when are babies born relative to their due date?

[tenar]

I'd like to see a graph or some data showing when babies are born relative to the due date that the doctor assigned early on in the pregnancy. Not because I'm worried or anything, I'm just curious about it.

I've read that:
- only 3% of babies are born on their due dates
- first time mums birth later, on average
- caucasians birth later than asians and africans (why??), on average
- up to 10% of babies go as late as 42 weeks (why do they induce then if so many babies are naturally that late how is that a problem?)

I'd like to learn more about it. Does anyone know a source of more detailed statistics?

One thing I'm really curious about is whether the due date falls on average mid-way in the spectrum. If the due date calculations are accurate, you'd expect half of babies to be born before it and half to be born after it. Is that actually right?

Anyone know more about this?

[danniellabella]

I don't know about accuracy but my DD (who is my first) came 4 days early.

[sconeonamission]

I am a first time mum and my ds was born 40+7 (7days late). Was due to be induced at 41+4wks.

[Antheia]

I read in a book recently that the average of pregnancy is 41 weeks and 1 day.

[thepixie]

My DD was 11 days late. I was due to be induced at 10 days over but chickened out, went into labour and she was born at 11 days o/d. Labour was augmented, without augmentation she probably would have been born at 12 days over.
It would be interesting to see how many are born before vs after their EDD. I wouldn't think it would be 50/50 though because there is a much longer time in which a baby can be born prematurely (15 weeks or more) as opposed to overdue (eg you never hear of a baby going 15 weeks past their DD).
I think the reason for induction for post dates is that there are some studies that show an increased rate of neonatal death at 41+ weeks of pregnancy.

[hj1981]

My Bubba was due on the 21st October but came on the 28th October, we were due to be induced the day she arrived, so thank goodness for that!

[BekZ]

Both my girls were born on their EDD!!! and both were the 9th of the month

In saying this I received 2 edds for both girls due to having numerous early scans. I was charting for both pregnancies and was given the 9th as a due date based on my ovulation. Then at both my first early scans the edd was the 9th for both girls so I stuck with this edd. I really hope all that made sense.