EDD and actual day of birth

[Frangipani Lou]

I have the opportunity to meet with a lovely Doula( we are currently on the search for one for
October and are narrowing down the list).

This lovely Doula is very experienced but will be away until 2 weeks before our EDD.

For your first child, how close to your EDD did you give birth? Were you in labour before or after your EDD?

I'm trying to work out if we should consider this Doula as an option....

[MummyNaomi]

It's pretty hard to predict, and others experiences wont necessarily give you any indication of what will happen for you

First bub was born at 36w3d for me!

I would be choosing a Doula who is available earlier, IMO no point building the bond to rely on the Doula as your support person only to have them not available at the crucial moment.

[HotI]

41 weeks for me, both times.

[Jaycee]

Statistically speaking, it is unlikely that you will go into labour more than 2 weeks before your due date, however it's certainly not out of the question.

Is there another option?

[PumpkinZulu]

It's very very unlikely that you would go more than 2 weeks before your EDD. It does happen, but it is statistically a very remote chance for you. I'd take the risk I went into labour on my EDD.

[Nat82]

I was induced 14 days after my due date with DS, and heard many first time bubs are overdue. In fact, my DH was deployed overseas until 5 days before the due date!! Then I have a friend who went in to labour with her first at 31 weeks, so you don't know I guess...

If I was hiring a doula, I would probably want the security of them being there no matter what....

[HomeStyleMumma]

I went into labour night of 37 +5.... I think if u have another option ur comfortable with go with that. How do u think dh will handle it all? If he's very supportive & even a little informed u way not need a doula, tho I'm sure it could be nice. Are u seeing an OB or public if u don't mind me asking? Only because if its private u can likely meet a few of the MWs before then ull 'probably' have at least one there I've met on the day???

[BellyBelly]

Around 3-5% of babies are born on the guess date and I believe something around 40% are born within the two weeks before that, and 40% in the two weeks after that... but not sure of finer details like if they were left to birth naturally, induced etc. Gestation for first time babies is often longer than subsequent too. So if you really like her as a doula, I wouldn't worry too much. If it was closer maybe so, but like the others have said, not many, especially first time mothers, go two weeks or more earlier. Pre-labour and labour in general is often longer too.

[~Hestia~]

My first was 3 days over his EDD.

[Jellyfish]

There is really no way to know unfortunately, statistics don't mean much when you're that one individual. How would you feel if you went with this doula and you went early? How would it effect the price?

Most say first time mothers gestate longer than subsequent births but for example, I went into labour at 38w with my first and then my second was almost 2 and a half weeks past that at 40w+3.

[BellyBelly]

Its not that often you get 100% of people getting xx result from something, but studies from universities and all sorts of places have shown that human gestation tends to be longer for first pregnancies - not just heresay. Of course all sorts of things come into play with births, situations, health of the mother, health of the baby - so there will never be 100% of women who have first time pregnancies longer than the others.

For the record, my first was 3 days early, my second 9 - but I tend to have shorter cycles and thats just what my body does. I had an induction massage with my second and was in labour very soon after. My sister has the opposite end of the scale and they tend to come around 42 weeks. We're all different.

[RhiChiChi]

Hi there,

I went 9 days past my EDD and I was induced, so who knows how long my DD was going to stay in there for??!!

With this one I have no clue but think I will give birth closer to my EDD only b/c I did IVF (first pg was natural) so the dates are spot on.

From memory only 5% give birth on their EDD and it is really difficult to detect when you will give birth.

I'd consider speaking to another Doula/support person that will definitely be around b/c it sounds like this is a really big concern for you & you don't want to be feeling like that leading up to your birth. GL

[Amy_jellybean]

I'm glad you have posted this question love. My DH doesn't fly home from work until the day after i'm due

We are trying to decide if he should come home earlier but i'm worried if he does and then I go 10 days overdue, he has wasted 2 weeks of holidays!

So hard to decide

[CKJ]

I went into labour on a Thursday, due the Friday, had dd Saturday (so I was close)

I'd personally find a doula that can be there the whole time in the lead up to your due date just in case

[AlligatorsMum]

I went over and DS came on 41+3 by c/s as there was no sign of him coming any time soon. (had c/s as my body wasn't even starting to get ready and being induced was unlikely to have worked. )

[Lenny]

My first child was IVF and I went into labour exactly 39+6 and birthed the next day 40 weeks exactly.

[luna moth]

I was induced at around 12 days over, but had been having contractions beforehand.

Can you arrange with your doula to have a team/backup system? Our chosen doula offers this.

[loulabelle]

Gosh, it's very hard to know. Term is 37-42 weeks so that gives you a 80% chance she'll make it, I guess.

My labours started at 39+5, 38+2 ( second baby induced) and 39 weeks for my third.

It's really anyone's guess. If you really like her maybe organise a back up for the time she is away?


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