At how many weeks of pregnancy is a baby considered full-term, at what stage can you give birth?

In fact, this topic is very relevant in many women's forums, and future, as well as real mothers, are passionately discussing what period is considered normal for the birth of a child. Today we want to tell you the opinion of official medicine. Let’s make a reservation right away: despite clear data on what week a baby is considered full-term, there are exceptions to this rule. Moreover, the birth of a baby a little earlier or later than the average term almost never threatens his life and health. However, doctors will try to stop the onset of labor much earlier than expected and delay the time as much as possible.

Delivery on time

The ideal time for the birth of a baby is the fortieth week. It was by this time that he managed not only to completely complete the formation of internal organs, but also to build up a sufficient amount of subcutaneous fat for effective thermoregulation. Therefore, speaking about what week a baby is considered full-term, it seems logical to say 40 weeks. The child is completely ready to be born and live outside the mother’s tummy, and there should be no fears for his life and health. However, not all babies are born at this time. According to statistics, only 9% of women give birth at exactly 40 weeks.

Belated birth

Some women give birth after the 40th week of pregnancy. For a baby, being born late is just as dangerous as being born prematurely.

The causes of late birth are:

• hormonal imbalance in the female body;
• heredity;
• pathologies of fetal development;
• increased menstrual cycle;
• diabetes;
• taking medications.

If hormonal levels are disrupted during pregnancy, the body does not receive a signal that contractions should begin. An extended cycle in women leads to incorrect calculations of the expected date of birth.

Symptoms of post-term pregnancy:

1. oligohydramnios;
2. the waters become cloudy;
3. the biochemical composition of amniotic fluid changes.

The changes negatively affect the condition of the fetus in the womb. The antiseptic properties of the bladder are reduced, infections and hypoxia may develop.

Consequences of a late arrival of a baby:

• weight loss due to limited nutrient intake;
• birth injuries and hematomas;
• dry skin, prone to cracks;
• disorders of the central nervous system;
• developmental defects, cerebral palsy.

In the later stages, children are mainly born with long hair on the head, marigolds and already open eyes. Due to a long anhydrous period and hypoxia, the respiratory system is impaired.

Standard options

It is precisely because of the high variability that obstetricians-gynecologists and pediatricians have somewhat reconsidered the question of at what week a child is considered full-term. What can be considered normal or at least acceptable for childbirth? This is a fairly long period of time from the 37th to the 42nd week inclusive. However, the terminology is slightly different. Childbirth before the 37th week (the 36th is no exception) is considered premature, and babies born at this time are considered premature. From the 37th to the 40th week, the optimal period for the birth of babies begins, therefore, during this period, childbirth is called physiological. Finally, starting with it is considered post-term, and by the end of the 42nd week, doctors will send the woman to the maternity hospital to stimulate labor. We have already answered the main question, from what week the baby is considered full-term, but there are still a number of points that need to be discussed.

Woman at 37 weeks

You can be congratulated, the long journey of experiences is almost behind you. This is especially true for those whose pregnancy proceeded with the threat of miscarriage. Now you know exactly after what week the baby is considered full-term. Starting from the 37th week, the whole family should be prepared for the fact that the baby could be born at any moment. The remaining time will not play a role in the development of the baby, but he will be able to grow a little and accumulate subcutaneous fat, which is important for maintaining heat in a small body. At this time, some pregnant women are very balanced, while others, on the contrary, feel increasing anxiety before the upcoming birth. The cervix begins to slowly dilate, as soon as it is ready, it will recede, which until now has protected the uterus from infections. This usually happens a few hours or days before birth.

Premature birth - preparation for moms and dads

Sometimes there are cases when a woman’s labor begins much earlier than the scheduled time, starting from 22 to 37 weeks; this is characterized as premature birth. Often such children cannot breathe on their own. The presence of modern medical technologies in the hospital is very important for such cases - they can save the lives of many prematurely born people. Early birth occurs for many reasons:

• through a genital infection of a pregnant woman;
• a disease of the cervix, in which she is unable to hold a fairly heavy load for a long time;
• placental abruption;
• rupture of the shell with water, provoked by various factors;
• pathology of the uterus;
• load on the body: a large child, or women giving birth to twins.

