why is 37 weeks ful term but 40 weeks a due date?

[MissPolley]

really confuses me esp when ppl say their baby was 2-3 weeks before due date are they classed as premature cause they are before due date? or are they full term cause of the 37 weeks?

 

[Lamont]

i THINK it's because the baby is fully formed and all there organs are fully formed and functional... but im not 100%

 

[Erinsmummy]

It's because a due date is just an estimate, babies are fully formed at 37 weeks and usually come around 4 weeks of the due date.

 

[michelleclare]

Most babies born at 37weeks with have matured lungs and have the sucking reflex to be able to feed!
Babies born after 37weeks are classed as full term not premature, they follow same growth charts as a baby born at 42weeks.
Xx

 

[CatherineK]

Babies are not 'fully formed' at 37 weeks. The great majority survive at that age, and most don't need NICU, which is why they are no longer classified at premature, but it is a falsehood to think they are 'done baking'. Closer to 40 weeks is the best normally. Sites like the march of dimes can detail the immense debelopemwt that happens in those last weeks. My docs here never use the '37 weeks is full term' measure.

 

[counting]

This is why you will hear a lot of doctors say they hate "due dates". Depending on the individual baby and woman, you can expect your baby to be born and considered "full term" any time between 37 and 42 weeks. Anything before that is preterm, and anything after is overdue. When most women say they had their baby two or three weeks early, what they mean is 2-3 weeks before their 40 week due date. Same with women who say their baby was 1-2 weeks overdue, they mean 1-2 weeks after their due date. In reality all of these babies are born "on time" though.

 

[fionar]

This is why you will hear a lot of doctors say they hate "due dates". Depending on the individual baby and woman, you can expect your baby to be born and considered "full term" any time between 37 and 42 weeks. Anything before that is preterm, and anything after is overdue. When most women say they had their baby two or three weeks early, what they mean is 2-3 weeks before their 40 week due date. Same with women who say their baby was 1-2 weeks overdue, they mean 1-2 weeks after their due date. In reality all of these babies are born "on time" though.

Exactly this. This is why I don't get hung up on "35 weeks 3 days! 32 weeks 5 days!" because in the grand scheme of things, a few days here or there when you're close to your "due date" mean damn near nothing. Everyone asks if my son was on time, and I tell them he was right on time, since he was born three days after his due date, but... three days. It was three days. That's on time so far as I'm concerned. Baby will come when baby is done cooking, I'm honestly trying to forget what my actual due date is because it's too easy to get hung up on that one guessed-at date and then get depressed when baby hasn't come yet.

 

[Julesillini8]

Yah I don't get it either. To me and my doc " full term" is 40 wks. He would never induce or anything ( unless for a medical reason) until after 40 weeks.... Although baby is pretty mature at 37,38 weeks and might not require medical help when born, he calls it term, and not " full term". Uh, it is so confusing, but I hope my baby is at least 40 wks!

 

[MissPolley]

im just so damn impatient, i think thats my problem, i want to meet my little boy so badly and hug and squeeze and kiss and just take care of him... its been such a long bloody WTT im happy it was the first try that we conceived, i mean after so many years of waiting for partners to prove themselves worthy of a child and then waiting for my OH to be ready to have a child you would think i would be a pro at being patient but im really really not.

and due dates and full term dates do my head in, it is so infuriating knowing in 5 weeks im 37 weeks and he would be full term and could come out at any time but then there is the 40week mark which is 8 weeks away and thats my due date. but then there is a chance that it could be a further 2 weeks or more after that i have to wait to be induced.

i just want to know when i can meet my child finally i mean ive been ready for a child since the age of bout 18 or 19 but have had to wait till last year september.

god these dattes drive me barmy lol

 

[pebbie1]

In my hospital they class 37 weeks as term but 40 weeks as full term. I had pre eclampsia at 38 weeks with my girl and they were trying to keep her in as long as possible so I could get as close to 40 weeks as possible as that's full term. They just gain body fat between 37 and 40 weeks.

