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Natural Birth
chances of baby being on time
I am curious what my chances are here. My due date is december 15th, and my parents are coming on the 17th from out of the country for two weeks to meet their first grandchild. The thing is, it would be the most amazing experience if they could be there at the birth at the birth center.
Since this is my first baby, are the chances good that I won't have the baby early/on time? I hope our little guy waits just 2 days. The other thing that worries me is if i am really late and he comes after christmas. Obviously I care most about him being healthy and coming when he's supposed to, but it would just make the best christmas if my parents who are travelling so far to be here could be there for the birth, and spend christmas with us and our new baby. I guess there are things you can do closer to that can help induce labor naturally. I was just curious what my chances are and what other women have had happen the first time.
Thanks and hope you're all enjoying your weekend.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: chances of baby being on time
As pp mentioned, the average gestation for a first time baby is 41 weeks, 1 day. I was absolutely positive that my son would be late. However, he was due Dec. 13 and arrived on Dec. 6th. My friend was due on Dec. 7 and she went a week late. We sort of swapped due dates, lol.
I had a very fast and smooth labor and am so hoping for the same with #2.
I think more 1st time moms go into labor later rather than earlier, but there's really no telling.
If your parents are here for 2 weeks after your due date, I'm sure they'll get to see your baby no doubt. At my hospital they won't let you get to 42 weeks pregnant.
There's really no way to say.
The "average first-time mom goes to 41w1d" statistic is based on a VERY small study -- only 31 white women. (I mention their race because other studies have found differences in the average length of gestation between women of different races.) I hardly think we can take that to mean that EVERY first-time mom, or even MANY first-time moms, will go 1+ weeks late.
There is tons of interesting information, including links to other studies, on this site: https://spacefem.com/pregnant/charts/duedate0.php
The author of that site has run her own survey, with about 1300 participants (including nearly 700 first-time moms). The results of the survey indicate that 60% of first-time moms delivered on or before their due date: https://spacefem.com/pregnant/charts/duedate6.php
But really, that means very little to you personally. It's like asking, "If I go to the grocery store right now, will I be able to buy grapes?" You'll find some people who say, "Yes! I was just at the grocery store this morning, and they had grapes!" And others who said, "Well, I went this morning, and they were out of grapes." But none of those things matter if those people don't shop at your grocery store. You might even look at a local report that indicates that 60% of all grocery stores have grapes in stock... but if the grocery store right down the road from you is in the 40% of grocery stores that don't, it doesn't matter that a majority of grocery stores do have grapes -- YOU still won't be able to buy them. KWIM?
A lot of first-time moms deliver before their EDD. A lot don't. Who knows where you'll fall...
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
It's different for every person. From the start I expected to go 1-2 weeks late but went into labor at 39w/6d. DD was born on her due date just 6 hours before my induction had been scheduled. My cousin had her first two days later at 41w/5d, and DH's cousin had her first the next week at 39 weeks.
As far as inducing naturally, I tried literally everything possible to avoid the scheduled induction. What worked best for me was lots of sex, evening primrose oil, and having my membranes stripped at my 39w/6d appointment pushed me into labor. Each labor and pregnancy are so different that I wouldn't count on them being there, but either they'll be there for the birth or they'll get to meet a brand new little one when they arrive!
2012 Book Challenge: 20 of 50
Sophia Leigh has arrived! 02.09.11
Thank you all for replying and taking the time. I really appreciate it. I realize there's no way to tell, but just curious of what others experienced.
The main thing is that the baby arrives healthy, that's all i really care about. it would just be a nice bonus if my parents were here for birth. It's hard being away from family and livng in another country, and I can tell they're sad they're missing out on a lot. So it would be amazing if they could be there for the birth.
Thanks again for replyin!
It really is better to assume that your baby is going to go to at least 41 weeks and then if it does happen when your parents are there, it will be a pleasant surprise.
FWIW, I DO know how you feel. My DD "late" arrival screwed up our whole visiting schedule, however if I had to do it again, I would because that was obviously when she was ready to come.
I'm in a very similar situation! My EDD is Dec 17th & my parents are coming around Dec 22nd so they may be here for the birth - who knows. I'm not sure which to hope for because on the one hand I think it would be nice to have a few days of just husband, baby, and me to bond but on the other hand, it'd be great if my dad could drive us to the birth center & my mom to hang around in case I need her. I'm not sure if I'd want her in the room but maybe I will. So whatever happens is meant to be, and I'm not rooting either way. It's my first, so not really sure what I'll want in the moment yet.
I'm sure however it happens for you will be wonderful. It's great that your parents can come see baby so quickly!
Hello. You had asked what other people's experience was like. My EDD was 11/21 (4 days before thanksgiving). I had 8 family members, from out of town, who were planning to be at my house for thanksgiving. I spent so much energy wondering and worrying about how the timing of their visit would coincide with the birth of our daughter. After all that worrying, LO came on Thanksgiving morning, right after everyone arrived. She was 4 days after EDD and it worked out better than I could have planned.
I also want to add that although Baby's health is important in the end, I want to encourage you not to disregard your feelings about the birth. A lot of people will write off their (and other's) unhappy (or different than they hoped for) birth experience with the saying "as long as everyone is healthy". But I think it's important that we recognize that the way a mother (and her partner) feel about the birth experience is VERY important as well. (rant over!)
thanks so much
yes, i definitely agree, but I just try to be careful with how I word things since a lot of women on here take this in the wrong way and attack you for the slightest thing. Priority is the baby's health, of course, but it would just the experience a million times more amazing if my parents could be there for it.
Thanks again for the comment
hope you have an amazing pregnancy
yeah, i totally agree with you. it would be nice to have a few days to get used to the baby. i worry about being judged as to how i am with the baby right off the bat. but then i just think, my parents are coming all this way, and it would be amazing for them to be there. it's their first grandchild. plus, my mom is a massage therapist and it would be nice to have her help with pain and use massage
I was really convinced that DD was going to be late. Late as in I was going to have to fight my OB to let me go past 41 weeks and 1 day. I walked around telling myself that my due date was really 08/12 instead of 08/04. I figured it would be better to be pleasantly surprised by her coming around my real due date than be obsessing about how she was late.
Well much to my surprise, at 38w1d, my daughter was born! 2 weeks early. I was almost a little disappointed as I thought I had another 3 weeks of being pregnant. I was still really enjoying being pregnant at that point. So it just goes to show you never know when they will decide to make their appearance!