Experts say that there is a possibility of premature birth in the case when a woman had an abortion or a previous birth that began much earlier than the expected date, which additionally has a negative impact and poor nutrition, hard work, and psycho-emotional state.

Symptoms of approaching labor

Even knowing from what moment the baby is considered full-term, a woman sometimes gets a little lost when she feels. Moreover, the better you imagine exactly what they should be like and how to behave when they appear, the less time there will be for panic.

However, let’s make one more digression; it concerns packing things for the maternity hospital. Knowing at what stage a pregnancy is considered full-term, you need to start preparing in advance. You need to buy a discharge kit, diapers and undershirts for the maternity hospital, collect a bag of personal belongings and put a separate discharge kit for yourself. Believe me, this is much better than trying to find a robe or other toiletries in the closet as contractions progress.

During this period, most women begin to experience insomnia. A big belly and the baby’s active life do not contribute to the mother’s sound sleep. However, it won't be long until he appears, so try to enjoy these last moments. Frequent urination may bother you, which can also be easily explained by the fact that a large fetus puts pressure on the internal organs. It is during this period that leg cramps often first appear. Be sure to monitor your vaginal discharge. Usually in the last week they become a little more abundant and lighter. And if you notice a significant amount of transparent mucus on your underwear, then labor is very close.

Birth statistics: differences between the first and second pregnancies – Website about

The baby is considered full-term from the 38th week, so at this time the prenatal period begins. It continues until labor develops. If a woman is expecting her first child, then childbirth is considered normal at a period of 38 to 42 weeks.

The preliminary date of how many weeks labor can begin is determined by the doctor. Most often, during the first pregnancy, this period is 40 obstetric weeks. If the child is born later, they speak of post-term birth.

The range of when you can give birth to your first child is wide – 4 weeks. During this entire period, expectant mothers are very interested in the question of what week they give birth to a healthy baby and when he will be born. The answer is sought not in books, but in a woman’s health, the state of her body.

Depending on how many weeks they give birth, each woman’s body warns her 2 days before the onset of labor.

What week do they give birth - normal timing

When first-time mothers give birth, the normal period is 37 seven days. If the timing of the birth of the first child is earlier, it depends on the day of the last menstruation. Statistics show that childbirth usually occurs at 39-40 weeks. About 70% of children are born at this stage of labor.

It is impossible to say the exact date and how many weeks the birth will be. According to statistics, for first-time mothers this period comes later than others. This is explained by late recognition of signs of pregnancy and precursors of labor, as well as the development of labor.

Waiting for a long time

The first pregnancy lasts a long time, the cervix opens slowly. The body is just getting acquainted with this process, so don’t worry about how many weeks labor starts. Firstborns give birth later.

We look at the baby's weight

Noting how many weeks the first child is born, doctors talk about 37 weeks. During this period, the baby is ready for birth. All vital systems and organs are formed and ready for the birth of the baby.

If labor begins at this time, the baby is considered full-term. The average height is about 48 cm, and body weight is 3 kg. The baby's weight increases every day due to the subcutaneous fat that the baby accumulated in the womb.

Depends on the length of the menstrual cycle

Gynecologists, when calculating the period at which week of pregnancy a woman can give birth, use the Naegele formula. When calculating the baby’s date of birth using it, you need to subtract 3 months from the beginning of the last menstrual cycle and add 7 days.

However, this method of determining at what week a woman goes into labor is not accurate. It is used to indicate the approximate date when you can give birth to a healthy baby if the expectant mother’s menstrual cycle is 28 days. If it is longer, then the date at which week you can give birth will come later.

With an irregular cycle, it is difficult to find out the date of ovulation, so this method of determining in what week the birth will occur is considered not suitable.

