3rd Trimester
Does the first born usually come early or late?
I was under the impression that the first usually comes late. I said this to someone and they acted like I was retarded because the first obviously comes early...
I was just wondering from your experiences or from people you know if the baby came late, early, or right on time?
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Re: Does the first born usually come early or late?
Baby 1 37 weeks
Baby 2 33 weeks (preeclampsia)
My OB said most first timers naturally go into labor between 40 and 41 weeks.
I've always heard "first ones are usually late" but with my friends its been about 50/50. A couple of my girlfriends had theirs about 10 days early, and a couple others were about a week late.
Yeah, I believe average is 41 wk 1 day for white women
I was told the first usually comes late, and among IRL friends who have recently given birth, this was true. I, myself, was born 3 days late.
However, in my family, I found out that I was an exception. My grandmother gave birth to 1st at 37 weeks, 2nd at 38 weeks, and 3rd (my mom) on her EDD. My cousin gave birth at 37.2. My MIL doesn't remember if she was early or late or how big or small DH was....she's real helpful! (And she was med-free, so drug-haze is not an excuse to forget in her case!)
Ditto. My older sister came 3 weeks early, I came 2 weeks early. And my DS came over 6 weeks early.
Both my sister's babies came pretty close to full term, but not over.
Is there really a difference in race?
Trying for #2 since July 2010
BFP 8/1/10, missed m/c, D&C 9/15/10.
BFP 1/8/11, chemical pregnancy.
BFP 3/4/11, measured behind all along, no more HB 4/18/11. D&C 4/29/11. HCG didn't drop, Repeat D&C 6/17/11; confirmed molar pregnancy 6/23/11.
Forced break, including two Hysteroscopies in October to remove retained tissue.
BFP 12/29/11! Betas @ 10 dpo = 85, 14 dpo= 498, 22 dpo = 7242
Heard HB 1/24/12. 144 bpm!
Luca Rose born 9/9/12! More than worth the wait!
I can't remember if there was a difference by race or if the study was limited to only white women.
Checking...
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The study I was referencing included only white women, so the results cannot be extended to other races. In the discussion, they mention that similar studies in other races found shorter gestation periods in uncomplicated, singleton pregnancies. However, another study that examined the difference between black and '"non-black" (presumably white, but not specified) women found that black women did have shorter gestational periods.
Another study in Sweden (so, only Swedes) found the gestation length to be 40 wks 2 days.
All the studies found that the gestation period of subsequent children was shorter - on average - than first children.
I think they say the first is "generally" late. But, I've also read that a certain percentage of late babies aren't really late, that it's just a miscalculated due date.
Most of the first time moms I know have gone early. But, I also know some of many first timers induced due to high blood pressure or some other factor.
My mom was early with all of her kids. Also, my MIL was early with my DH (her first). So, it's really hard to say!
Boy, I hope I'm one of the early ones though. The thought of 4-5 more weeks is agony. (I did ask my doctor about how late they'll let me go. He said they would induce so I don't hit 42 weeks. I'd hit 42 weeks on a Sunday, so I think they'd induce the Friday before I hit 42 weeks if I don't come naturally).
DD -- 5YO
DS -- 3YO
My doctor said anywhere from 3 weeks early to 2 weeks late. Kind of vague, but it's the truth. You just never know.
Here's a graph I found online: