Why first babies are late

It's possible that first babies may be less likely to be on time because the date of conception is not accurate, Downey said. Therefore, although parents may perceive a baby to be "late" if it arrives two weeks after the due date, this is not really the case. But even if a woman thinks she knows exactly when she conceived, "it still can be two weeks high or low, and it's considered normal," she added.

Rabin said there is no known biological reason why firstborn babies would be more likely to be early or late. After 42 weeks of pregnancy, a baby is considered overdue, Rabin said, and doctors become concerned about complications, such as an aging placenta that is not able to deliver proper nutrition to the baby. According to the Mayo Clinic , a woman may be more likely to have an overdue baby if the baby is male.

Will the royal heir be a boy? Follow Rachael Rettner RachaelRettner. Original article on LiveScience. Rachael has been with Live Science since She also holds a B. Live Science. If your baby is overdue, the first thing you might be offered is a membrane sweep.

The membrane sweep makes it more likely that you will go into labour naturally. If this is your first pregnancy, you should be offered a membrane sweep at your 40 and 41 week appointments. Healthcare professionals should support you in whatever decision you make NICE, a. During a sweep, the midwife will put a finger inside your vagina to reach the cervix. They will make a circular or sweeping movement with their fingers.

The point of it is to separate the sac surrounding your baby from the cervix. Doing a sweep helps to release natural hormones that stimulate contractions, so it may get labour started. Membrane sweeps have been shown to increase the likelihood of either spontaneous labour within 48 hours or delivery within one week.

They are generally safe where there are no other complications. Membrane sweeps can be uncomfortable, and can cause bleeding and irregular contractions. You have to consider these factors against being more likely to need a more formal method of induction later down the line.

In fact, only one out of eight women who have a membrane sweep avoid formal induction of labour Boulvain et al, See more in our article about whether you can really kick-start your own labour or not. Labour is a natural process that usually starts on its own. But sometimes labour needs to be started artificially.

Induction of labour is offered in the following conditions:. One way is by inserting hormones such as prostaglandins as a tablet pessary or gel into the vagina. