Do first babies always come at 42 weeks?

Jamjapoarm · January 2011

Hello,

I'm almost 39 weeks and when I went to my OB appointment today I asked if she was going to check my cervix b/c most of my friends started getting checked at around 36 weeks and I've yet to be checked.

She said it wasn't necessary b/c I hadn't had any contractions and because first babies never come until about 42 weeks.

I'm pretty frustrated b/c I don't like to be generalized just because I've never had a baby before. Does anyone know how much truth this holds? I mean aren't all bodies different and it's pretty unsafe to just assume that I'm going to be 2 weeks late?

Any insight?

J

Jaylea · January 2011

Of course not.

Most babies come between 38 and 42 weeks. 40 is the average.

DD was born at 37 weeks on her own (ie no induction or medical issues, it was just when she was ready).

ang.ela23 · January 2011

thats the stupidist thing i have ever heard. sounds like you need a new doctor.

cynnnabun · January 2011

My water broke with my DD at 37 weeks. She was my first, and clearly, she was ready.

mommydale · January 2011

No. My first came at 38 weeks. The fact that she actually said that first babies never come until 42 weeks concerns me. I would definitely not use her again.

Sheas · January 2011

That sounds really stupid IMO. It all depends on your body, the baby and when you both are ready. You've got some crazy talk going on at your OB office!

iris427 · January 2011

I have a hard time believing an OB would say that. Of course that is not true. I think it's good that she gives people until 42 weeks instead of pushing inductions, but if she really said that they "always" come at 42 weeks, she's an idiot. Are you sure you didn't misunderstand something?

*BlackSheep* · January 2011

mommydale:
No. My first came at 38 weeks. The fact that she actually said that first babies never come until 42 weeks concerns me. I would definitely not use her again.

This. I would not go back to her, can you try a different dr at the same office? That is what I would do.

This is another reason why I'm so glad I'm going to a midwife.

RayRay007 · January 2011

I think I read or heard somewhere that first babies come, on average, at 41w3d, but that is still an assinine thing for your OB to say.

labooshki · January 2011

Uh, no. They usually do start checking aroudn 36 weeks. Not sure why yours hasn't. I was 40w2d with my first and there are lots of babies born between 37 and 40 weeks. I'm not sure why she would say that.

JDoe11111 · January 2011

Mine was born at 39 weeks exactly.

Though the phrasing seems weird, I'd guess he/she was pointing out that there is no medical reason to do the internals - telling you how dialated/effaced you are is purely informational, and is more likely to make you feel like you are in labor when you aren't. I opted out of them knowing that if I was told I was dialated it would just make me more likely to go in with false labor.

MrsTotty · January 2011

Yes. Every single first born child in the world has shown up at 42 weeks exactly.

/sarcasm

Either your OB is an idiot or you need a hearing aid.

lexigrl · January 2011

DS1 was born at 40Wks 1day all on his own...my old OB started checking me at 36 weeks but my new doesn't start checking until 39 weeks its just the policy of the practice...doesn't matter this time around though since I am having a c-section next week

Kristy Gray · January 2011

I have not had my LO yet but I go to the doc again today and I will see how much more progress I have or don't have. My doc started to check me at 36 weeks. I will be 39 tomorrow. I hope I do not have to wait until 42 weeks to deliver.

TofuMama7 · January 2011

Maybe you misunderstood her. I know most babies come between 38 and 42 weeks, with first babies on average being born at 41 weeks 3 days (I learned that in my birth class) but obviously every baby and woman are different - and this is something I am sure your doctor knows, my guess is that she has delivered first babies at times other than 42 weeks.

Maybe your doctor doesn't like to do too many internals and was trying to tell you that it wasn't necessary to do one. (My doc did one at 36 weeks, but won't do another until my 40 week appointment unless I specifically ask her to or have had contractions)

LuckyH · January 2011

My DD came at 39w5d.

kabarbanel · January 2011

iris427:
I have a hard time believing an OB would say that. Of course that is not true. I think it's good that she gives people until 42 weeks instead of pushing inductions, but if she really said that they "always" come at 42 weeks, she's an idiot. Are you sure you didn't misunderstand something?

This. I mean I understand not doing internals, because they really don't tell you anything, but 1st babies certanly do not always come at 42 weeks.

Jamjapoarm · January 2011

She's not my normal ob -- mine is unfortunately on vacation and this woman is filling in.

Truthfully, I don't remember her exact phrasing, but I do know she said it twice. First, when she asked me how I was feeling and I said something typical like "Ready to have this baby!" she told me not to get my hopes up because of it being my first baby and b/c they're born usually born at 42 weeks. She then got snarky and reiterated it when I asked her about being checked.

Anyway, the whole appointment lasted less than 10 minutes and the tone was pretty horrible, and hormones in play I could see myself thinking she's said "always" when she actually said "usually".

Thanks for the input! My ob is back for my next appointment thank god.

iris427 · January 2011

Jamjapoarm:
She's not my normal ob -- mine is unfortunately on vacation and this woman is filling in.
Truthfully, I don't remember her exact phrasing, but I do know she said it twice. First, when she asked me how I was feeling and I said something typical like "Ready to have this baby!" she told me not to get my hopes up because of it being my first baby and b/c they're born usually born at 42 weeks. She then got snarky and reiterated it when I asked her about being checked.
Anyway, the whole appointment lasted less than 10 minutes and the tone was pretty horrible, and hormones in play I could see myself thinking she's said "always" when she actually said "usually".
Thanks for the input! My ob is back for my next appointment thank god.

Yeah that is pretty much what I thought. So it doesn't sound like she said anything too crazy after all. Although saying they are usually born at 41 weeks would probably be more accurate.

Aprilynn0206 · January 2011

Thats ridiculous... My water broke w/ DD at 38wks 5days and a friend who was pregnant with her first at the same time went into labor 10 days early.

00tedsgirl · January 2011

You already know that's not true.

That said, I refuse cervical checks for the simple reason that a) they are uncomfortable and b) they don't tell you anything. If you aren't in labor, you aren't going to have your baby any minute now. You might go in one morning and have made zero progress and then begin labor after your appointment and have your baby by dinner. You might also walk around dilated to 2 cm for weeks.

muchmoresarah13 · January 2011

Geez she sounds like my old Nurse practitioner that i got rid of. This is not true at all i had my DS1 at 37 weeks!

MrsTotty · January 2011

kdodge423:
*BlackSheep*:

mommydale:
No. My first came at 38 weeks. The fact that she actually said that first babies never come until 42 weeks concerns me. I would definitely not use her again.
This. I would not go back to her, can you try a different dr at the same office? That is what I would do.
This is another reason why I'm so glad I'm going to a midwife.
WTF does going to a midwife have to do with anything? I've seen some people post about the idiotic crap their MW's say that makes this look intelligent.
MW =/= non moron. There are stupid people in every profession.

Yes, thank you for saying this. I literally rolled my eyes at the 'OMG I am SO glad I'm seeing a MW' sentiment.

iris427 · January 2011

kdodge423:
*BlackSheep*:

mommydale:
No. My first came at 38 weeks. The fact that she actually said that first babies never come until 42 weeks concerns me. I would definitely not use her again.
This. I would not go back to her, can you try a different dr at the same office? That is what I would do.
This is another reason why I'm so glad I'm going to a midwife.
WTF does going to a midwife have to do with anything? I've seen some people post about the idiotic crap their MW's say that makes this look intelligent.
MW =/= non moron. There are stupid people in every profession.

Agreed. You can't judge a person solely based on the letters after their name.

citychicks · January 2011

RayRay007:
I think I read or heard somewhere that first babies come, on average, at 41w3d, but that is still an assinine thing for your OB to say.

The average first time baby comes around 41 weeks. But that doesn't mean that all babies come then, nor do you have to have contractions before labour starts. Some women have there first contraction at the start of labour while others have them through their pregnancies. I'd side eye your Dr. Hmm

iris427 · January 2011

citychicks:
RayRay007:
I think I read or heard somewhere that first babies come, on average, at 41w3d, but that is still an assinine thing for your OB to say.
The average first time baby comes around 41 weeks. But that doesn't mean that all babies come then, nor do you have to have contractions before labour starts. Some women have there first contraction at the start of labour while others have them through their pregnancies. I'd side eye your Dr.

I am getting irrationally annoyed by this post, but come on everyone. What do you think is more likely, that a real obstetrician would say this, or that the OP misunderstood her? In fact, the OP came back and said she probably got confused about what the doctor actually said.

tlong1997 · January 2011

My son came at 38 weeks

thebigmare · January 2011

The average first time mom delivers at 41 weeks, 3 days. But full term is from 37-42 weeks. As for internals, I'm actually refusing them because they really don't tell you anything. You can walk around dilated for weeks or you could have the baby tomorrow.

Maybe she was just trying to tell you to be patient and let the baby comes on his/her own time.

grace782 · January 2011

I've had four friends give birth recently to first babies, and all came before 40w, the earliest at 36, so there is clearly no truth to this at all.

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