statistic or myth?

[mum2b09]

iv heard that majority of women go over by at least a week with their first baby..

Is this true? how far before or after EDD did your first baby come?

x

DS induced 37.6

DD 37.1 weeks

Reading from the latest book my midwife has given me as homework.... The 40 week dating is based on a theory cooked up in the 1800s, not research (called Naegele's rule). Over 70% of women go into labour after the EDD, and only 3% arrive on the due date. Research showed that women 34, or who were black, or second time+ labours, were more likely to go into labour earlier than others. But the average length of pregnancy for a white woman expecting their first baby was 41+1. And if you're taller, the average is longer. Plus if you have a longer menstrual cycle, you can add on a few days as well. Go figure.

So base your expectations on 41 or 42 weeks, and you might get a pleasant surprise if you're earlier, rather than watching the clock for weeks! I wish I had last time... (42 weeks then induced after the longest two weeks of my life!)

Doesn't necessarily work though. I didn't fit into any of the categories mentioned for early labour. I'd also had my dates changed by the hospital which I was convinced was wrong & that my initial due date which was 2 weeks later than my amended one was correct. Imagine my surprise when my waters broke 3 weeks before the amended due date. Babies seem to arrive when they feel like it.

I think the longer menstrual cycle thing is because if you have a cycle of about 35 days, like me, you aren't ovulating until about 21 days after your period. So if I and another person with a 28 day cycle both have our LMP on the same day, we will have the same due date, but she will actually have conceived a week earlier than me.

The taller bit I can't even begin to fathom. But I am white and 5 feet nine and my DS (first child) was born when I was 28 at 41 + 1, so it's nice to know I am Mrs average.

39 weeks exactly. I"ve heard shorter menstrual cycle = shorter gestation but not sure.. mine is 26 days...

Yup, Claire236, lies lies and statistics. Baby comes when it darn well pleases, and there's almost nothing you can do about it unfortunately! If you've had more than one baby, you might be able to work out what your own pre-dispositions are, but even then...

But, saying that, I wish I'd known the stats last time, then I might have been able to hold up to the pressure (or downright bullying in one case) to be be induced for a few days, and the whole cycle of intervention wouldn't have got going and maybe DD and I wouldn't have ended up in NICU/hospital for 2 weeks. Who knows. Not that I'm dwelling on it (trying not to anyway!), just think it would be more helpful to be given a date range rather than EDD.

yes, it's true that most babies come after the due date. they aren't late though! the dd is an ESTIMATE. women aren't machines!

41+1 with ds. Had heard about the due date thing being rather elastic so wasn't worried.

11 days over for both.

1st +7 days (8lb 11oz)
2nd +10 days (8lb 12oz)
3rd +15 days. (8lb 15oz)
I am 5 foot nothing.

Stopped there.

Waters went 5 days before EDD, but DD evicted 1 day early due to failure to progress.

I had heard older ladies like myself ar emore likely to produce early, but don't know if there's any truth in it.

My EDD from 15 week dating scan this time is 5 days before the date I had worked out from 1st day LPM. I'm expecting this one to pop before the booked elective.

Labour started on due dates with both of mine (thank god)

my 1st started on due date but still managed to arrive 2 days late
Second was 12 days late.

4 days early with first
2 weeks early with second
5 days late with third bloody longest few weeks of my life as i was convinced i'd go early again!

I was 5 weeks early with twins.

I used to work with a woman who had 4 kids who were all born on their due date!

10 days early according to the hospital's dates but only a couple according to mine

4 days after edd

DD was 8 days over my due date, I am hoping number 2 will be a bit quicker lol.

11 days late by hosp dates, 20 days late by mine, and then only by emcs!

4 days over.

10 days early !

19 days late (and that was still a c-section after a failed induction!)

11 days early.