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Can a hurricane induce labor? Women in the path of Irma are worried

Squeezing cots into lobbies and hallways, Florida hospitals make room for pregnant women to ride out the storm in their facilities.

The phone has been ringing off the hook at Memorial Hospital West. Scores of pregnant women are calling — some crying; others panicking — all asking the same question: Can we stay there during Irma?

Many of Florida’s hospitals are built to withstand hurricane winds in order to protect patients. While most don’t act as emergency shelters, some make exceptions for expectant mothers facing high-risk pregnancies. They allow them to inflate mattress inside their walls, provided they bring their

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