How Long?

It's been an interesting few days because I never thought *I* would be here.  I have always been so consistent at birthing at 39 weeks to 40 on the nose that I couldn't have contemplated going past that, but here I am.  40 weeks, 3 days.

So I revert back to my research taught for 8 years to students and clients about the true average length of pregnancy and of course the unpredictability of birth.  We cannot control the timing of our baby's arrival anymore than we can predict a summer storm and whether it will develop or not or skip our town but pour rain on the one next to us complete with hail, lightning and thunder.

In the 1800s a man name Naegele actually decided the due date should be 40 weeks gestation.  But in 1990, a large study showed the actual average length of pregnancy was 41 weeks, 1 day for first time mothers and 40 weeks, 3 days for mothers on the second pregnancy or more. 

Some other stats of interest:

• About 50% of women give birth between 39 and 41 weeks.
• Only 5% of babies are born on their actual due date.
• Up to 88% of women give birth between 38 and 42 weeks.
• 6-7% of babies are born premature (before 37 weeks).
• If not induced, a small % of babies are born after 42 weeks. 

 Then, it made me wonder...  why now?  Why on term pregnancy #5 and I going this far?  There is of course the apple-shaped, pendulous uterus and posterior position with lots of stretched out room allowing a flipping baby still.  Sure.  What else could it be?  I realized a couple of things.

1. I'm still taking magnesium/calcium supplements that my midwife put me on to help prevent pre-eclampsia this time or getting close to it like I did with Sara Beth.  Magnesium will actually relax the uterus.  Funny enough, I have been taking it after breakfast in the morning and that is exactly when my contractions if I'm having any will just peter out.  Additionally, many midwives believe that women going past 40 weeks should stop taking any anti-inflammatory supplements like Vitamin D and the Omega 3 I take every day.  So needless to say, I'll be stopping all 4 supplements as of tomorrow to not impede the inflammatory process of cervical ripening nor the activity of the uterus.
2. I'm also healthier than I've ever been.  My nutrition has drastically improved, I drink more water than ever before, less sugar in my diet and of course I avoid the inflammatory foods I'm allergic too - dairy/eggs.  I take my multivitamin and probiotic each day.  And I was diagnosed with the MTHFR gene mutation (genetic) years ago after Sara Beth was born and I take my daily Vitamin B12 supplement and Folate that is necessary to support my deficiency in both being that I'm heterozygous A1298C and C677T.

These things make me healthier and the healthier a pregnant woman is, the longer she'll be pregnant.  We all know this to be true because it is only those who have a nutritional deficiency and prior health conditions that go into preterm labor or deliver earlier.  Each woman has to find what her body needs to stay pregnant until term and grow a healthy baby.  With our American diet that proves quite difficult but with good education on prenatal nutrition, it is certainly possible!

The mistake I made was assuming I'd once again birth at 39 weeks or even earlier because #4 came days before #2 and #3 did and because of the amount of contractions I had in pregnancy leading up to term, I was convinced I'd go sooner rather than later!  Now I have to roll back my expectations and once again accept my pregnancy journey as it comes not trying to make it fit a certain week and planning events or vacations around when I thought I would deliver.  The summer will just need to be adjusted some and I've got to learn to be patient allowing this little stinker to come when he or she is ready!