If your pregnancy is healthy, it's best to stay pregnant for at least 39 weeks and wait for labor to begin on its own. When you schedule your baby's birth, you schedule either labor induction or a c-section.
Furthermore, babies delivered electively at 37 weeks are four times more likely to end up in the neonatal intensive care unit or have serious respiratory troubles than babies born at 39 weeks or later; babies who arrive at 38 weeks are twice as likely to have complications.
Doctors recommend that babies remain inside the womb until at least 39 weeks, if possible, for the best outcomes. Babies born at 36 weeks may face challenges, such as health complications and developmental delays into childhood. Being aware of these difficulties allows the parents and doctor to put a plan in place.
Giving birth up to two weeks before and two weeks after are still considered normal, she said, though she noted that as inductions have become more common, it's rare for pregnancies to last 42 weeks.
Babies born between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy are called “full term.” Babies born between 34 and 36 full weeks of pregnancy are called “late preterm” babies. Your baby may look and act like a baby born on its due date, but they are not fully mature and may have trouble in many ways.
Managing a baby born at 36 weeks
Not all babies will need to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). You may be moved to a center that has a NICU just in case. A baby born at 36 weeks will need to be monitored at least during their first 24 hours of life.
Babies born before 34 weeks go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who weigh more than 1,800 grams (about 4 pounds) may be able to go to the Progressive Care Nursery (PCN).
Most babies (91%) in Australia are born at term (37–41 weeks). This is similar across the states and territories and has been stable over time.
Warning Signs of Premature Labor
Menstrual-like cramps felt in the lower abdomen that may come and go or be constant. Low dull backache felt below the waistline that may come and go or be constant. Pelvic pressure that feels like your baby is pushing down. This pressure comes and goes.
Although every baby is different, in most cases babies born before 36 weeks of gestation require a minimum of one day of observation in the NICU before they are transferred to the postpartum floor to stay with you. All babies born before 35 weeks gestation will need a longer observation period in the NICU.
By 36 weeks, your baby's lungs are fully formed and ready to take their first breath after the birth. The digestive system is fully developed and your baby will be able to feed if they're born now.
10% gave birth by 36 weeks and 4 days after ovulation. 25% gave birth by 37 weeks and 3 days after ovulation. 50% gave birth by 38 weeks and 2 days after ovulation. 75% gave birth by 39 weeks and 2 days after ovulation.
At or after 40 weeks, the risk of stillbirth increases, especially for women 35 or older. Their risk, research shows, is doubled from 39 weeks to 40 and is more than six times as high at 42 weeks.
The rate of lung development can vary greatly, and the lungs are among the last organs to fully develop – usually around 37 weeks.
The lungs are the last major organ to finish developing. When fully mature, they produce a chemical that affects the hormones in your body. Doctors are not sure why labor starts, but this chemical may be one of the causes.
First babies are less likely to be “on time” at 39 weeks, and more likely to be a little late, between 41 and 43 weeks. Among full-term pregnancies, first babies are born about 1.3 days later on average.
What week are most first babies born? If you're still wondering whether your baby will be born before 40 weeks, or if she's likely to be late, according to this study the week in which most first babies are born is week 40.
Average Week First-Time Parents Give Birth
Wondering about the average week of pregnancy that first-time parents give birth? Research suggests that about half of people giving birth for the first time give birth by 40 weeks and 5 days.
First, which month has the least birthdays? The data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Social Security Administration. The rarest month to be born in is February, making Aquarius the rarest zodiac sign. February is the shortest month of the year, even with a leap year.
ACOG and SMFM use these definitions to describe term pregnancies: Early term: Your baby is born between 37 weeks, 0 days and 38 weeks, 6 days. Full term: Your baby is born between 39 weeks, 0 days and 40 weeks, 6 days. Late term: Your baby is born between 41 weeks, 0 days and 41 weeks, 6 days.
Labor may be induced by: Inserting vaginal suppositories that contain prostaglandin to stimulate contractions. Giving an intravenous (IV) infusion of oxytocin (a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates contractions) or a similar drug. Artificially rupturing the amniotic sac.
Babies usually weigh an average of 3 to 4 kg by this late stage of pregnancy.
At 37 weeks, your pregnancy is considered full-term. The average baby weighs around 3-4kg by now.
Babies born at 37 and 38 weeks at higher risk for adverse health outcomes. 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.