Text/Good Pregnancy Sister
Yesterday, some friends in the mother group mentioned this question: I heard that the due date is not accurate at all. More than half of the pregnant mothers will not give birth on the due date. Is this true?
I am now two days past my due date, but there is still no movement from the fetus. Although I knew this was normal, I still felt nervous and anxious. I was hoping that the little guy would come out soon, so that I could be relieved soon and not have to worry all day long.
As usual, the mothers in the group actively expressed their opinions and experiences. I took a quick look and found that indeed, most people did not give birth on the due date.
Then the question arises, is the due date accurate?
The expected date of delivery is calculated based on the date of the mother's last menstrual period. Generally, it is calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period, adding 9 or subtracting 3 to the month, and adding 7 to the date.
If a pregnant mother cannot remember clearly the time of her last menstrual period, or if her menstruation is irregular, the expected date of delivery must be inaccurate.
Of course, even if the pregnant mother has regular menstruation and remembers the time of her last menstrual period accurately, there may still be a time difference between the expected date of delivery and the actual delivery date (usually a difference of 1-2 weeks).
In other words, the due date is not the exact time of delivery and is generally inaccurate. When it comes to giving birth, it's likely that it will be a few days early or a few days late.
According to clinical data, only about half of pregnant mothers will give birth on the expected date of delivery.
Since the due date is not accurate, why do we need to estimate it?
The due date does not tell you on which day the fetus will be born. Rather, it reminds pregnant mothers that it is safe for the baby to be born within a certain time range.
The first is to prepare pregnant mothers mentally and prepare delivery kits in advance. You won’t be in a hurry and bring nothing with you when you are waiting to give birth.
The second is to remind pregnant mothers that if it has not started 2 weeks after the expected date of delivery, it is expired pregnancy and they must go to the hospital for manual intervention as soon as possible.
So, what determines whether the fetus is born sooner or later?
Research has found that the mechanism of labor initiation is relatively complex and is usually controlled by multiple factors. Among them, the more important one is the hormonal changes in the pregnant mother.
When the fetus matures, the pregnant mother's pituitary gland will secrete large amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone . This hormone will prompt the placenta to secrete a large amount of estrogen, which will relax the pregnant mother's joints and ligaments in preparation for childbirth.
The change in the ratio of estrogen and progesterone will enhance the sensitivity of uterine muscle to oxytocin.
In addition, adrenocorticotropic hormone also stimulates the endometrium to secrete prostaglandins. Prostaglandins induce strong contractions in the uterus, release oxytocin from the pituitary gland, and promote softening and maturation of the cervix.
Of course, some studies have found that the emotional state of pregnant mothers can also affect the onset of labor.
If before is due to give birth , the pregnant mother is anxious, stressed, and has large mood swings, the fetus is very likely to be born early.
What are the signs of labor?
As the due date approaches, pregnant mothers should pay attention to the signs of labor, which are regular contractions , redness and water rupture.
Regular uterine contractions
Pregnant mothers will feel regular falling and pain in the abdomen.
Redness
Some pregnant mothers will have redness 24-48 hours before labor starts. This means that the cervix is beginning to soften and become shorter, and the uterine opening is gradually expanding. But that doesn't mean it will happen immediately.
Pregnant mothers don’t need to be too nervous and can start packing the things they need to have a baby. If you live far away from the hospital, you can go to the hospital to go through the admission procedures at this time.
Water breaks
If a pregnant mother finds that her water breaks, it means that she will give birth soon, and she must go to the hospital quickly. Be careful to lie flat on the way and use something to prop up your buttocks to prevent amniotic fluid from flowing out.
Senior nanny, psychological counselor, author of original parenting comic articles,
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