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Re: anna or anybody
From: aa (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 12 Feb 2003 10:57:04 -0600 (CST)
You are right for the most part. But this poor lady was terrified of
having a 37 or 38 week baby because it wasn't "full term" in her mind.
Let's face it unless you have assisted reproductive procedure like IVF,
you don't know "exactly" when fertilization occurs and thus your due
date is just a guesstimate. Even with IVF, women may not go exactly 40
weeks. I had a 38w3d baby with IVF.
At Wed, 12 Feb 2003, Anna wrote:
>
>Well, this is the point! An average pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. (Average
>=> some take longer, some not so long, but the vast majority take about
>40 weeks. If it's your first baby, it's actually a little over 40
>weeks.) That doesn't mean that at 37 weeks, the baby won't live, *but*
>it is *not* done maturing until *it* initiates the birth process.
>
>The position your doctor takes is one of medical feasibility/liability.
>Taking a baby at 38 weeks is not very likely to result in damage. That's
>the good news. The even better news: Waiting for baby to signal it's
>ready is even less likely to result in damage. So why not wait? Your
>body does all sorts of stuff in the last few weeks and even days, which
>help both the baby and you - most noticably, your pelvis becomes looser,
>which will make delivery easier on both of you.
>
>That doesn't mean you won't very likely have a healthy baby and vaginal
>birth right now, but if you have the choice between 97% and 99%, and you
>could up your chances just by waiting, why wouldn't you? (The numbers
>are random, just for illustration.)
>
>Best,
>Anna
>
>At Tue, 11 Feb 2003, LaurieB wrote:
>>
>>I believe 37 weeks is considered full term. Most 37 weekers (or even 35
>>and 36) are fine when born.
>>
>>At Tue, 11 Feb 2003, worried wrote:
>>>
>>>Is it true that 38 wks is not considered fullterm? My obgyn told me that
>>>if I had the baby tomorrow we're in the clear cause I am 37wk 2days. She
>>>said 37 wks is fullterm. I am worried now. How early is a baby
>>>considered a preemie? Like if I delivered tomorrow would my baby be a
>>>premature?
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