Heredity influences

If close female relatives had their first birth earlier or later than the due date, this situation may also happen to you. Ask the question at how many weeks the mother and grandmother went into labor. The hereditary factor plays an important role; you can repeat their story.

The course of pregnancy is another factor

The period in which the baby is given birth depends on the characteristics of the given period. During wars and devastation, children were in no hurry to be born. They felt that a warm bed and good nutrition were not waiting for them, so they stayed in their mother’s belly longer.

When a child feels uncomfortable inside the womb: the placenta does not fulfill its function, the mother has suffered stress, a protracted illness - the likelihood of premature birth increases. The same consequences are observed with overstretching of the uterus, high fetal weight, polyhydramnios or multiple pregnancies.

Regardless of the period at which primiparous women give birth, babies can appear healthy and full-term. Therefore, the timing of how many weeks normal labor begins is not limited to an exact number.

How many weeks do you usually give birth to your first baby?

If you are becoming a mother for the first time, then there is approximately a 70% chance that birth will come on time - about 40 weeks of pregnancy. This is explained by the fact that the woman’s body has not yet gone through the processes that occur inside and it takes time to expel the fetus.

Share their impressions

A pregnant woman does not know how labor begins and what week the first child is born, so she may miss the beginning of this moment. Labor in first-years lasts a long time, it is weak and protracted, contractions can last up to 7 hours.

But there are exceptions here too. If we do not consider the causes of premature birth (before 36 weeks), when there are disturbances in the body of the expectant mother, then post-term pregnancies also occur. In this case, the baby is released into the world with a short interval - after 42 weeks.

Second birth statistics

When noting what week a second child is usually given birth, a period of 36 weeks is mentioned. The second birth begins suddenly, but passes faster and easier.

The cervix, as well as the birth canal, opens quickly, so women who have already given birth often do not have time to get to the maternity hospital. Repeated births occur around 38 weeks, but there are exceptions.

Third pregnancy

Preparing to become a mother for the third time, a woman is interested in the question of which week is the third child most often given birth. Labor usually starts earlier. If during the first pregnancy delivery occurs starting from the 38th week, then the third pregnancy is associated with a period of 36 weeks.

Time limits for boys and girls are different.

Usually girls want to see the world before boys, who are in no hurry to leave their mother’s tummy. If doctors note statistics on which week boys are most often born, then they talk about 40-41 weeks. Sometimes there are record holders who last up to 42 weeks. Girls are ready to make their first cry at an earlier stage - 38 weeks.

The princess is sleeping

It is important not to forget about the cycle of the expectant mother. If the cycle is standard or short, when ovulation occurs on the 14th day after the start of menstruation, the baby is born at the required 40 weeks.

There are several reasons why girls are born first:

1. It takes time for a boy to be born ready to exist. Girls mature faster, which is due to their biological role in life: procreation.
2. In what week girls are usually born depends on the health of the mother, but initially girls were born stronger than boys. They are in a hurry to grow and be born, and during life they develop more rapidly.

From what week can you give birth to twins?

For humans, multiple pregnancies are not the norm, so the consequence of complications is early birth. The uterus increases in volume twice as fast as children, and overstretching causes contractions.

Considering how many obstetric weeks a second baby is born, we talked about the period of 37 weeks. When talking about multiple pregnancies, 34-35 weeks are mentioned. Regardless of the fact that twins may be born earlier, they have a very high chance of survival.

The best time to give birth to a healthy baby

If we consider at what week the expectant mother can give birth to 1 girl or boy without chronic diseases, then doctors insist on 38-42 weeks. With this period of time, good, healthy, full-fledged children appear.

Sound asleep

Doctors focus on 40 weeks - this period is recorded in the medical record and sick leave as the date of birth. But even at 38 or 42 weeks, healthy, mature children are born.

Another issue is multiple pregnancy. In this case, it is better to give birth 4 weeks earlier, which is due to the load on the body that the woman experiences. If a cesarean section is not planned, you need to prepare for childbirth at 35 weeks.

