Is 38 weeks too early to induce labor?
Is 38 weeks too early to induce labor?
If a woman remains pregnant until 42 weeks or longer, the risk of stillbirth or newborn death increases significantly, so most care providers will recommend induction before 42 weeks. Some will recommend induction on the woman’s due date or even earlier, while others wait until the woman is more than 41 weeks pregnant.
Is it okay for a baby to be born at 38 weeks?
Summary: Babies considered “early-term,” born at 37 or 38 weeks after a mother’s last menstrual period, may look as healthy as full-term babies born at 39-41 weeks, but a study has found that many of them are not.
What week is the most common to go into labor?
The researchers found that 50% of all women giving birth for the first time gave birth by 40 weeks and 5 days, while 75% gave birth by 41 weeks and 2 days. Meanwhile, 50% of all women who had given birth at least once before gave birth by 40 weeks and 3 days, while 75% gave birth by 41 weeks.
What triggers the start of labor?
Labor usually starts two weeks before or after the estimated date of delivery. However, the exact trigger for the onset of labor is unknown. While the signs of labor may vary, the most common are contractions, rupture of the amniotic sac (“breaking your water”) and bloody show.
What are the risks of being induced at 38 weeks?
Labor induction carries various risks, including:
- Failed induction. About 75 percent of first-time mothers who are induced will have a successful vaginal delivery.
- Low heart rate.
- Infection.
- Uterine rupture.
- Bleeding after delivery.
Does baby or body decide when labor starts?
Researchers now believe that when a baby is ready for life outside his mother’s uterus, his body releases a tiny amount of a substance that signals the mother’s hormones to begin labor (Condon, Jeyasuria, Faust, & Mendelson, 2004). In most cases, your labor will begin only when both your body and your baby are ready.