Full term vs Due date

afg

I'm full of questions today!

If full term is considered to be at 37wks, why is the due date calculated at 40wks?

hisbabybear

full term means that the baby has a serious chance of surviving outside the womb and can be born at this time while 40 weeks is the entire gestational period that it takes for the baby to grow.

ExpatFamily06

I probably should know this...but I don't

aelyngstad

After 37 weeks your baby is not considered premature, LO would be "full term". The dr also would not stop labor if it naturally occurred. 40 weeks is the entire length of pregnancy. Dr. use that to determine when someone goes overdue because they want to watch placenta health and other factors to make sure baby is still thriving.

jolis_petits_bijoux

At 37 weeks, most babies' lungs are considered mature enough for life outside the womb.  They also often have enough fat to keep themselves warm. 

That said, it doesn't necessarily mean a baby is "ready" - just unlikely that baby would have to spend substantial time in the NICU if born, and unlikely that baby would experience any lasting negative effects from being born pre-EDD.

Califragilistic

im sure everyone above me said the same thing (i didnt look bc im too lazy today) but full term just means the baby has a SIGNIFICANT chance of survival outside the womb and is when almost everything is completely developed. They say babies born before 39 weeks and babies born after 40 weeks have higher risks of health problems then and later in life so thats why 40 weeks is the calculation

MrsWanee

most hospitals have a policy that if  the LO is born before 37 weeks - even a day - then they have to go to the NICU. my doctor's office said they will only let me go 1 week early or 1 week late - nothing before or after (unless there are pressing medical emergencies to go earlier, of course). i'm just hoping the date is right b/c it would suck to be induced at 41 weeks even, if he was planning on coming at 41 weeks, 1 day.

peachypear

hisbabybear:

full term means that the baby has a serious chance of surviving outside the womb and can be born at this time while 40 weeks is the entire gestational period that it takes for the baby to grow.

Ditto. Except that 40 wks is actually just the mid-point of the "birth month" (38-42 wks) where baby is most likely to arrive. It's an educated guess.

afg

Thanks ladies, I really should have known that already lol!

Blackvelvet

In humans, birth normally occurs at a gestational age of about 40 weeks, though a normal range is from 37 to 42 weeks.  You are normal if you go into labor anytime bwtween 37-42 but the doctors would like you to not go before or after.