just a friendly reminder

hooslisa · August 2012

the AVERAGE pregnancy lasts 41 weeks and 1 day. that's average. so (roughly) half of us will be longer, half of us will be shorter.

you were set up for failure when you were told 40 weeks. get 40 weeks out of your head and start embracing 41 and a day.

that is all.

mollyxcate · August 2012

I'm HOPING for 41w 1d! Keep cooking little girl! Go down blood pressure!

phq2011 · August 2012

Interesting re-evaluation on that. Over the past 15 years the average gestational age has shortened 2 days (so 40 and 6), but they are not sure if that is due to the increase in elective inductions/c-sections.

I was fine going to 41 and 1 (and still am) but almost two weeks of prodromal labor is killing me. I NEVER prepared myself for that.

hooslisa · August 2012

phq2011:

Interesting re-evaluation on that. Over the past 15 years the average gestational age has shortened 2 days (so 40 and 6), but they are not sure if that is due to the increase in elective inductions/c-sections.

I was fine going to 41 and 1 (and still am) but almost two weeks of prodromal labor is killing me. I NEVER prepared myself for that.

.a.)....i'm not mathematician, but all i have to do is read these boards to be pretty sure that rampant intervention is the cause of that drop.

b.) yeh. that would suck. a lot. i hope for your sake you are below average (in a healthy way).

phq2011 · August 2012

hooslisa:
phq2011:

Interesting re-evaluation on that. Over the past 15 years the average gestational age has shortened 2 days (so 40 and 6), but they are not sure if that is due to the increase in elective inductions/c-sections.

I was fine going to 41 and 1 (and still am) but almost two weeks of prodromal labor is killing me. I NEVER prepared myself for that.

.a.)....i'm not mathematician, but all i have to do is read these boards to be pretty sure that rampant intervention is the cause of that drop.

b.) yeh. that would suck. a lot. i hope for your sake you are below average (in a healthy way).

Agreed on point a. I am sure Dr. Bradley (of the Bradley Method, which I love) is rolling in his grave.

As to point b, I know I am in a similar boat with a few other women on this board, so I try to stay semi optimistic and think "at least I am not alone"

phq2011 · August 2012

Saltylove:

Agreed on the interventions leading to shorter gestational age. I understand that there is legit medical evidence for not wanting most pregnancies to go past 42 weeks, but why are we now inducing at 41, 40, or even earlier? Any medical reasoning for this?

Don't want to be judgy one way or the other, just curious.

My understanding from my OB at 41 is the risk of drop of fluid levels, however my OB won't induce before 41 weeks without medical reason. It is mostly involving mother comfort levels, which I disagree with, but that is just me.

shakinros · August 2012

mlynne37wiu:
phq2011:
Saltylove:

Agreed on the interventions leading to shorter gestational age. I understand that there is legit medical evidence for not wanting most pregnancies to go past 42 weeks, but why are we now inducing at 41, 40, or even earlier? Any medical reasoning for this?

Don't want to be judgy one way or the other, just curious.
My understanding from my OB at 41 is the risk of drop of fluid levels, however my OB won't induce before 41 weeks without medical reason. It is mostly involving mother comfort levels, which I disagree with, but that is just me.
My OB said that after a certain time the fluid levels will start to drop and the placenta can start to decrease in function. He said we'll just see how things are going on Friday when I have my next appointment with him at exactly 40 weeks. I'm thinking I am going to go over, but I also want to make sure my fluid levels are ok and my placenta is still functioning properly.

Mine said healthy placenta function. They want to induce in week 41, not before then, but it has to happen before week 42. Within that, they let me request early in the week or later, but the final schedule is subject to hospital availability. So we're scheduled to go in night of 41w1d. I requested early in the week because this is a busy time for my hospital and I want a buffer zone in case we get sent back home (no beds) a couple times.

JayandEmm · August 2012

Yes

YES! Ive mentally prepared myself to go "overdue".

Hell, I dont even like using the term overdue. Thats a word to describe library books. Babies dont know that term, they just know their birthdays.

And as long as I have healthy placenta function and plenty of fluid, Im allowed to go as far over as I/baby need. My midwife said just last month she had someone go to 42w 6d. (Although, she thinks the dd may have been off, since the baby wasnt dry or wrinkled, and the placenta was perfectly healthy.)

jfgreer · August 2012

My OB hates the "40 week due date". I am being monitored, but I don't believe he'll induce before 42 with no medical reason. It is very hard to get that date out of your head though. They should move to giving you a "range" instead.

jfgreer · August 2012

hooslisa:
the AVERAGE pregnancy lasts 41 weeks and 1 day. that's average. so (roughly) half of us will be longer, half of us will be shorter.

you were set up for failure when you were told 40 weeks. get 40 weeks out of your head and start embracing 41 and a day.

that is all.

