DUE DATES
What’s in a due date?
Let’s investigate How is a due date determineD!
An "estimated due date" is typically 40 weeks from the first day of one's last period or calculated by adding 7 days to the first day of your last period & then counting forward 9 months/ back 3 months. This is equal to counting forward 280 days from the date of your last period.
This assumes one has a 28-day cycle & ovulates on the 14th day of that cycle - this is not always the case!
Issues with predicting due dates
The two professors who established this way of "predicting" a "due date" never stated whether we should count from the first or last day of the period. While medical professionals still use this method, it is not based on any current evidence. An early ultrasound (between 8-12 weeks of pregnancy) may be more accurate at guessing a due date: plus/minus 11 days!
In a 2001 study, the researchers found that 50% of all pregnant people giving birth for the 1st time gave birth by 40 weeks + 5 days, while 75% gave birth by 41 weeks + 2 days. Meanwhile, 50% of all pregnant people who had given birth at least once before gave birth by 40 weeks + 3 days, while 75% gave birth by 41 weeks.
Maybe we need to rethink how we talk about our "Due Dates"!
The length of a pregnancy- some terms:
Early term" - between 37 weeks 0 days & 38 weeks 6 days
"Full term "- between 39 weeks 0 days & 40 weeks 6 days.
"Late term" - between 41 weeks 0 days & 41 weeks 6 days
"Post term" - at 42 weeks 0 days or later
A Common Policy
Many medical professionals would argue that the “sweet spot” for your baby to be born is between 39 weeks 40 weeks + 6 days, which is why many OBs and physicians routinely offer a Stretch & Sweep (manual form of induction) or to book a medical induction for birthers at the 38 or 39-week appointment.
In many cases, this is for the convenience of the care provider and or hospital. There are a few hospitals in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that routinely book inductions to help them control the flow of births happening at the hospital! This phenomenon is because these hospitals are very popular and busy, they are understaffed with nurses, and the health care system is under strain. Booking these inductions is not patient-centered care, possibly coercive and unethical, and I would argue, causes a lot of unnecessary anxiety and stress for birthing families.
Click here to read more about the evidence on inducing labor for going past your due date.
So, what can we do?
Let’s start with mindset and begin to look at due dates differently!
• One's "due date" is not their expiration date!
• Start to normalize a later "due date" by adding 5 days (or maybe more!)
• If you're offered a vaginal exam, Stretch & Sweep, or to book an induction, ask if there is a medical reason & weigh the risks & benefits of going post-dates for yourself. You have a choice!
Reach out if you’d like some resources to understand what would be considered medical/ non medical reasons for induction. Book a prenatal session with me to educate yourself about your rights, choices, informed consent, and to create a Birth Preferences Letter.
An anecdote!
During the pandemic and in these years since, my fellow doulas and I have seen an increase in the number of early term births, many of which have begun with a premature rupture of membranes, PROM (waters releasing before labour begins). PROM typically occurs in 12-15% of the population (relatively rare!), so this anecdotal uptick is interesting!
It would seem that the medical world is picking up on this, too, since many birthers are being questioned about if/ when they had COVID-19 during their pregnancy, if/ when they had vaccine(s), and which one(s). Some birthers are even asked to do extra ultrasounds late in pregnancy, presumably to rule out any physical or notable differences in the development or anatomy of the fetus, placenta and uterine content.
There is currently no conclusive medical data about a connection between the virus, vaccines or the stress of the pandemic itself on the length of gestation for pregnant people.
But we'll keep you posted if they find anything!
Be in touch if you’ve got questions!
