40 Weeks Gestation

It’s becoming clearer that what we believe to be ‘full-term’ is actually not – a pregnancy is meant to last for 40 weeks and not 38

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Research tells us that elective labour induction and Caesareans have been on a steady rise over the last twenty odd years, not just in South Africa, but globally. In many cases, an emergency induction or Caesarean could be life-saving for both mother and baby, but in a risk and complication free pregnancy, it is still best to carry a baby to 40 weeks. When an elective induction or Caesarean is a choice made by the mother, it is important to wait until at least 39 weeks gestation – M&P looks at why those last few weeks make such a difference to a baby’s development.

THE WAITING GAME

There is a common misconception that a baby is ‘full term’ at 37 weeks, and this probably stems from the fact that if born at 37 weeks, a baby has a very good chance of surviving and thriving outside of the womb. But just because a baby can survive outside the womb comfortably from 37 weeks does not mean that the baby is ‘full term’. In fact, the last few weeks of pregnancy are proving to be much more important for development than was previously thought. Recent research published in the USA by the University of Rochester Medical Centre