 

[MissPolley]

In my hospital they class 37 weeks as term but 40 weeks as full term. I had pre eclampsia at 38 weeks with my girl and they were trying to keep her in as long as possible so I could get as close to 40 weeks as possible as that's full term. They just gain body fat between 37 and 40 weeks.

but if they only gain fat then why go to 40 weeks?

 

[Julesillini8]

I think some organs are still maturing, it's not just fat. This is from the march of dimes ( in regards to why to avoid early induction until 39-40 wks) and there's a lot more info in that site:

Important organs, like his brain, lungs and liver, get the time they need to develop.
He is less likely to have vision and hearing problems after birth.
He has time to gain more weight in the womb. Babies born at a healthy weight have an easier time staying warm than babies born too small.
He can suck and swallow and stay awake long enough to eat after he's born. Babies born early sometimes can't do these things.

Again, babies born 37-40 weeks are typically ok, some may need medical help, some may not. But I do believe that it's best for baby to be in there the longer the better. I am hoping for 40 wks!

 

[special_kala]

37 weeks is term and 40 weeks FULL term,

More and more evidence is coming out that actually the brain needs until 39 weeks to develop fully

 

[TatorMom]

Full term is 37 weeks, however all babies develop, grow and mature at different rates, just as they do after they're born. For some babies they may be done "baking" at around 37 weeks, where as other need a good 40 weeks. I was born at 38 weeks and had/have no issues. My oldest was born on his own at 38 weeks, and DS2 was born on his own at 36 weeks, and neither had any issues. Honestly DS2 has been a much healthier baby and kid than DS1. Every baby/child is different. Due dates are just an estimate. Most babies born around 37 weeks have no issues, but obviously you wouldn't want to induce before 40 weeks, except for medical reasons.

 

[77Tulips]

Here they seem to use Term to mean 37 - baby is unlikely to need NICU time and is probably able to go home. Full term is 'officially' 40 weeks and that is when baby is due. Some babies cook quicker some cook slower I am due with twins and have been told optimum time with twins is 37-38 weeks as after that the placenta can begin to break down. This doesn't generally happen until 42 with singleton placentas and it is when they are overdue.
I've had a friend with a baby born at 37 weeks who is fully baked but another with baby born at the same gestation who needed support. It's one of the reasons they say it's best to let baby decide to come when they do rather than be induced. Babies generally come when fully cooked.

 

[TwoRdue]

Yah I don't get it either. To me and my doc " full term" is 40 wks. He would never induce or anything ( unless for a medical reason) until after 40 weeks.... Although baby is pretty mature at 37,38 weeks and might not require medical help when born, he calls it term, and not " full term". Uh, it is so confusing, but I hope my baby is at least 40 wks!

My specialist said from 37 weeks a baby is fully formed and that they don't like to interfear with inducing before 41 weeks becauseit's better to let labour happen naturally but they will induce of there is a need to.
At 36 weeks I can stop taking progesterone coz if baby is born then, more than not he will.come straight home with me.

 

[HopinAndPrayn]

March of Dimes site has great information on why at least 39 weeks is best:
https://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/pregnancy_39weeks.html

It's not just fat, there's significant brain development:
https://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/pregnancy_hbww.html

 

[Julesillini8]

Yah I don't get it either. To me and my doc " full term" is 40 wks. He would never induce or anything ( unless for a medical reason) until after 40 weeks.... Although baby is pretty mature at 37,38 weeks and might not require medical help when born, he calls it term, and not " full term". Uh, it is so confusing, but I hope my baby is at least 40 wks!

My specialist said from 37 weeks a baby is fully formed and that they don't like to interfear with inducing before 41 weeks becauseit's better to let labour happen naturally but they will induce of there is a need to.
At 36 weeks I can stop taking progesterone coz if baby is born then, more than not he will.come straight home with me.

Sounds good, hope your baby stays there an cooks as long as possible. Sounds like you are on a good track for your baby to come home with you
I think everyone agrees that longer is better. Yes, each baby grows and develops at slightly different rates, and usually they come when they are ready! But of course, to a certain point the longer they are in there the better. Best of luck to you!

 

[meli1981]

i had my first at 38 weeks and had trouble nursing, my second was born at 41 weeks and nursing was a breeze for her. i think it made a huge difference having a "full" term baby