Why at least 39 weeks is best for your baby
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/getready_atleast39weeks.htm
Why babies need time
Babies born too early may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born full term.
Here’s why your baby needs 39 weeks:
- Important organs, like his brain, lungs and liver, get all the time they need to develop.
- He is less likely to have vision and hearing problems after birth.
- He can suck and swallow and stay awake long enough to eat after he’s born. Babies born early sometimes can’t do these things.
Why scheduling an early birth can be a problem
Experts are learning that scheduling an early birth for non-medical reasons can cause problems for mom and baby. For example:
- Your due date may not be exactly right. Sometimes it’s hard to know just when you got pregnant. Even with an ultrasound, your due date can be off by as much as 2 weeks. If you schedule to induce labor or schedule a cesarean birth (also called a c-section) and your date is off by a week or two, your baby may be born too early.
- Inducing labor may not work. If your labor is induced, the medicine your doctor or certified nurse-midwife gives you may not start your labor. When this happens, you may need to have a c-section.
- A c-section can cause problems for your baby. Babies born by c-section may have more breathing and other medical problems than babies born by vaginal birth. (Most babies are born by vaginal birth. The mother’s uterus contracts to help push the baby out through the vagina, also called the birth canal.)
- C-sections can cause problems in future pregnancies. Once you have a c-section, you may be more likely in future pregnancies to have a c-section. The more c-sections you have, the more problems you and your baby may have, including problems with the placenta.
- A c-section is major surgery for mom. It takes longer for you to recover from a c-section than from a vaginal birth. You can expect to spend 2 to 4 days in the hospital after a c-section. Then you’ll need 4 to 6 weeks after you go home to fully recover. You also could have complications from the surgery, like infections and bleeding. So it’s important to stay in touch with your health care provider even after you go home.
The March of Dimes Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait™ education campaign and obstetric provider groups advise that you wait until at least 39 weeks to induce labor or have a c-section if it is needed. Wait this long unless there are medical problems that make it necessary to have your baby earlier.
The Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait™ education campaign was developed in response to the growing number of inductions and c-sections prior to 39 weeks for non-medical reasons. Campaign messaging is not intended for mothers who have their babies early for medical reasons or who go into early labor on their own
Questions to ask your provider
If you’re planning to schedule your baby’s birth, print out this article and take it with you to your next prenatal care checkup. Ask your provider these questions:
If your provider recommends that you have your baby before 39 weeks:
- Is there a problem with my health or the health of my baby that may make me need to have my baby early?
- Can I wait to have my baby until I’m closer to 39 weeks?
About inducing labor
- Why do you need to induce labor?
- How will you induce labor?
- Will inducing labor increase the chance that I’ll need to have a c-section?
About c-section
- Why do I need to have a c-section?
- What problems can a c-section cause for me and my baby?
- Will I need to have a c-section in future pregnancies?
August 2011