Did you know that allowing your baby to fully develop for at least 39 weeks in the womb offers them the best start in life? Furthermore, when labor begins naturally, mothers often experience shorter and smoother deliveries. This is especially true when delivery is not scheduled or induced.
Perhaps you’ve already started thinking about labor and birth, or maybe it’s still a distant thought. Many expecting mothers share the sentiment, “I understand how the baby got here, but the exit strategy is still a bit of a mystery!”
Wherever you are in your birth planning journey, this information is designed to support you. We’ll share insights from mothers who have already welcomed their babies and women who are still eagerly waiting. Their experiences and advice can be invaluable as you navigate the final months of pregnancy and prepare for birth. Like many others, you might be “Waiting for Baby.”
It’s common for expectant mothers to gather information about childbirth from various sources: friends, healthcare providers, the internet, and media. Sorting through this abundance of information can be overwhelming, and feeling confused at times is completely normal.
“You can research one thing and find countless different opinions and answers, which can lead to confusion and worry.”
This is why it’s crucial to have access to evidence-based information about the optimal timing for birth and the best approaches for both mothers and babies.
“Childbirth education classes are so valuable for this reason…”
Given the limited time during prenatal appointments, having access to reliable resources that help you make informed decisions about birth, based on proven best practices for mothers and babies, is essential. Aetna Maternity Care Programs, for instance, can offer additional support and resources throughout your pregnancy journey.
“Learning about how my body works and how all the parts coordinate during labor and delivery significantly boosted my confidence. It made me feel like my body knows what to do.”
Utilizing your appointments with your doctor or midwife to gain knowledge and reassurance is vital for building confidence in yourself and your body as you prepare for birth. Exploring resources such as an Aetna maternity care program can further enhance this preparation.
“As birth gets closer, I’m feeling a little nervous. I’m still not entirely sure what to expect.” However, remember that “For centuries, women have experienced pregnancy and delivered babies. The majority of births occur naturally, and your body is well-equipped for this process.”
Feeling anxious about an unfamiliar experience is understandable. And because every birth experience is unique, predicting every detail of your baby’s arrival is impossible. Therefore, learning about the choices you can make to give your baby the healthiest possible start will help you approach birth with greater confidence. Exploring options like an Aetna maternity care program can be a proactive step in gaining this confidence.
“It was challenging, but not as bad as I anticipated. I honestly thought it would be much harder. I’m not saying it’s easy, but I was expecting something awful based on some TV shows I watched! [Laughter] The pain is so worth it. It’s a pain that brings incredible reward.”
It may reassure you to know that… if the female reproductive system were a building, it would be an architectural masterpiece. Your body is inherently designed to grow and birth a human being. Next to your heart, your uterus is the strongest muscle in your body.
When your baby is ready for birth, the uterus begins to contract – squeezing rhythmically. Initially, these contractions are gentle, lasting only seconds and occurring many minutes apart.
“When I relaxed, listened to my body, and focused on breathing through each contraction, rather than fixating on the end result, it made a huge difference for me.”
Unlike a marathon runner pushing non-stop to the finish line, a laboring woman experiences regular rest periods between contractions, allowing for moments of respite.
“I remember the first contraction that I knew for sure was labor. It wasn’t extremely painful, but it was definitely uncomfortable. But at that moment, I was also very excited because I knew it was really happening.”
As labor progresses, stronger contractions work to move your baby through the birth canal. While these contractions can be uncomfortable for the mother, they likely feel like gentle embraces to the baby.
The cervix, located at the bottom of the uterus, remains tightly closed throughout your baby’s development during pregnancy. Towards the end of pregnancy, even before labor officially begins, your baby will descend into your pelvis. Simultaneously, hormones signal the cervix to begin to open, or “dilate.” During labor, the cervix gradually thins out, or effaces, as contractions cause the opening to widen further. Once the cervix is sufficiently dilated, it’s time to push your baby into the birth canal, and finally, into your arms.
Alt text: A mother lovingly cradles her newborn baby shortly after birth, showcasing the immediate bond and joy of motherhood.
“What a big baby!”
