Why women go into labour earlier than others??

[leeloo]

Hi everybody!

Not sure if this is an answerable question but I thought I might ask! I understand that women can go into labour between 36 & 42 weeks, but does anybody know why some women go earlier than others!!?

Thanks

[Oorki Galoorki]

because we are not all egg timers every woman is an individual
we all have different cycles and cycle lengths, some women get sick, some women arent meant to carry full term for various reasons.. some over bake.. some people are under stress others have medical issues

Lots of variables

[Spring Angel]

I think there can be a number of factors some known, some unknown.

Just rememeber that the 40 weeks is based on a 28 day cycle so if your cycle is shorter or longer than that will affect when you go into labour.

Good question though, I'll be keeping my eye on this thread.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

It would be great if we had that answer wouldn't it... would make life so much easier.

My cousin has had 3 kids and she was almost 2wks over with all 3, my mum had a trend of being nearly 2 weeks early with all but 1.

My DD was born 1.5wks early... will let you know how i go with #2... hehe

[leeloo]

Thanks for the replies... and keep them coming!! I guess its like the holy grail of pregnancy isn't it! Would the more children you have affect it!?

[Glamourcide]

^ I had heard that was the case, but it's obviously a generalisation if it has any truth to it at all... my friend's three kids went on time (first baby), premature (second baby), then two weeks overdue and a failed induction resulting in a c-sec (he just didn't want to budge lol!), so she's gone from one extreme to the other. I wonder if it depends on the baby as well as the mum's cycle etc? For instance my DD1 was born two days before her due date (induced though) and DD2 was a spontaneous labour one week past EDD, but DD2 had bucketloads more vernix on her than DD1 did (which to me has always been an indicator of how 'baked' a bub is, those with less vernix are usually closer or past EDD than those with more vernix, kwim?)... go figure