Are early/late babies hereditary?

marajay6 · June 2014

My oldest brother came 2 weeks after his due date and my other brother was 1 week late. I am the youngest and was a scheduled c-section. Is the fact that my mom was late twice any indication that I may also go past my due date?

PineApple85 · June 2014

It can be an indicator but it isn't a guarantee.

SweetMelissa5 · June 2014

I don't know about heredity, but it's probably worth noting that ultrasound technology has gotten much better in our generation, and in the past, I think due dates were probably even more of an estimate than they are now (since they probably went pretty much exclusively off LMP for dating purposes whereas now women know how to track ovulation or can have dating ultrasounds if they have long/irregular cycles). Anecdotally, though, my sister and I were both born more than a week after our due dates, and my first two were also late; my third came on her due date, though.

NunyaBennis · June 2014

I think birth weight is hereditary more so than bake time, but don't quote me on that. I believe your build/ body frame is a factor too.
My mom had all three of her girls at least three weeks early, and BiL's mom had both of hers early, but my sister had her daughter 1w4d after her EDD (although she suspected she was a week behind her whole pregnancy).
Baby comes when baby is ready.

PineApple85 · June 2014

NunyaBennis said:

I think birth weight is hereditary more so than bake time, but don't quote me on that. I believe your build/ body frame is a factor too. My mom had all three of her girls at least three weeks early, and BiL's mom had both of hers early, but my sister had her daughter 1w4d after her EDD (although she suspected she was a week behind her whole pregnancy). Baby comes when baby is ready.

I'd say the hereditary link for weight is about as relevant as "bake time" (I love that.

). I think the maternal family history counts for something but don't take it to the bank. SO was just shy of 7 lbs at birth and I was barely over 8. DS was over 9 lbs. Diet has a lot to do with baby weight, I believe. I was on a high protein diet with DS to help prevent pre-eclampsia that was reputed to "build big babies".

meeshybee · June 2014

I don't think so. I was 40wk5d and my youngest sister was about 38 weeks, so even with the same woman there wasn't really a good way to predict it. My first was 38 weeks, my second was 39wk4d, and my third was a scheduled induction on her EDD.

As far as weight I'm hoping it's not too hereditary. I had a brother who was just shy of 10 lbs! He was the biggest baby in the hospital while he was there.

NunyaBennis · June 2014

Econosaurus said:
I really hope there isn't much of a hereditary aspect. I'm mortified I'm baking a giant baby.

Me: 9lb 13 oz
Husband: 9lb 15 oz

And my pregnant sister is now measuring 3-4 weeks ahead, yikes!

Yikes indeed! GL!

ShelleyElla22 · June 2014

I am one of 4 kids and we were all 1-2 weeks late. My sister was induced a week late with her two kids, my other sister was induced a week late with her son and I was induced late with both of my boys. I am a believer in the hereditary link in my family!

marajay6 · June 2014

I Googled my own question: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/photo-gallery/are-pregnancy-conditions-hereditary.aspx#/slide-6

While this isn't a scientific article, this article claims that there is a family link to overdue babies. And now that I think about it, I remember my maternal grandmother saying that her babies were never early. My uncle was 3-4 weeks late.

I am glad to know this and mentally prepare myself.

The article also states that there is a genetic link to GD. My mom never had GD with her 3 pregnancies.

lisaren · June 2014

No, I don't think so.

jlove253 · June 2014

Econosaurus said:
I really hope there isn't much of a hereditary aspect. I'm mortified I'm baking a giant baby.

Me: 9lb 13 oz
Husband: 9lb 15 oz

And my pregnant sister is now measuring 3-4 weeks ahead, yikes!

My DH was 9lb 13oz and I was 10lb 4oz. I just knew dd would be big and she was estimated over 10lbs on the ultrasound. Lo and behold she was 9lbs at birth. And I pushed her out. Don't freak yourself out too much. Baby could easily be big, but don't hold too tightly to the ultrasound estimates. I've heard of many people being estimated with ginormous babies who were far smaller than predicted.

PineApple85 · June 2014

What jlove253 said: just like EDD, est birth weight as predicted by the u/s can be off by as much as 2 lbs in either directions, I believe.

And for fear of birthing big babies, I've talked to women who pushed out 10+ lb babies and didn't even tear.

Edited: to clarify.

GHMomRN · June 2014

I don't think so, not by parents anyway. I was born a day after my due date, my sister was couple days late. I had my first son 3 weeks early he was 7lb 13oz and my 2nd son was 3.5 weeks early at 8lb 6oz, I think u/s are not always accurate either on measurements. My mother was also in labor for 2 days with me where I've never been over 6 hrs. I think every person/pregnancy is different

sparklingwhit · June 2014

Not a guarantee, but every woman in my family has had their first child 1 - 2 weeks early, so I'm anticipating an October baby. I think I will actually be disappointed if I don't have a Libra baby.

I think it can definitely be an indicator of what's to come.

lil_shocker · June 2014

I wouldn't count on it being hereditary. My mom was late with both me and my brother. I had my son 3 weeks early.

Your occupation's activity level, pregnancy complications, and stress levels are going to be better indicators of whether you may go early, on time, or late, than going off of your family history.

jkrose10 · June 2014

Hi there! My mom was early with all four kids. I was not. It is crazy how everyone is so different.

jlove253 · June 2014

Andplusalso, I have a friend whose first was 2 weeks early and second was two weeks late. So I don't see how that can fit in with a hereditary theory.

Can you believe my friend was pregnant a full month longer with her second than her first!?!

Jack&Jill86 · June 2014

I was wondering this same thing earlier today! I was 4 weeks early so I was thinking how I'd like to have everything ready for baby by the start of October. But at 4 weeks early I already weighed 7lbs 5oz which makes me wonder, like others have mentioned, whether my mom's due date was even that accurate? Glad to hear that the consensus is no hereditary link.

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