The sound waves are then translated into a two-dimensional picture on a monitor. Premature babies A baby born prior to week 37 is considered premature. Often there is no known cause for a premature labour; however, some of the maternal risk factors may include: Drinking alcohol or smoking during pregnancy Low body weight prior to pregnancy Inadequate weight gain during pregnancy No prenatal care Emotional stress Placenta problems such as placenta praevia Various diseases such as diabetes and congestive heart failure Infections such as syphilis.
Overdue babies Around five out of every babies will be overdue, or more than 42 weeks gestation. Tests include: Monitoring the fetal heart rate Using a cardiotocograph machine Performing ultrasound scans. Some of the methods of induction include: Vaginal prostaglandin gel - to help dilate the cervix Amniotomy - breaking the waters, sometimes called an artificial rupture of membranes ARM Oxytocin - a synthetic form of this hormone is given intravenously to stimulate uterine contractions.
Where to get help Your doctor Your obstetrician Midwife or childbirth educator Things to remember The unborn baby spends around 38 weeks in the uterus, but the average length of pregnancy, or gestation, is counted at 40 weeks.
Since some women are unsure of the date of their last menstruation perhaps due to period irregularities , a baby is considered full term if its birth falls between 37 to 42 weeks of its estimated due date. More information here. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. View all healthy pregnancy. Related information. Support groups Victorian Infant Collaborative Study. From other websites BirthNet.
Caregivers previously believed that babies born between 37 and 42 weeks were equally likely to be born healthy. For that reason, experts considered pregnancies to be full term at 37 weeks. Full term is now 39 weeks because research has shown that babies born at 39 to 40 weeks were less likely to have certain health problems than those born at 37 weeks. Studies have also found an increased risk of learning problems and health problems later in life in babies born before 39 weeks.
One study looked at the records of more than , school-age children and found an elevated risk of poor child development in children delivered via a planned birth before 39 weeks. The study looked at physical health and well-being, language and cognition, social competence, emotional maturity, and general knowledge and communication.
What's more, your baby's gestational age can be off by as much as two weeks, even if you had an early ultrasound to date your pregnancy. If you schedule a delivery before 39 weeks and your due date is off by a week or two, your baby may be born before 37 weeks' gestation. In the past, some caregivers scheduled delivery before 39 weeks for convenience or other non-medical reasons. Their patients may have been happy to avoid the discomfort of the last few weeks of pregnancy since they believed the baby was ready to be born anyway.
ACOG and SMFM want to make it clear that delivery should only be planned before 39 weeks when continuing the pregnancy would put the mother or baby at significant health risks. Of course, sometimes delivery before 39 weeks can't be avoided, such as when your water breaks or contractions come early.
If you go into labor between 37 and 39 weeks, your caregiver will not try to delay your labor since most babies born at this point are fine.
That said, it's still best to wait until 39 weeks to schedule an induction or c-section. In other words, the risks of delivering a few weeks early are not great, but why take any risk at all with your baby's health, if you can avoid it? Staying in the uterus past 41 weeks is not optimal for the baby's health either. Babies born during this window have the best chance of being healthy, compared with babies born earlier or later.
In order to make this clearer, the two organizations developed these new labels for the last weeks of pregnancy:. Once you reach 41 weeks, the chances of your baby having problems starts to increase, and your caregiver will likely require you to come in for testing to make sure your baby is continuing to thrive in the womb. This is because the placenta is an organ that ages as the pregnancy progresses, and beyond 41 weeks it may not function as robustly in delivering oxygen and nutrients to your baby.
If your pregnancy goes past 40 weeks and 6 days, your provider may recommend that you have a nonstress test or biophysical profile.
Are you taking prenatal vitamins? Exercise regularly and try to eliminate any unnecessary sources of stress from your life. If you have any chronic health conditions, get treated and remain consistent with treatments. Follow the rules. Eat healthy and get the proper amount of sleep. Exercise regularly be sure to check with your healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise routine during pregnancy.
Go to every scheduled prenatal appointment, give an honest and thorough health history to your healthcare provider, and follow their advice. Protect yourself from potential infections and sickness. Seek medical attention for any warning signs of preterm labor, such as contractions, constant low back pain, water breaking, abdominal cramps, and any changes in vaginal discharge.
Wait at least 18 months before trying to conceive again. The shorter the time is between pregnancies, the greater the risk for a preterm delivery, according to the March of Dimes. Talk with your doctor or midwife and stay informed.
Learning as much as you can about the procedures and treatments available to you and your baby will help lower anxieties and give you a sense of control. Keep in mind that the options and support for premature babies have improved over the years, and the odds of leaving the hospital with a healthy baby are higher than ever before. A stroke can be life-threatening, so it's important to act fast. If you think a loved one is having a stroke, here's what you should and shouldn't do.
We break down some of the basics surrounding what masculinity is, how it harms men, and what we can do about it. Waiting to deliver until at least 39 weeks, in a healthy pregnancy, gives your baby the time he or she needs to grow. Your baby's lungs, liver, and brain go through a crucial period of growth between 37 weeks and 39 weeks of pregnancy.
Waiting until 39 weeks, now called "full term," gives your baby the best possible chance for a healthy start in life. There may be a time, if there is a health risk to the mother or baby, when a planned delivery before 39 weeks is necessary.
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