Pregnancy is an amazing journey, but as obstetricians, we know that by the end of pregnancy it can get a little, well, old. It’s likely that you’re having a hard time walking, or eating much, or that between having to pee and being uncomfortable in bed, you’re hardly getting any sleep.
Besides that, you’re anxious to meet that baby! You’ve been working for nine months to grow your new little one and you feel like you just can’t wait another day… whenever that day might be.
In the midst of the physical discomfort and the mental waiting game of pregnancy, you might be tempted to request that your doctor induce labor, or even to ask for an elective C-section. But health experts, such as the National Institutes of Health, urge moms with healthy pregnancies to let baby decide when the big day comes.
The New Definition of Full Term
For years, pregnancies were considered full term at 37 weeks, and so women and doctors sometimes considered induction after this marker point. But newer recommendations from the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians consider full-term pregnancy to really be 39 weeks, while some babies may need up to 41 weeks before they’re done developing in the womb.
The Risks of Early Delivery
Even though it’s the last few weeks of pregnancy, babies are still working on fully developing. The brain, liver, and lungs of a baby continue to grow up to 39 weeks, as do the fat stores that will help keep a baby warm after birth. Babies who are delivered before 39 weeks (either by C-section or induced labor) are more likely to have respiratory distress and temperature instability, both which could land them in the NICU.
Furthermore, these babies have more feeding problems and a greater likelihood of jaundice (…or excess “biliurbin” in the blood), both of which increase the chances of a longer hospital stay and the possibility of being readmitted to the hospital.
Choosing early induction can also lead to problems for you – mothers who choose to give birth early have a greater chance of:
- Postpartum depression
- Stronger, more frequent labor contractions
- Increased likelihood of needing a C-section
Try To Wait
While the wait can be difficult, it’s best to wait for your baby to choose when labor starts to increase the chances they will have the best start in the world, and that your journey into parenthood will get started on the right note.
Even if the nursery is ready, the diaper bag is packed, even if you’ve done everything on your pre-baby bucket list, just be patient– it’s a good first lesson in good parenthood.
The pregnancy specialists at Gainesville’s All About Women Obstetrics & Gynecology are here to help you have the best pregnancy possible, from preconception through the postpartum transition. Continue reading on our blog or visit our Knowledge Center to help you prepare for pregnancy, labor, and beyond.