This incredible process of childbirth typically begins spontaneously when your baby’s lungs, brain, and other organs have reached full maturity.
“Aren’t you just a beautiful babe.”
“We can estimate your due date, but we can’t pinpoint the exact day. Ideally, we want babies to be born after 39 weeks, even waiting a week or two beyond that for your body to naturally initiate labor. This is because babies continue to develop and mature significantly in these final weeks. The brain, lungs, and liver are still developing, and your baby continues to receive vital nourishment from your body. It’s far better for the baby to remain inside you until labor begins naturally, rather than us artificially deciding when the birth should occur.” “Ok.”
“The wafer is just that little thin thing on the bottom.”
You may have heard about labor induction, where labor is started artificially before the body begins naturally. However, there’s growing concern regarding the increasing rates of inductions due to evidence suggesting they can lead to unintended complications.
Even ultrasound estimations of due dates aren’t always perfectly accurate and can be off by as much as two weeks. Therefore, unless there’s a medical necessity for induction, it’s generally best for the baby’s development to allow labor to begin naturally after at least a full 39 weeks of pregnancy. Exploring resources like an Aetna maternity care program can help you understand these nuances and make informed decisions. “And, I am really glad you are not asking for a particular date to be induced just because your mother is here. Patients sometimes ask that, but we truly want your body and your baby to decide the birth day.”
Babies who benefit from a full-term pregnancy and a naturally initiated birth tend to adapt more easily to life outside the womb.
“My babies who arrived on time generally ate better, slept better, and cried less compared to my baby who was born early.”
“I believed that with modern medical advancements, a slightly premature baby wouldn’t be a big concern anymore.” However, babies born between 36 and 38 weeks of pregnancy face twice as many health complications as those born after a full 39 weeks in the womb.
The amount of development occurring in the final weeks of pregnancy is truly remarkable. For example: significant lung and liver growth continues to take place. At 35 weeks, a baby’s brain weighs only two-thirds of its weight at 39 weeks. White matter, crucial for communication between different brain regions, increases dramatically during this same period. Throughout the last weeks of pregnancy, the brain is rapidly forming connections that influence a newborn’s ability to move, see, and learn. While this brain development occurs in premature infants as well, it happens more slowly because once outside the uterus, a baby must expend significant energy on staying warm, learning to feed, and adjusting to newborn life.
While some early births are unavoidable and medically necessary, it’s now understood that every additional day in the womb provides your baby with a significant advantage. Aetna maternity care programs often emphasize the importance of full-term pregnancies for optimal infant health.
“So, the last month of pregnancy, I’ve learned, is slightly uncomfortable…”
Indeed, most women will agree that the final stages of pregnancy come with challenges, and feeling irritable or impatient is perfectly normal. However, enduring the discomforts of late pregnancy also benefits YOU, as well as your baby.
“Like what, for instance?”
Well, when labor starts naturally, it tends to be shorter and less complicated than induced labor. This is partly because pitocin, a medication used to induce labor, can cause contractions that are harder to manage, especially if the cervix isn’t fully prepared to dilate. Additionally, inductions sometimes fail, often leading to further interventions, such as Cesarean births (C-sections). Research indicates that inducing labor can double the likelihood of a C-section.
Many women are unaware that a Cesarean birth is major abdominal surgery with associated risks including:
- Internal bleeding
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Increased likelihood of needing a C-section in future pregnancies
- Longer hospital stays and recovery periods
“I think I had this media-influenced idea of C-sections – someone goes in, has the baby, and two weeks later, they’re back to work, everything’s fine. It seemed like this easy, modern way to have a baby. Skip vaginal birth, have a C-section, a small incision, and you’re back to normal quickly. Some magazines even suggest a tummy tuck at the same time! That’s the kind of information I was seeing.”
“But there are many aspects of C-sections we don’t realize. For instance, you can’t get back in shape as quickly because you’re recovering from major surgery. You can’t exercise as soon as you’d like; you have to avoid strenuous activity for at least six weeks. It’s a significant recovery process that isn’t always highlighted.”
