Wait for Due Date: Your Baby’s Health May Depend on it
A recent press release from The Ohio State University Medical Center urges expectant moms to steer clear of early scheduled C-sections, unless there is a clear medical reason. Early, being defined as, “before completing 39 weeks of pregnancy”. Scheduling an early C-section or induction due to normal third-trimester pregnancy discomforts is not a good reason afterall, even though it may feel that way. Planning an early delivery for visiting family or because your health care provider will be out of town as your due date approaches are not valid reasons, either. Sorry.
According to maternal-fetal medicine specialist at The Ohio State University Medical Center, Dr. Celeste Durnwald, “Certainly, a medical problem with the mother’s health or suspected fetal jeopardy can sometimes necessitate a delivery earlier than otherwise anticipated. Maternal hypertension and poor fetal growth are common reasons.“ In such cases, the benefits of an early C-section or induction obviously outweigh the risk of waiting for your baby’s due date. When healthcare providers and parents-to-be are weighing the risks and benefits they need to realize, “ there are potential complications for a newborn. Even though those last few weeks can seem like months to the patient, I try to emphasize the importance of delivering at a gestational age when the baby gets to go home with the mother and does well in the nursery,” says Dr. Durnwald.
The health of your newborn may be at risk if delivered even a couple of weeks prior to his or her due date because babies’ development is still occurring. “That includes the accumulation of fat tissue that helps the baby regulate their temperature after birth, there is also maturation of the intestinal system to make feeding easier,” Dr. Durnwald points out. Babies born just a “little” early can have problems with premature lungs, jaundice, feeding, breathing when sitting in their car seat and they are much more likely to spend extra time in the hospital than babies born closer to their due date.
Out of my five children, my oldest is the only one who decided to make his way into the world early- a full three weeks early that is- and I had no complaints. I was more than ready for him to be here, especially after losing my first 2 pregnancies, I just wanted to hold him safe in my arms. He struggled with jaundice for the first week and he had to be readmitted to the hospital for an additional two-night stay, after spending only one night at home. He had feeding problems and ended up being my only child I couldn’t breastfeed. He threw up continuously until his first birthday. If I could do it over again and had a choice, I would have chosen for him to keep growing and developing for another 2-3 weeks. My four full-term babies never got jaundice, never had extended hospital stays and none had feeding or digestive problems. I know his problems were all just from him being a mere three weeks early. Those final weeks really do matter afterall.