Curious...is that statistic for the US, or worldwide? Seems like with so many interventions here in the US it would be lower, even below 40.

I remember reading an article somewhat recently about labor and delivery worldwide and the varying practices. TIME perhaps? I can't remember, but it was interesting.

JayandEmm · August 2012

Also, years ago Ina May Gaskin tried to move the automatic induction date for hospitals from 42w to 43w, since MANY women can go over 42w safely. Alas, OB's fought this (many fighting for 41w inductions) and won.

latnprincess · August 2012

I was doing nothing but sitting on the couch every day. Promise! This guy just had other plans! I do remember thinking at 37 wks that I should probably start doing something instead of sitting on the couch afraid of pain, lol...

phq2011 · August 2012

jfgreer:
hooslisa:
the AVERAGE pregnancy lasts 41 weeks and 1 day. that's average. so (roughly) half of us will be longer, half of us will be shorter.

you were set up for failure when you were told 40 weeks. get 40 weeks out of your head and start embracing 41 and a day.

that is all.
Curious...is that statistic for the US, or worldwide? Seems like with so many interventions here in the US it would be lower, even below 40.
I remember reading an article somewhat recently about labor and delivery worldwide and the varying practices. TIME perhaps? I can't remember, but it was interesting.

This stat is indeed US based. It comes out of the Harvard Medical Journal. If I can find a link, I will post it.

sosoph · August 2012

JayandEmm:
Also, years ago Ina May Gaskin tried to move the automatic induction date for hospitals from 42w to 43w, since MANY women can go over 42w safely. Alas, OB's fought this (many fighting for 41w inductions) and won.

Well pp's have covered some legitimate risks to going too long. And, I think part of it all is that we're generally less healthy than we used to be, so there are more high-risk pregnancies. Personally, as long as my bp stays in a safe range I am okay waiting until the baby's ready.

I like Ina May's work a lot, but she only takes very healthy women with very low-risk pregnancies, so she doesn't have the same perspective of who's delivering as a hospital ob.

hooslisa · August 2012

latnprincess:
I was doing nothing but sitting on the couch every day. Promise! This guy just had other plans! I do remember thinking at 37 wks that I should probably start doing something instead of sitting on the couch afraid of pain, lol...

we believe you. your beautiful big boy was just ready.

just wanted to remind the ladies who are reaching their due dates and thinking there some kind of an anomaly.

MommyMelRN · August 2012

hooslisa:
the AVERAGE pregnancy lasts 41 weeks and 1 day. that's average. so (roughly) half of us will be longer, half of us will be shorter.

you were set up for failure when you were told 40 weeks. get 40 weeks out of your head and start embracing 41 and a day.

that is all.

Until last weekend I was content to sit and wait until 42 weeks if it was necessary. Now I'm just antsy, and tired of waiting. Don't get me wrong, there will be no begging for induction or anything crazy like that...but if someone could tell my friends and family to stop calling/texting...that would be great! I'm only 39+4...I can do this!

phq2011 · August 2012

sosoph:
JayandEmm:
Also, years ago Ina May Gaskin tried to move the automatic induction date for hospitals from 42w to 43w, since MANY women can go over 42w safely. Alas, OB's fought this (many fighting for 41w inductions) and won.
Well pp's have covered some legitimate risks to going too long. And, I think part of it all is that we're generally less healthy than we used to be, so there are more high-risk pregnancies. Personally, as long as my bp stays in a safe range I am okay waiting until the baby's ready.
I like Ina May's work a lot, but she only takes very healthy women with very low-risk pregnancies, so she doesn't have the same perspective of who's delivering as a hospital ob.

On the other side (not that I don't agree) is that OBs are trained surgeons who some believe should only see high risk patients. It is the argument, why see a specialist when you only need to see a primary care physician? I think it depends on your needs. My OB made a great point that you should never be so rigid one way or the other.

hooslisa · August 2012

MommyMelRN:
hooslisa:

the AVERAGE pregnancy lasts 41 weeks and 1 day. that's average. so (roughly) half of us will be longer, half of us will be shorter.

you were set up for failure when you were told 40 weeks. get 40 weeks out of your head and start embracing 41 and a day.

that is all.