Symptoms and causes of premature birth

Unexpectedly starting labor causes anxiety and stress in a woman. Let's look at why this situation occurs:

1. Infectious diseases.

This reason is one of the most common among pregnant women, which leads to early birth. The expectant mother feels unwell, and the baby’s suffering inside the womb acts as a trigger for the onset of labor. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo examination to ensure that the pregnancy is safe.

2. Aging of the placenta.

Doctors assess the condition of the placenta based on the results of ultrasound and CTG. The most important thing is to regularly visit a gynecologist and undergo all examinations. If the doctor detects aging of the placenta or its abruption, treatment is prescribed that improves blood flow and nutrition of the fetus.

In advanced cases, medications are prescribed that accelerate the maturation of the baby’s respiratory system. Then even premature one-month-old babies survive and are nursed.

3. Viral diseases.

During the season of infectious diseases, not only the respiratory tract is affected, the amniotic fluid can become infected and the integrity of its membrane can be compromised. With early rupture or leakage of water, premature birth occurs.

Among the complications, it is noted that if the integrity of the bladder is broken, and the cervix is ​​not smoothed, the birth canal is not yet ready and the mucous plug has not moved away, an emergency cesarean section is required.

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4. Placenta previa.

In this case, the pressure on the internal os increases, the cervix quickly smoothes out. By adhering to the recommendations of the gynecologist and observing bed rest, you can prevent premature birth.

5. Pathology of the cervix.

A shortened cervix and obturator dysfunction can be congenital or result from trauma from previous births or abortions. This leads to premature birth.

Sometimes early labor does not occur spontaneously, but the doctor prescribes an emergency caesarean section in order to preserve the health of mother and child. The causes are vascular, heart or endocrinological diseases.

New Generation

Early birth occurs at 28-36 weeks. If a woman experiences alarming symptoms, she should urgently visit a doctor:

• pulling in the lower abdomen that feels like menstruation;
• a feeling that something is pressing on the bladder;
• slight bleeding from the vagina;
• cramping pain lasting more than 30 seconds. Just don’t confuse it with training contractions;
• leakage of amniotic fluid;
• no fetal movements.

The gynecologist will assess the condition and suggest hospitalization if necessary. Don't panic, it's not scary. You can always slow down labor with special medications and procedures.

Why can there be late labor?

A post-term pregnancy is no less dangerous than a premature pregnancy, so ask your doctor at what time the third birth occurs. They come earlier than others, and the risk of carrying a child is higher. Let's look at the reasons for late birth:

1. Hormonal disorders in the mother.

Changes in the hormonal system signal the body about the onset of labor. If the expectant mother's hormone levels and metabolism are disrupted, the signal will not be received and contractions will not begin.

2. Extended cycle.

At that time, if a woman had her period regularly, but her cycle was 30-35 days, the baby would be born later than the due date. Here we are talking about a natural physiological process, not a pathology. This type of pregnancy is called prolonged.

3. Hereditary factor.

This reason is physiological. Heredity affects early and late births. Knowing at what stage your mother and grandmother were born, you can prepare for your labor in advance.

4. Taking medications.

When taking medications to reduce the tone of the uterus, changes also affect childbirth. Medicines for chronic diseases also affect labor. Therefore, inform your gynecologist about your situation so that he can adjust the prescriptions.

Sincere look

When should you be concerned?

1. Stomach ache.

Any discomfort in the abdominal area is a reason to consult a doctor. The reasons may be different, but if the danger is not recognized in time, the child will die. With nagging pain in the lower abdomen, termination of pregnancy is possible. To prevent this from happening, timely treatment is required.

If pain occurs that resembles inflammation of the bladder or appendicitis, there is a threat of premature birth. Do not rely only on your feelings, especially multiparous ones, but always find out the exact cause from a gynecologist.

