Friday, October 01, 2010

Baby Belly: 38 Weeks

OCTOBER?!?!?!?!

October is birth month! How is it October already?

Holy huge pregnant belly, Batman...



Yep, I'd say that means it's just about time...

But, noting that it's "just about time" makes me antsy to get on my soapbox. That is, the fact that I find it absurd to fixate on a "due date." Did you know:
  • "No two women gestate for the same length of time. The 244 days of gestation used to calculate from your last period is an 'average.' It does not represent the 'ideal' length of pregnancy." (source)
  • Only 5% of babies are born on their due dates. (source)
  • "It's perfectly normal for 80 percent of healthy babies to have anywhere from a 38- to 42-week gestation. Several generations ago, a physician might tell an expectant mother that she was due 'sometime in late October or early November'" (source)
I just can't help wondering: When and how and why did we as a society end up in this odd position of determining that we know the precise date that a baby should be born--and then going crazy with medical interventions to control and manipulate a natural process so that it happens in our perfect timing?

So, all that to say: Baby will almost certainly be born this month. Beyond that...who knows? :)

10 comments:

Kelly said...

SOOOOOOOOO beautiful! Seriously! I've seen lots of gorgeous pictures of you over the years, but this one takes the cake!

Amy said...

aww, thanks, Kelly...you're too sweet. the angle of the photo nicely disguises the lovely pregnancy double-chin I'm sporting these days :P

Anna said...

First of all, you look beautiful! You wear 38 weeks pregnant very very well! I see nary a sign of a double chin... my husband did tell me after I gave birth that "your face looks less full now." Lol thanks honey!

And I am SO with you on the due date thing. It's just a guess, an estimate. My doctors were pushing me to schedule an induction for 41 weeks as soon as I reached my due date, like it was an emergency. Nope, I gave birth 8 days "overdue" without being induced, and everyone was perfectly fine. :)

Amy said...

good for you, Anna!

my face was SO fat last time - for whatever reason I am not experiencing the swelling this time. definitely noticed the double chin in pictures of my haircut last weekend though :)

Sandra Leigh said...

I agree with you on the "due date" soapbox too. It's crazy. One of my closest friends who is a nurse always tells ladies that if they want to think about a due date in their head that they should add 10 days to whatever the doctor told them.

I hope your last few days-weeks of pregnancy go smooth for you!

zz said...

Lovely picture, but I don't think you take a bad one.

I was one of those babies in the top 5%. Woot! One of the few times I've arrived exactly when expected.

Can't wait to hear your announcement. :)

Ali said...

I agree Amy. And fixating on a due date tends to cause so much stress to a mother already uncomfortable and ready to deliver. I've been "late" with most of mine and have finally learned to plan to be later than the doctors say. It's just how my pregnancies go. All of the jealousy about "going early" or other such nonsense is ridiculous.

By the way, you look gorgeous! We can't wait to hear the good news about Baby Kannel's arrival and are praying for your comfort and endurance in the meantime.

Christin said...

Amy, you look so beautiful! I can't wait to see how things go once the little one arrives.

Marianne said...

You are just lovely, Amy!! How are you feeling?

I could not agree with this post more. I'm sure I've whined about this before, but I was 8 days overdue and went in for my non-stress test. They determined my fluid was low and that with each contraction, the baby's heart rate would drop (not dangerously). So, they induced me and when I contracted, the baby's heart rate dipped very very low and each time took longer to recover. So, I had a c-section. I can't help but think that the only reason I had the c-section is that they induced me, causing fetal distress. Not that I'm a doctor or anything...

I hope your homebirth is a beautiful experience for you and your family. One of my best friends has had two homebirths and she is such a proponent.

God bless.

Aly said...

Stunning photo!!

Your comments on due dates reminded me of one of many posts on this subject on another blog that I love: http://ccostello.blogspot.com/2010/08/overdue-and-thoughts-about-nutrition.html