Who decides when a baby is born? Baby or mum

[meepmoop]

I'm just wondering who I can blame for my baby not being here yet.

Does the baby decide when to come out, or does the body say enough and boot them out.

Also How do they know it's time?

Id say baby, 13 day over i went to be induced had gel, pessary, drip he was born 15 days late.

I think babies come when they are ready but the mother’s level of stress must have an influence. Baby number 1 I had a huge, highly pressured day, I relaxed the day after and my waters broke early. Baby number 2, my first child was seriously poorly and I was willing the baby to stay in. The baby stayed put until my first was better and then came out super quickly.

Baby.

1. A very relaxed character who came late.
2. A bloody whirlwind who came in the wrong year as she was determined to be born NOW.

Isn’t it a combination hormones from both mum and the placenta?

Baby releases a hormone. All baby.

Mum. Induced on due date with a 10lb5oz baby. I’d still be pregnant if he called the shots.

He’s 12.

Neither - drugs for me each time.....(so doctor)

Placenta had given up with DS1 at 41 wks. so was induced with 2 and 3.

Well... DM was in Nocton Hall with DB3, the matty unit for the V-force airfields during the Cuban Missile Crisis. No one delivered for a week, until a weapons officer told his DW he'd just taken the sparkplug out of the sunshine bucket. 6 babies arrived within the next shift.

It’s one of the mysteries of human procreation! We know what can trigger the birth process, but not why or when.

Probably not what you want to hear, though. Sorry

In order of power:

1. Babies
2. Medical intervention

I'm afraid i dont think we even feature in the list!

Well.i.was induced twice so the Drs and babies for me.

Everyone was adamant, including midwives, that DD2 would not be born until DH was home from Afghanistan. If I went a week over, he would have been given a direct flight home to increase the chances.

She arrived on her due date and met her father at two weeks old.

The theory was she wouldn't come before I was ready and felt safe. She didn't listen to that!

I made my first arrive by accident. Carried the shopping in and a heavy bag cold bag held against my bump made baby shift right down into my pelvis and I woke up in labour the next morning 12 hours later.

The other time I ended up halting labour. I had loads of contractions that were regular and progressing, but each time I'd freak out and then everything would stop.

So baby made the choice, but I offered an opinion.

Baby. I swear DS caught wind that it was -8oC outside and changed his mind half way through

However, Ido think it's no co-incidence that labour started after strenuous exercise on my part... #1 being sent to the wrong seat in the theatre and having to pointlessly heave my body up two unneccessary flights of stairs (I was pretty much housebound unless ferried door to door). #2 Heaving my body less than 500m down hill to the MW on my crutches (and getting the bus the long way up the hill back home as I couldn't step uphill). I was past 39 weeks. I was quite happy to put myself through such athletic feats of endurence by then

I think I read somewhere that a horse pregnancy with a foal is on average shorter than a pregnancy with a mule which suggests the foetus or placenta makes a difference

Most mammals need to be relaxed and feel safe so once the baby is ready relaxing helps. My Labour came after a lovely massage.

100% the NHS is my cases!

The Stork, surely.

I love the reasoning behind everyone's thoughts. I always believed it was baby because "baby comes when baby is ready" and to an extent I still think it is, but I believe the mothers body has some impact.

This is only based on my experience.

My son came 16 days early.
Contractions started on the Saturday night after I'd been out walking all day. Sunday and Monday they were on and off semi painful.
Monday afternoon I got a phone call from my car insurance providers relating to settled claim to tell me I could be headed to court to give my statement due to a personal injury claim from the other party. I got very upset as the claim was settled, full liability their side.
Tuesday morning he arrived 20 minutes after arriving at the hospital.

Up until that point I was absolutely sure he would be 4 days late and arrive on my parents 30th wedding anniversary, instead he arrived on my mums birthday.

I read recently that it's the placenta! Because we have big brains after about 40 weeks mum cannot supply enough nutrients for baby to continue to grow. Therefore placenta picks this up and triggers labour.