2. Bloody issues.

In no case is bleeding during pregnancy normal. Suspicions are caused by color changes: brown, scarlet, dark yellow or burgundy. If this happens, immediately call an ambulance or rush in your car to the maternity hospital. Inform your gynecologist about this symptom.

3. The stomach has changed shape.

This case does not apply to moments of active movement of the baby. If in a calm state the stomach is asymmetrical, hard and tense for more than 30 minutes, sank down or changed shape after a fall - go to the maternity hospital immediately.

4. Leakage or overflow of water.

It is impossible to miss such a moment. If the water breaks at night, the bed will be wet; if during the day, it will flow down your legs. Leakage is more difficult to detect: underwear becomes wet, which is dangerous during premature pregnancy. If rupture occurs, the amniotic sac is damaged, labor must begin.

5. The child's movements are not felt.

A woman feels the first movements of the baby from the 20th week, in the second pregnancy - from the 16th. If they disappear, you need to be wary. Lack of movement for more than 12 hours is an alarming sign that should be reported to your doctor.

If this happens once, after which the baby is active again, this is the norm. An alarming sign is a regular lack of movement or low activity.

Keep a diary with notes and control of the child’s activity time, and then present it to the doctor.

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Source: https://kpk-1.ru/instruktsii/statistika-rodov-otlichiya-pervoj-i-vtoroj-beremennosti.html

Indirect signs

It must be said that they are not found in all women, in addition, some note only some of them. However, in any case, you have no reason to worry. You already know which baby is considered full-term; the 37th week has passed, which means that whenever labor begins, he will be born completely ready for it. Remember this every day, so that sudden labor activity is not a reason for panic, but, on the contrary, a long-awaited event.

Diarrhea can warn you that labor is approaching. This is a normal physiological reaction that allows a woman in labor to cleanse her intestines. If this does not happen, then it is recommended to clean it yourself using an enema. It is no longer mandatory to do it in the hospital, but before calling an ambulance, you can easily do it yourself. Very often, just before giving birth, women experience a burst of activity. Suddenly you want to clean the windows and wash the curtains, wash the whole house right down to the entrance. It is our instincts that tell us that we need to prepare a nest in which a baby will soon appear.

Nursing children

The early weeks of pregnancy are dangerous periods for childbirth and the life of the newborn. The fetus, weighing 500 grams or more, is placed in a special incubator, which maintains a supply of oxygen and heat.

The fetus stays in a closed incubator for the first 5-7 days. To avoid deformation of the bone skeleton, it is turned over several times a day. As the condition improves, the newborn is transferred to an open box.

Equipment connected to the child records body temperature, pulse, and breathing. The drip is inserted into the veins on the head, as this is more convenient.

Why are babies born premature?

1. socio-economic problems;
2. incorrect lifestyle of parents;
3. chronic diseases and pathologies in women;
4. heavy physical labor during pregnancy;
5. The age of the woman giving birth is less than 18 years.

Children in Russia weighing up to 1.5 kg are nursed for at least 2 weeks, from 1.5 kg - 8 days. The child will remain in the children's hospital for another 2-3 weeks.

When are premature babies discharged from the hospital? According to statistics, the average length of time a baby spends outside the home is 2 months. A newborn weighing 2 kg or more who breathes and eats independently can be discharged home.

If girls give birth early, they must understand that the rehabilitation period for their baby will last a long time. To adapt to the outside world, it is necessary to carry out water treatments, massage, and breastfeed.

Contractions and the onset of labor

You have already experienced them before, but if previously they were short-lived and went away if you stood up and moved a little, now the situation changes. Often the mucus plug comes off first, then and finally contractions begin. It also happens the other way around: the first symptoms are contractions. In this case, the main thing is not to panic. Double-check the bag you take to the hospital. Place your passport and exchange card nearby. Consider breathing exercises that will help relieve pain during labor and childbirth. You shouldn’t go to bed right away, walk around the house, you can even go outside and get some air. This will only intensify real contractions, and you will be sure that it is time to call an ambulance.