Until last weekend I was content to sit and wait until 42 weeks if it was necessary. Now I'm just antsy, and tired of waiting. Don't get me wrong, there will be no begging for induction or anything crazy like that...but if someone could tell my friends and family to stop calling/texting...that would be great! I'm only 39+4...I can do this!

oh, i feel you entirely. i'm not sitting here like a zen buddha calmly awaiting 41 and a day. every day i tell this kid to come out cause i'm ready. i'm just mentally preparing myself for sept 1.

phq2011 · August 2012

C_mo:
mlynne37wiu:
phq2011:
Saltylove:

Agreed on the interventions leading to shorter gestational age. I understand that there is legit medical evidence for not wanting most pregnancies to go past 42 weeks, but why are we now inducing at 41, 40, or even earlier? Any medical reasoning for this?

Don't want to be judgy one way or the other, just curious.
My understanding from my OB at 41 is the risk of drop of fluid levels, however my OB won't induce before 41 weeks without medical reason. It is mostly involving mother comfort levels, which I disagree with, but that is just me.
My OB said that after a certain time the fluid levels will start to drop and the placenta can start to decrease in function. He said we'll just see how things are going on Friday when I have my next appointment with him at exactly 40 weeks. I'm thinking I am going to go over, but I also want to make sure my fluid levels are ok and my placenta is still functioning properly.
So why not monitor it? I was induced last time for 'post dates' at 10 days past due and I wish I had just asked for an ultrasound/NSTs to confirm that it was necessary, because my body was far from ready for it. I get that statistics make 41 week inductions look necessary, but when you take a look at what the numbers really are, the risk of going past 42 weeks is only a tiny fraction higher than going past 41 (.02% higher risk if I remember correctly). So many more women could avoid unnecessary inductions which often lead to necessary c-sections as a result if they just watched carefully instead of jumping right into an induction.

Agreed. I know in both my OBs practice and a friend of mine, they have you come in every 2-3 days post 41 weeks for NST and fluid level checks.

Cheerilee · August 2012

I had completely forgotten that fact! Now I have "ammo" for when my family members say "only 2 weeks" and I reply with "I'm perfectly fine going longer." I can say, "ACTUALLY..." and throw out the average to shush them up. I'd rather her be a September baby, anyway - though, not because I don't love the August Mommies! I just like the month of September better.

workingmama · August 2012

You can find just about any gestational age as average if you look hard enough. The CDC says, "In 2005, the mean gestational age for singletons was 38.7 weeks, compared with 35.2 weeks for twins, 31.9 weeks for triplets, 29.8 weeks for quadruplets, and 27.4 weeks for quintuplets and higher." Go figure.

All I know is that 41 weeks, 3 days marked my induction date with DS#1 and that was too far over for me (us). It resulted in a whole host of issues that I do not care to deal with again. I am not saying the 10 day wait caused the issues necessarily, but the docs definitely associate the two and so do I. If I cannot get a due date slot for induction (currently booked), I am aiming for no more than 6 days over EDD. (I will add, though, that I am confident of the EDD's accuracy thanks to charting/monitoring.)

hooslisa · August 2012

workingmama:

You can find just about any gestational age as average if you look hard enough. The CDC says, "In 2005, the mean gestational age for singletons was 38.7 weeks, compared with 35.2 weeks for twins, 31.9 weeks for triplets, 29.8 weeks for quadruplets, and 27.4 weeks for quintuplets and higher." Go figure.

All I know is that 41 weeks, 3 days marked my induction date with DS#1 and that was too far over for me (us). It resulted in a whole host of issues that I do not care to deal with again. I am not saying the 10 day wait caused the issues necessarily, but the docs definitely associate the two and so do I. If I cannot get a due date slot for induction (currently booked), I am aiming for no more than 6 days over EDD. (I will add, though, that I am confident of the EDD's accuracy thanks to charting/monitoring.)

pregnancy isn't a disease. i wouldn't consider the cdc a useful source of pregnancy stats. if they are studying pregnancies, i highly doubt they are healthy ones.

workingmama · August 2012

hooslisa:
workingmama:

You can find just about any gestational age as average if you look hard enough. The CDC says, "In 2005, the mean gestational age for singletons was 38.7 weeks, compared with 35.2 weeks for twins, 31.9 weeks for triplets, 29.8 weeks for quadruplets, and 27.4 weeks for quintuplets and higher." Go figure.

All I know is that 41 weeks, 3 days marked my induction date with DS#1 and that was too far over for me (us). It resulted in a whole host of issues that I do not care to deal with again. I am not saying the 10 day wait caused the issues necessarily, but the docs definitely associate the two and so do I. If I cannot get a due date slot for induction (currently booked), I am aiming for no more than 6 days over EDD. (I will add, though, that I am confident of the EDD's accuracy thanks to charting/monitoring.)

pregnancy isn't a disease. i wouldn't consider the cdc a useful source of pregnancy stats. if they are studying pregnancies, i highly doubt they are healthy ones.

