After carrying a baby for nearly nine months, most women are anxious to meet their new bundle of joy. Whether you are sore and tired from carrying the extra weight or you are excited to start the next phase of your life, you might be interested in learning more about how to speed up the delivery to encourage the baby to come.
Instead of rushing the process, it is important to understand that your body will know when it is the right time to deliver. So, it is always a good idea to trust the natural processes during pregnancy.
Term Pregnancy Categories
When you are talking with your doctor, there are several terms that you might hear in the conversation. It is important that you understand these terms to know how far along you are in the pregnancy:- Early Term: From 37 weeks to 38 weeks and 6 days
- Full Term: From 39 weeks to 40 weeks and 6 days
- Late Term: From 41 weeks to 41 weeks and 6 days
- Post Term: Beyond 42 weeks
Is Induction a Good Idea?
Even though it might sound nice to plan the delivery date of your baby, many midwives and women’s health professionals are suggesting that induction should only be used when it is needed for medical reasons. These recommendations can vary depending on the doctor that you talk with, because some modern medical professionals have said that 37 weeks is enough time to safely deliver the baby. When the suggestion is made that delivery can happen a little early, some women are interested in scheduling an induction to shave off a few weeks of pregnancy. Before you schedule an induction date, it is important that you understand the potential consequences of delivering too early.Focus on Health, Not Convenience
Many times, early term births are scheduled based on conveniences. Of course there are times when medical situations make it necessary to take the baby a little early, but if possible it is best to wait until the baby is at least full term. Don’t make the decision to have a C-section or induction just because it fits better in your schedule or grandma is going to be in town at that time. Keep in mind that the 40-week mark is just an estimate, and some babies need a little more time before they are ready. So, don’t get fixated on the 40-week timeline, because it is ok to go an extra week or two if that’s what your body needs. The best thing that you can do is consult with the medical professionals and be prayerful in your decision. As the mother, you have the intuition to know what is best for you and your baby, and you can turn to God in prayer for the support that you need when you are making these decisions. You should beware that if you are looking out for your baby’s health (and yours) by taking fish oil, especially during the last trimester when your baby is growing his brain cells very rapidly, you are even less likely to suffer from preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and are more likely to have a healthy sized baby. Also, make sure that you are being proactive to support your overall health throughout the pregnancy. For more information, read Pregnancy, Children, & the Hallelujah Diet that shares details about the eating and lifestyle habits you should consider before, during, and after your pregnancy.- Carlson SE, Colombo J, Gajewski BJ, Gustafson KM, Mundy D, Yeast J, et al. DHA supplementation and pregnancy outcomes. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;97: 808–815. doi:10.3945/ajcn.112.050021