Memo for the expectant mother

The delivery room is not a place for panic, so even during pregnancy, mentally scroll through the whole picture of the events taking place several times in your head. Again, ask your doctor the question from what week is the pregnancy considered full-term. He will tell you that the lower limit of normal is 37-38 weeks. This means that from about this time you need to prepare yourself mentally. Close your eyes and imagine that contractions are starting, at the same time remember the breathing exercises during contractions, how you calmly get ready, go to the hospital and give birth to a healthy baby. This attitude will greatly help you overcome anxiety.

This question is most often asked by women who are approaching their baby's due date. After all, every expectant mother wants to know exactly the date of this cherished time. But, unfortunately, no one will tell you the specific and exact date of your birth. Yes, the doctor, of course, determines and writes down the expected date of the important event. However, there are many nuances to this issue. Let's try to figure them out.

First, let's delve into the events that happen to the expectant mother and her child in the last stages of pregnancy, and try to determine the upcoming date of birth.

As a rule, bearing a child lasts either 280 days from a woman’s last menstrual period. It is from this date that you can subtract three months and add another seven days. This will be the expected date of birth of your baby.

To more accurately determine this period, you need to remember the date of the first fetal movement. Typically, first-time expectant mothers feel these movements at the 20th week of pregnancy, and second-time expectant mothers feel these movements around the 18th week of pregnancy.

The date of birth can also be determined by the doctor based on the results of ultrasound diagnostics of the fetus. It is believed that the pregnancy is fully term after 37 weeks, that is, after 259 days and before the period of 42 weeks (294 days).

Traditionally, childbirth before 37 weeks is considered early in medicine, and after 42 weeks - late. With the end of physiological pregnancy, the child in the womb of the mother grows stronger and is born healthy, with fully formed tissues and organ systems. If we talk about post-term pregnancy, then we need to take into account the risks of injury to a girl or boy during childbirth. It is also possible for a stillborn baby to be born if it is post-term for ten days or two weeks. That's why doctors make decisions about a pregnant woman whose contractions do not start at the right time. Traditionally, post-term pregnancy is easier to prevent than to stop the process of premature birth.

So, at what week do women give birth prematurely? In obstetric practice, certain time intervals for the possible onset of premature birth are identified. This is the gestation period of 22 weeks, from 22 to 27 weeks, from 28 to 33 weeks, from 34 to 37 weeks.

Previously, doctors fought for the lives of babies who were born prematurely from the 28th week of pregnancy and weighed one kilogram. Now these figures are much lower.

There may be infections of the genital organs, an overly large fetus or multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, various uterine defects, detachment or. Less common causes of premature birth are problems with the kidneys, pituitary gland, diseases of the thyroid gland and the cardiovascular system. Then the expectant mother’s body protects itself by rejecting the fetus as a health threat.

If a baby is born between 22 and 27 weeks, then predicting its viability is too problematic, because most of its organs are not yet formed and are not prepared for development outside the mother’s womb.

In practice, from the 27th week of pregnancy to the 36th week, most expectant mothers achieve prolongation of pregnancy. And even if a child’s lungs are not fully developed, their maturation can be accelerated with medications. Therefore, at such periods, children survive more often. As a rule, a positive prognosis is given to babies who were born weighing 1.5 kg, since their internal organs are better formed.

By the way, twins or twins are born at 37-38 weeks of pregnancy. Second-time mothers also give birth earlier. Today, according to medical statistics, every third expectant mother gives birth at 37 weeks of pregnancy. Childbirth rarely occurs at 40-42 weeks.

So, when your son or daughter is born can only be approximately determined. After all, this process is purely individual, as is the gestation period, its features and pathologies. The most important thing is that a strong, healthy boy or girl is born.

Especially for

Elena TOLOCHIK

Bearing and giving birth to a new life are wonderful natural processes that a woman experiences. It is happiness to become a mother, but for the expectant mother it is very important to know what week the baby will be born and how to accurately determine this significant date.

What week do you usually give birth?

