https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 28 May 2026 07:01:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175364 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:34:41 +0000 Anagram 1175364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: I've seen that on forums too, and I think it's insane. My baby came if her own volition at exactly 39 weeks and I was NOT ready. I didn't feel like i was "over " being pregnant or SO uncomfortable I wanted her out earlier. I totally understand people with pre-e or uncontrolled GD needing to be induced, but I agree some doctors are induction happy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175341 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:18:07 +0000 runsyellowlites 1175341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FarmWifeGina: P was 6lb 1oz at 41+5 with no indications of IUGR (always measured on point &amp; our mid pregnancy u/s showed no abnormalities). I know that now we're looking into other issues that could have attributed to that, but I am SO glad that I had a provider that was willing to wait on P &amp; my body. I hate to even think about how things could have been if I was given an earlier cut off, even just 5 days when I hit 41 weeks... how much smaller she could have been! eek! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175338 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:15:09 +0000 FarmWifeGina 1175338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: Agreed! I think this is something of a good thing because of the early term description, but then, I also feel like it leaves less wiggle room for different women and their bodies. Some women just cook babies faster than others. I've known women to have babies naturally at 36 weeks and that baby was genuinely ready to come out, all by itself. And then other women who are induced at 41 weeks and the baby was obviously not ready to come out yet. &lt;----rare, but it does happen. So, yeah, regardless of what the guidelines say, the induction talk needs to happen between a woman and her doctor and the individual pros and cons need to be weighed. And, IMO, elective inductions shouldn't really happen, regardless of how far along one is, but I'm just mean. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175335 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:12:45 +0000 runsyellowlites 1175335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: Yea. In that way I love this new separation, just wonder/worry if it could cause other issues if it becomes too rigidly followed... on either side of ones edd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175332 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:10:13 +0000 yoursilverlining 1175332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: yikes! I remember somewhere around 37 weeks thinking "whew" because I knew it was a fetal development marker, but still thinking I had to go to 40 weeks to be "done", even though I was sooooo done with being pregnant at that point ;-p </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175328 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:05:56 +0000 runsyellowlites 1175328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: It's crazy when you get into some other pregnancy forums how literally the day some ladies hit 37 weeks they're "ready to meet baby" and trying a billion &amp; one ones to induce, begging their doctors to induce them, and alot of times almost combative that their baby IS ready b/c they met the magical 37wk 1day marker. Gah! It's sheer craziness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175316 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 17:52:44 +0000 Dandelion 1175316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My OB won't consider induction until 39 weeks - except for medical reasons, anyways. They won't even schedule repeat c-sections until 39 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175315 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 17:52:10 +0000 yoursilverlining 1175315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't realize "full term" had been less than 40 weeks (but it's also not anything I ever really studied up on, either). My OB would not induce or elective c-section for anything less than 40 weeks, minimum. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175304 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 17:32:41 +0000 sorrycharlie 1175304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My OB wouldn't induce before 41 weeks unless medically necessary! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175232 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:36:12 +0000 runsyellowlites 1175232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have mixed feelings about this... </p> <p>On one hand I really like that they've separated "early term" so hopefully that will stop antsy moms from medicalized &amp; self inductions for the mere "tired of being pregnant" &amp; "I want to meet my baby" reasons. But on the other hand, I don't particularly like the terminology "late term" and wonder if this will just further the 41 week induction rate even when medical indication is lacking.... the evidence doesn't support this scenario either, but I know many offices already have this as their common practice &amp; making a more solid of a statement I fear more moms will buy into it as well without being fully informed. :/</p> <p>I really liked how the Time's article pointed out some of the downsides to such guidelines becoming more than just descriptive terms &amp; becoming strict cut offs.... that it could cause some doctors to be too cautious to deliver early when needed, but at the same time others too "gung ho" to deliver once a mom hits that 39 weeks point.</p> <p>I really liked &amp; agree with how it summed it up saying, "The best case would be if women and their doctors took these terms as they are intended — as descriptive guidelines, not rules — and got better about letting nature take its course unless there is a medical reason not to." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175165 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:06:52 +0000 Ash 1175165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love this! I hate knowing babies are being born early due to convenience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175157 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:00:20 +0000 cascademom 1175157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always thought of 39-40 weeks as full term. When I hit 37 weeks, I had a feeling of "it's okay if you show up now, but stay in there and grow more." Apparently there's quite a culture of inducing labor early for certain dates, etc. I remember a "16 and Pregnant" where the girl got induced way too early because she was whining about being uncomfortable, ended up having a hard labor resulting in a c-section. I was yelling at the tv thinking that her doctors were nuts to go along with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175120 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:38:18 +0000 Alivoo01 1175120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This makes sense because I was induced at 37 weeks because DS was an IUGR baby, but they were worried his lungs not be fully developed. Fortunately, he came out screaming so his lungs were just fine! :) But if they weren't, he'd definitely need those few extra weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175115 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:35:21 +0000 LuLu Mom 1175115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I thought this was the norm, my doctor's office was already not allowing induction before 39 unless medicially necessary. I was told it was a state law. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175094 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:26:31 +0000 MrsBrewer 1175094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Badger: Ohhh! That makes sense! Hopefully then it will be a great change! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175093 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:25:56 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1175093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>37-39 is now considered early term due to increased risk of complications. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175092 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:25:40 +0000 littlek 1175092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting, but I don't think it will have any impact on me. I have issues getting to 34 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175085 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:24:57 +0000 Ms.Badger 1175085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: no, I think this is just trying to prevent non-medical necessary inductions prior to 39 weeks. It seems like the insurance companies wanted this so that won't have to cover non-medically necessary inductions that lead to expensive complications due to the baby being a little early. Hopefully it will not have an affect on medically necessary inductions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175084 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:24:51 +0000 Mrsbells 1175084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I actually like this. the current method of calculating the due date is just an estimate so I was never a fan of early elective labors simply because they thought they were full term. March of the dimes has been insisting for a while that 37 weeks does not always mean fully developed and some babies really need those last 2-3 weeks inside </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175076 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:20:44 +0000 MrsBrewer 1175076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you think that they will start inducing women who go over 40-41 weeks more so now than before? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175071 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:19:06 +0000 BlueWolverine 1175071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ooo, yeah, I can see how an extra two weeks in bed would really suck. I wasn't on bed rest and was miserable at the end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175069 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:18:03 +0000 winniebee 1175069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only have an issue with it b/c I was on bed rest until I was "full term." Bed rest til 37 weeks is a lot different than bed rest til 39 weeks! Not sure if this will change though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-term-is-now-39-40-weeks#post-1175066 Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:16:43 +0000 BlueWolverine 1175066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone see this article on CNN? <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/25/health/term-pregnancy/index.html?hpt=hp_bn13" rel="nofollow">http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/25/health/term-pregnancy/index.html?hpt=hp_bn13</a> </p> <p>They're changing it from 37-42 weeks "to prevent nonmedically indicated deliveries before 39 weeks of gestation.". I don't really have an issue with that. </p>