What Is Full Term Pregnancy?

Full term is now considered by some to be from the 39^th week of pregnancy to the 40^th week. New guidelines in regards to terms of pregnancy are as follows:

• The 37^th to the 38^th week is early term

• The 39^th to the 40^th week of pregnancy is full term

• 41 weeks is considered late term

• 42 weeks and after is considered post term

Whilst it was once considered normal and perfectly safe to induce pregnancy near 37 or 38 weeks, this is no longer advised. There are many complications that can arise from inducing labor early, especially if your child is not ready to be born yet. Understanding what is considered full term is vital in understanding the development of your baby. 37-38 weeks is now considered early term, so inducing labor is not a wise choice.

If such an instance were to arise wherein a healthcare professional has advised that the safest option for you is to induce labor, then you should trust their advice and allow them to induce labor. If you are simply doing it for convenience, perhaps you don't want to suffer through the last agonizing weeks of pregnancy, or you want your child's birthday to be on a particular day, then you should think about not only your baby’s health but also your own.

If a baby is born before he/she is fully developed then there is an increased chance that a complication will occur. Such complications include breathing difficulties and jaundice. Not only is the child's health at risk, but the mother also has an increased chance of facing difficulty. Such difficulties that may arise include the possible risk of infection, increased pain when experiencing contractions, and the chance that the induction will be unsuccessful. This will make a cesarean operation a necessity.

When a baby is full term, he/she is ready to be born. The main change that you will notice is your baby’s head will move down towards your pelvis, which can also cause your bump to move down slightly. This is a clear indication that the onset of labor is imminent. Most commonly, mothers go into labour around the 38-40 week mark of pregnancy. If you go past 41 weeks then your healthcare professional will discuss options with you and help you to decide what is the best decision for your health and the health of your baby.

Before labor arrives, there are various things you can do to help ensure everything goes smoothly and with as little stress as possible. Nobody is going to argue that pregnancy and giving birth is easy, but following these tips may help to lessen the intensity of the situation.

The most important thing that you can do is educate yourself. Enroll in a childbirth class as early as possible to best prepare for labor and what to expect. This will prevent the occurrence of nasty surprises arising and will ensure that you are in the best position possible to give birth to your child.

Another important thing to remember is to remain calm. Whilst this can be difficult when going into labor, it is unwise to add unwanted stress at a time like this. Try to breathe, remain calm, and make your way to the hospital.

If you understand what is considered full term, and know that around this time labor is imminent, then you can be well prepared. Pack a bag with all the essentials that you may need at the hospital, know exactly how you are going to get there when you go into labor, and wait to meet your small bundle of joy.