, lunar apogee- perigee, and super moons) and quantitative atmospheric variables (mean atmospheric pressures, mean temperature, and mean wind velocity).

Results: No relationship was found between the variables studied and the birth rate. There were periods with more births in the months of May and June.

Conclusion: Despite the myth on the meteorological, and in particular, the lunar influence on birth deliveries, no statistical association was found to support this. Furthermore, the classic moon phases and the lunar gravitational force do not seem to trigger birth delivery either.

Keywords: Delivery; Factores meteorológicos; Fases lunares; Meteorological factors; Moon phases; Parto.