Going the full 40
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Nurse Notes from the Nesting Place at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center
Did you know that one in nine babies born in the United States are born prematurely? That is approximately 1,200-1,400 babies in Montana. Although babies are considered term at 37 weeks, studies show that babies born even a couple of weeks early are at a greater risk for health problems than those born later.
If your baby decides to come on its own however, it is probably ready. But inducing labor at 37 weeks is not the same thing. If labor hasn’t started on its own, baby is probably not ready.
Babies born just two weeks early can have twice the number of breathing complications. At 35 weeks, a baby’s brain is only two-thirds the size it will be at 39 weeks. The closer to 40 weeks a baby is, the better it will breastfeed because its suck and swallow reflex will be more developed and it will be able to regulate its temperature better.
All babies’ brain, heart, lung and immune systems mature at different rates and some need more time than others.
We know that the last few weeks of pregnancy can be uncomfortable, but remember, you are doing it for your baby.