The CDC does far more than disease control and prevention. Their data for that study came from the National Vital Statistics System. I am not saying it is the end all-be all of studies on this topic...just that there are lots of stats out there and most of them do not mean a whole lot to the individual situation. I am sure HHS tracks this stuff (perhaps even an NIH study) if you want to check there for likely yet another estimated average.

ETA: I agree, though, that keeping your mind on the EDD or later is a good call to avoid the disappointment and anxiousness that comes with watching it come and go. For the second time, I am hearing from laypersons and medical staff alike that I will *never* make it to my EDD. Yeah - right. My 3.5 cm and 70% does not mean anything until actual labor begins. I am sure I will continue to deal with the fun of prodromal labor for days/weeks to come.

jfgreer · August 2012

phq2011:
C_mo:
mlynne37wiu:
phq2011:
Saltylove:

Agreed on the interventions leading to shorter gestational age. I understand that there is legit medical evidence for not wanting most pregnancies to go past 42 weeks, but why are we now inducing at 41, 40, or even earlier? Any medical reasoning for this?

Don't want to be judgy one way or the other, just curious.
My understanding from my OB at 41 is the risk of drop of fluid levels, however my OB won't induce before 41 weeks without medical reason. It is mostly involving mother comfort levels, which I disagree with, but that is just me.
My OB said that after a certain time the fluid levels will start to drop and the placenta can start to decrease in function. He said we'll just see how things are going on Friday when I have my next appointment with him at exactly 40 weeks. I'm thinking I am going to go over, but I also want to make sure my fluid levels are ok and my placenta is still functioning properly.
So why not monitor it? I was induced last time for 'post dates' at 10 days past due and I wish I had just asked for an ultrasound/NSTs to confirm that it was necessary, because my body was far from ready for it. I get that statistics make 41 week inductions look necessary, but when you take a look at what the numbers really are, the risk of going past 42 weeks is only a tiny fraction higher than going past 41 (.02% higher risk if I remember correctly). So many more women could avoid unnecessary inductions which often lead to necessary c-sections as a result if they just watched carefully instead of jumping right into an induction.
Agreed. I know in both my OBs practice and a friend of mine, they have you come in every 2-3 days post 41 weeks for NST and fluid level checks.

This is exactly what mine's having me do (except we started at 40). No talk of induction till I get to 42.

jfgreer · August 2012

phq2011:
jfgreer:
hooslisa:
the AVERAGE pregnancy lasts 41 weeks and 1 day. that's average. so (roughly) half of us will be longer, half of us will be shorter.

you were set up for failure when you were told 40 weeks. get 40 weeks out of your head and start embracing 41 and a day.

that is all.
Curious...is that statistic for the US, or worldwide? Seems like with so many interventions here in the US it would be lower, even below 40.
I remember reading an article somewhat recently about labor and delivery worldwide and the varying practices. TIME perhaps? I can't remember, but it was interesting.
This stat is indeed US based. It comes out of the Harvard Medical Journal. If I can find a link, I will post it.

Yes Sounds interesting, thanks.

jlrschmidt · August 2012

Thanks for posting this. Maybe it's an UO but it bothers me when OBs (or moms to be) push induction sooner than 42 weeks ( provided mom and baby are healthy of course). OBs ARE specialists like pp said and they see problems where none are because they are trained to expect them (IMO). Who's to say the conception dates are all that accurate to begin with?

My MW has me starting NSTs next week at 41 weeks and induction looming at 42 but she flat out asked me today if I wanted to have the baby sooner (meaning induction), which kind of annoyed me.

rainedrops117 · August 2012

Saltylove:

Agreed on the interventions leading to shorter gestational age. I understand that there is legit medical evidence for not wanting most pregnancies to go past 42 weeks, but why are we now inducing at 41, 40, or even earlier? Any medical reasoning for this?

Don't want to be judgy one way or the other, just curious.

I'm being induced 5 days before due date only bc LO has been measuring large since 20 wks. (no GD) At my 35wk U/S he was a few oz shy of 8lbs. U/S results are not EXACT need I mind you... however these measurements are pretty consistent with my previous pregnancies. I have two 32 wk preemies that were 5.14lbs and 5.10lbs and then a 35 wk preemie at 7.10lbs...

Since this is my first "full-term" baby, they are guessing he'll be around 9.5 - 10lbs. I guess we'll see!

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