Researchers are still investigating the reasons behind the rising C-section rates. However, this increase hasn’t been accompanied by significant improvements in the health of mothers and babies. While trends in childbirth practices evolve, the sharp rise in potentially avoidable C-sections is a trend that hasn’t served mothers or babies well.
“We really hope you can have a vaginal birth. In rare situations, less than 15%, and likely even less in your case, a Cesarean section might become necessary.”
Cesarean surgery is performed when conditions make vaginal delivery dangerous for you or your baby. These conditions can include:
- Placenta-related bleeding issues
- Abnormal baby positioning in the uterus
- Active infections that could harm the baby
- Unusually prolonged labor with indications that vaginal birth will be difficult.
The reassuring news is that your doctor or midwife is trained to recognize these situations, which fortunately, do not affect the vast majority of pregnancies. Aetna maternity care programs can provide resources and information to help you understand different birth scenarios and prepare for a healthy delivery.
“Is there anything I can do on my part to ensure I’m doing everything possible for a natural birth?”
“You’re doing wonderfully. Your baby is growing appropriately, your weight is perfectly on track, and you’re walking daily and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There’s nothing in your situation that suggests you’re headed for a C-section.”
Staying active and healthy during the final weeks of pregnancy will make this period much easier. It’s also a good time to remind yourself that reaching full term and allowing labor to begin naturally reduces the likelihood of your newborn experiencing:
- Breathing difficulties
- Jaundice
- Infection
- Problems with breastfeeding
- Difficulty staying warm
- Low blood sugar
- Vision and hearing problems
- Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
- Other complications associated with premature birth
As you navigate your last trimester and prepare for birth, remembering the benefits of a full-term, 40-week pregnancy for both babies and mothers is incredibly valuable. Consider exploring the resources and support offered by programs like Aetna maternity care program to further enhance your journey.
“Yes, you might be waddling like a penguin right now, but you know what? That means you’re getting close!”
“Do whatever makes you feel a bit better. Eat all the watermelon you can, enjoy some treats, relax in a cool bath. Do whatever it takes to let that baby continue to ‘cook’ a little longer.”
“Waiting those extra days, minutes, or even weeks can be tough, but deciding to prioritize what’s best for the baby, and trusting their timing for arrival, is so important.”
Feeling more at ease about labor and birth is much easier when you’re not burdened by misinformation.
“Well, I heard the bigger the baby, the harder the labor.”
Actually, a baby’s weight is not a reliable predictor of labor difficulty. Babies born at healthy weights have the advantage of better temperature regulation compared to smaller babies.
“See, I’m really petite, and I worry my baby might get stuck.”
Regardless of height or build, most women’s pelvises are naturally designed to be sufficiently large and flexible to accommodate average to above-average weight babies without medical intervention. Nurses are also skilled in assisting you to guide your baby through the birth canal during labor.
“This might be a bit embarrassing, but I was thinking a Cesarean might allow me to enjoy sex as much as before pregnancy, afterwards…”
Rest assured, after a vaginal delivery, the muscle tone and elasticity of the vagina and surrounding tissues typically return to normal within about three months.
“I’m a person who likes to be in control. I like to control everything in my life, and the idea that labor is something I can’t control is quite scary.”
“I can honestly say the hardest part of this pregnancy for me has been letting go of control.”
Allowing your body and your baby’s development to determine the optimal birth timing does involve embracing uncertainty. For some women, this can be challenging. If you can become comfortable with the element of surprise, it will be beneficial.
“Children will surprise us for the rest of our lives, and it begins with labor. They know when they’re ready. It’s such a wonderful feeling to be surprised by the child you created. It’s like a gift.”
The reality is, much about children, in general, is unpredictable. Your baby will eventually smile, sit, and walk, but the exact timing is always a delightful surprise. Thinking about the timing of labor and birth with this same flexible expectation can be helpful. The changes that pregnancy and birth bring do require adjustments, but soon, the countless joys a new baby brings will undoubtedly make all the patience and anticipation worthwhile.
Alt text: A pregnant woman gently holds her belly, symbolizing the anticipation and connection with her unborn child during pregnancy.
