The second problem, bias, is far more concerning: The average actual delivery date is later than the one predicted by Naegele’s rule. This is especially true for first-time mothers. Have a shorter cycle, and the due date may overestimate it. Have a longer cycle, and the due date will likely underestimate the real delivery date. And many, many women’s cycles are shorter or longer than 28 days. The first, imprecision, is pretty obvious to people with ovaries: His rule assumes menstrual cycles are consistent in length, exactly 28 days long, with ovulation occurring precisely on day 14. Not surprisingly, Naegele’s rule has some problems. His calculation of pregnancy length relied not only on the duration of actual, observable pregnancies, but was also greatly influenced by biblical scholarship indicating that the gestation of Christ lasted for ten lunar months. Naegele, a director at a German hospital, developed his rule in the early 1800s, long before ovulation predictor kits, over-the-counter pregnancy tests, prenatal ultrasounds, fetal nonstress tests, pitocin–in short, before all of modern obstetrics. Naegele’s rule has proved remarkably enduring. The “due date” comes from a calculation known as Naegele’s rule, in which 280 days are added to the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period. If you have severe gestational diabetes, and your due date will likely be treated as a hard stop, and your doctor will insist on an induction at the 40 week mark. Go two weeks past and an induction is all but assured. Go a week past yours, and you will be urged to have labor induced. So why care about the due date at all? Well, modern medicine has given us one very concrete reason for concern: Due dates act as a medical deadline. No, the average, the mode, and the median delivery days are all 1-4 days after the “due date“. It is NOT the day by which half of pregnant women have typically delivered, and half have not (the median). The due date is NOT the average delivery day of a large, modern reference sample of pregnant women. The due date is also NOT the day on which pregnant women most commonly deliver (the mode). If you knew nothing about due dates, you might reasonably suppose that the due date is the average date of delivery.Īnd you’d be wrong. And yes, most women will deliver within 2 weeks of their so called “due date”.Īctual birth data, from real pregnant women, shows that the due date is not only an imprecise delivery estimate–as any single day would be–it is 1-4 days too early. Yes, the due date is not a precise date, only an estimate. You may need to avoid some activities such as driving for six weeks or so.Can we please stop with this due date nonsense already? When you go home, you'll need to take things easy at first. You may experience some discomfort in your abdomen for the first few days, and you'll be offered painkillers to help with this. You might need to stay in hospital for up to three days, compared with one or two days for a vaginal birth. Recovering from a c-section can take longer than recovering from a vaginal delivery. You can request a c-section but the decision as to whether or not a c-section is carried out is made by a consultant. You can pay privately for a c-section but you'll need the agreement of your private consultant. your labour isn't progressing or there's excessive vaginal bleeding.your baby isn't getting enough oxygen and nutrients – sometimes this may mean the baby needs to be delivered immediately.you have certain infections, such as a first genital herpes infection occurring late in pregnancy or untreated HIV.you have pregnancy-related high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia).you have a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia).
your baby is in the breech position (feet first).The incision is usually made across your lower abdomen, just below your bikini line.Ī c-section is a major operation that carries a number of risks, so it's usually only done if it's the safest option for you and your baby. A caesarean section, or C-section, is an operation to deliver your baby through a incision made in your abdomen and uterus. Your pregnancy See more in Your pregnancy.Getting pregnant See more in Getting pregnant.6 week check up and vaccinations for baby.Screening tests and injections for baby (after birth).Child health clinics (weigh-in clinics).Baby Steps: antenatal and postnatal classes.Health visitors and Family Nursing and Home Care.Maternity care with your GP and Community Midwives.Common health problems during pregnancy.
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