Study: Risk of Stillbirth Week by Week (late third trimester)

[edaj84]

Marcellus, I know exactly what you mean. My placenta looked absolutely perfect and healthy, as did my baby that was covered in vernix at 43w+5d

[onthefly]

edaj8 - how did you get to go so long? Seems like pretty much everywhere they're nervous as hell after 42 weeks.

[edaj84]

Homebirth with a trusting midwife (who was rapidly running out of confidence in my baby to leave of her own accord lol)

[onthefly]

Ah!
Yeah, 43+5 would test anyone I think.

[edaj84]

but then despite my dates saying that I was 43 + 5, both of my pregnancies appear to have been misdated by approximately 2 weeks, I delivered a 37 +5 weeker who was fairly clearly not full term, he had little sucking reflex, was unable to maintain his temperature, and generally had a few minor health issues going on and then our 43 +5 baby whose palcenta looked great, her skin was not peeling, her nails were not long, she was covered in vernix. I think that more likely I delivered a 35 + 5 and a 41+5 (or thereabouts), that my body carries for a bit longer naturally, or some other quite plausible reason for not fitting into the 40 weeks exactly mould. Admittedly after a full 41 weeks wer eup we started doing lots of things to try and help bubby out, acupuncture, massage etc. We also did a membrane sweep at 42 weeks...which clearly didn't do much since i went another 10 days lol.

All of that said and done I would be VERY reluctant to seek medical induction prior to a FULL 42 weeks.

[sas85]

Interesting material. But if I am reading correctly, this is only from "unexplained" stillbirths. Therefore wouldn't "explained" stillbirths, particularly with reference to placental deterioration/failure still be higher post dates.

[finsmum]

I also think that the results of any study into normal gestation times is bound to be skewed now by our haste to intervene. Most women who go past even their estimated 41 weeks will be induced and so will never know how long they may have gestated or how healthy thier baby may have been if left to come in their own time. There is of course a rick of placental degradation, but I do also know of women who have had badly degraded placentas way before 40 weeks. I read another study by the Mayo clinic I think showing that the safest model was expectant management, ie monitoring and otherwise leaving nature to do her thing. I totally understand how after a frightening experience like that you would feel nervous about future longer pregnancies, just as after my experience I would never allow induction without a clear medical reason. It's a balancing act, there are risks on either side; as they say, birth is as safe as life gets...