39 weeks pregnant
- If you have passed your estimated delivery date and feel
uncomfortable and tired, hang on because things will get better!
Commonly, it's said that pregnancy is 9 months long. That, however, is
only 36 weeks! In reality, pregnancy lasts at least 40 weeks, starting
from the date of the last menstrual period. The length of pregnancy
varies from one woman to another.In average, duration of pregnancy
worldwide is actually 42 weeks. Therefore, you should not be worried if
you are "still pregnant" at 39 weeks into your pregnancy, if you and
your baby don't have any specific medical issues. It's good to note that
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
recommends against elective induced labor before 39 weeks of gestation.
39 weeks pregnant
Reasons Why Pregnancy Goes Beyond Due Date
The
due date toward which you have been working is most commonly based on
the first day of the last menstrual period. If your periods are not
always 28 days, this measurement becomes less accurate. Additionally,
your ovulation may actually occur at any point of your cycle!
The
most reliable estimate of the due date can be obtained via a
trans-vaginal ultrasound anywhere between 8-10 weeks of gestation. Thus,
EDD is just an estimate and only 70% of babies are born even near
(within a week) of their estimated birth date! The exact reasons why
pregnancy sometimes lasts more than 40 or 42 weeks are not known, even
with all our advanced technology today.
What You Should Know about Medically Induced Labor
Induction
of labor with synthetic labor inducing pharmaceuticals, such as
Pitocin, has been shown to increase the risk of c-section by four times
as much as that of going into labor on your own. At least your Bishop's
Score should be desirable for labor induction. A score from 7-10 is most
desirable when considering medical labor induction. The Bishop's Score
refers to a group of measurements, such as baby station, dilation,
effacement, position and consistency that help to determine whether a
woman's cervix is ripe for induction.
When a woman's body is not
ready to give birth, medical labor induction often leads to c-section.
What is shocking is that today some doctors decide to induce even if a
woman's Bishop's Score is as low as 2. This makes success rates low
leading to unwanted cesarean births. If you wish to lower your chances
of requiring a c-section, then refuse labor induction unless it is
specifically medically necessary.
What Can You Do To Naturally Induce Labor?
If
your pregnancy is truly full-term and your doctor has confirmed that
you can deliver vaginally and your baby is ready to be born, maternity
acupressure is a great way to prepare your body for the labor and
eventually bring on labor naturally. Maternity acupressure is one of the
few remedies you can use to encourage your labor to start even if your
cervix is not dilating. Specific set of maternity accupressure points
help the cervix to dilate and therefore bring on labor. Maternity
acupressure is a simple technique that you can use before and during
labor in order to have an easier, shorter and safer birth.