WHEN WILL LABOR START?
Once you get to end of your third trimester, this question will become your mantra. You check the date for birthday auspiciousness. You go to sleep wondering if you’re heading to the hospital in the middle of the night. And don’t even get me started on the questions. A simple, “How are you feeling” from a friend had me wanting to scream, “I’m not in labor yet, if that’s what you’re asking!”
Remember, doctors and midwives count the first day of your last period as the first day of your pregnancy. In their estimation, the day that you actually become pregnant—which may or may not have coincided with ovulation—puts you at two weeks pregnant, technically.
It’s a mind-bender, I know.
But the reason that I bring this up is for you to know that typically—IVF mamas may beg to differ—your due date is simply an estimate, based on the first day of your last period.
IS MY BABY READY?
Ultrasound isn’t an exact science—the projected weight of your baby can be off by one-to-two pounds either way. Also, a high weight baby isn’t necessarily any more difficult to birth than a lower weight baby, since the challenge in birthing is related more to the size of the head than the weight of the body.
Those last few weeks are crucial to your baby’s development. Her lungs, liver and brain continue to grow between 37 and 39 weeks. Babies that arrive early may need more medical attention ; studies show that those born before 39 weeks are at higher risk of health problems, including ADHD.
These are just things to remember as you get closer to your due date, when the powers-that-be may start talking with you about scheduling an induction. Obviously, you want to listen to your doctor or midwife. But remember that there are risks associated with labor induction, including possible infection and the need for a Caesarean section.
If you feel good, and you haven’t gone more than two weeks past your due date, talk to your doctor or midwife about letting your birth progress naturally—and to let your baby tell you when she’s ready to be born.
HOW CAN I HELP START LABOR—WITHOUT AN INDUCTION?
I spent the whole nine months of my first pregnancy terrified that a manicurist would inadvertently press on some random point in my ankle and I’d go into labor in the nail salon. But once I hit 39 weeks, all I wanted was for somebody to find that pressure point.
So I asked my obgyn about what we could do—naturally—to get the party started. Her answer? Sex. Just like some more invasive methods performed in a doctor’s office, semen softens the cervix and can kickstart labor.
Admittedly, sex at this time can feel a bit, um…animal. Because you have a gigantic watermelon-shaped belly in the way, the easiest position will probably be on your side, with your partner behind you. And yes, it is a bit awkward, but can also be pretty amazing—some women say that their most intense orgasms were during pregnancy.
I can’t attest to that, but I will tell you that once you and your partner get over the idea that the baby can feel anything—except the motion of the ocean, of course—sex at this time not only helps start the labor process, it can also help you bond in a really beautiful, intimate way.
Sadly, this is not the last time you will feel like a barnyard animal—wait until we talk about breastfeeding.
Featured on “TODAY” and “CNN Headline News,” among others, Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff is a journalist, consultant and sustainability advocate. The former CEO of the non-profit Healthy Child Healthy World, Rachel was the co-founder of the online magazine EcoStiletto and authored a spinoff book, The Big List of Things That Suck. Today, she publishes MommyGreenest.com where she recently published a free eBook, The Mommy Greenest Guide to Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond.