At what week of pregnancy can you give birth? - This question worries many women. There is no single answer to it, because every woman’s body is unique. Medicine has established that bearing a baby lasts 280 days, which is equivalent to 40 weeks.

If this is not the woman’s first birth, then the baby can be born as early as 39 weeks of pregnancy.

The gestational age begins to count from the first day of the last menstrual cycle.

First pregnancy

If you are pregnant for the first time, then you are probably most interested in the answer to the question: at how many weeks do firstborns give birth? The exact date of birth cannot be determined. But if you believe the statistics, women giving birth for the first time meet their baby 5-9% later (the baby is born at 42 weeks or later), and 6-8% of births begin prematurely.

Birth statistics by week

If the child sees the outside world at 34-37 weeks, then there is no need to worry. At this point, the little ones are already fully formed and do not require special care. Particular attention should be paid to babies who are born at 28-33 weeks. They may have problems (with breathing, digestion) that can only be overcome in the neonatal intensive care unit. Babies born prematurely (22-27 weeks) have a very low chance of survival. This is preceded by many factors. Perhaps the mother suffered stress, a protracted illness or injury, which affected the health of the little miracle.

But it is important to know that the first pregnancy for a woman’s body is a kind of genetic test of the function of childbearing, which in the future, when bearing children, follows an established path much easier.

Repeated births

What week should I expect my baby to arrive? In most cases (90-95%), second labor can begin before the 39th week. If this is not your first time becoming a mother, then prepare for the onset of contractions at any time.

If you are giving birth, what week should you expect a replenishment?

Medicine has established that the second, third and all subsequent times, it is much easier for a pregnant woman to feel the first signs of labor.

Attempts occur more dynamically, and the total duration of labor is shorter than the first time. Contractions can last for a very short period of time, since the body is already familiar with this process and the cervix opens more intensely and faster.

The timing of a baby’s birth depends not only on the mother’s body, but also on the gender of the little person. According to statistics, girls are born earlier, boys - later.

The age of the expectant mother also plays an important role in the birth process. If children are born with a short interval - from two to six years, then the second birth is, as a rule, faster and easier, but there are cases when the difference between children is from ten to twenty years, and here it is no longer possible to say that the birth will take place without consequences. Although, of course, everything depends on the woman’s health, the state of her body and, of course, on her psychological mood.

Determination of fetal maturity

For nine months, mothers prepare to meet their child. A woman's labor begins unexpectedly at any stage of pregnancy. In this case, obstetricians pay attention to the maturity of the fetus. According to the rule, a baby born after 37 weeks is considered full-term. The weight of the fetus should be from 500 to 3500 grams, height - from 35 cm or more.

Signs of fetal maturity:

• height;
• weight;
• head and torso sizes.

If a child is born on time, the skin has a pink tint, with dense ears and nose, up to 3 cm of hair is possible. In male babies, the testicles should be lowered into the scrotum, in girls, the labia majora cover the labia minora and the clitoris. The child must scream and open his eyes. The normal height of a baby is from 50 to 52 cm.

Body size includes the following measurements:

1. hangers – 12 cm;
2. shoulder girdle – 35 cm;
3. buttock circumference – 28 cm.

A newborn's chest is convex, the navel is located just above the pubis. The subcutaneous fat layer is well developed, the skin is pale pink with remains of a cheese-like lubricant. The down on the back and shoulders has a slight light shade. A newborn born full-term screams loudly and actively moves his arms and legs.

At what week can you give birth to a full-fledged baby? From the 37th week, the fetus is considered fully term, with developed internal organs, hearing, and vision. Premature birth leads to defects and health problems.

The baby's weight ranges from 2.5 to 5 kilograms. The indicator is influenced by the mother’s regime, the sex of the fetus, and heredity. Children born at 40-41 weeks are larger and heavier in weight. The size of the fetal head matters. The structure and formation of bones give the skull plasticity, which allows it to pass through the birth canal. The head circumference of a full-term baby is from 33 to 36 cm.