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DD was born at 36w3d. She was perfectly healthy but my hospital has a policy that all babies born before 37 weeks have to stay a minimum of four nights. I was discharged after two nights but thankfully they had a "boarder room" available and I stayed there the other two nights (but DH couldn't). It was weird at the time I felt like I missed out on a month of being pregnant and I was really upset. I can now look back and laugh at myself though.

So if we have another at a hospital with the same policy I would prefer to make it to at least 37 weeks. In general I think 37-39 weeks sounds pretty good.

I went 40 +5 with DS and was so miserable the last few weeks. I was mentally prepared to go over my due date with DD but went 38 +2 which was so so nice. I agree, around 38 weeks I think is "ideal" because there are rarely complications but you don't have those last few weeks of misery.

I had my daughter on her due date and I was so ready to not be pregnant anymore. If we had another I think 39 weeks would be perfect.

39.5-40.5 weeks

I had DD at 38+5 and it was perfect. My last minute preparation was all done and I wasn't sitting around at 39, 40, 41 weeks just waiting to go into labor.

She was also 8lbs 1oz so I'm glad she didn't wait any longer.

Probably 39 weeks

I went 40+1 and 40+10 with both of mine.

My water broke both times at 39 weeks. Both times it was around then that I felt like I was DONE and OVER being pregnant.

Mine were born at 40w and at 39+1 I believe. I thought the latter was good, I was ready, baby was developed and big. I wouldn't want to deliver before 38 weeks. I'd worry they'd be fussier and more difficult at that stage.

@catgirl: Did your DD have to stay in the NICU or a special care nursery for those 4 nights? I need to check on my hospital's policy for this.

I'm sure it depends how you feel. With my son, I wanted him to be born on his due date, no sooner, no later!! He was but it was after a two day failed induction and c section so it wasn't all that smooth. With my second, I wanted her to be born a few days before the due date because my doctor didn't want me going past that with gestational diabetes and previous c section. I was hoping for a vbac but it didn't happen. I was not too uncomfortable with her and could have gone a couple more weeks!

@lawbee11: my 38weeker was 10lbs12oz. I'm so thankful for that early c-section.

Theoretically 40 but my third was an RCS at 38w4d and I don't know if I'd have made it another ten days.

My first was 40+1 and my second I was induced at 41. In a perfect world going into labor on your due date sounds awesome.

For me, I really liked going into labor at 39 weeks. I was confident baby was done "cooking" (and her suck reflex was developed) ... but I honestly loved not having to go past my due date. This time, I'm hoping to go into labor between 38-39 weeks.

I delivered my first at 40+1 which was great. I'm a planner so I loved going in to labor on my due date because everything at work was all wrapped up. My second was born at 37+6. I had been put on bed rest at 36 weeks, so I was relieved to be done with that. But my son was tiny, and my milk was slow to come in so he lost a good amount of weight in the first few days. We are done having kids, but if I were to have more, I would want them born as close to their due dates as possible. (I hate all of pregnancy so the last few weeks weren't that much more miserable than the rest of it )

DD1 was 39 weels induced; DD2 came at 37 weeks. I'd take 37! She was perfect!

38-39! I had DD at 36 and we were so lucky to have no nicu time. She was just SO tiny. By 36 weeks I'm done, but still need my babies to cook a little longer because I tend to have babies on the tiny side!

I had my son at 39 weeks exactly. I would be ok with anytime after 38 weeks.

I had my first at 41 and the "extra" week was really tough. For my second, I really wanted to go into labor at 39 weeks. I ended up being induced at 37 though, which worked out great in the end. If I had gone into labor spontaneously at 37 I think I would have been worried that she was too small/not ready so I still think my ideal time to go into labor on my own would be anytime between 38-39.

With my first, I delivered at 38 weeks exactly. With my second, I was induced at 39+6 due to low amniotic fluid. I would have happily kept my second in there longer since I wasn't really uncomfortable physically (summer baby versus fall baby made a huge difference in my comfort levels) and my first was so tough at first. I think baking a little longer makes the newborn stage a little easier. If I had a third, I'd hope to make it to my due date.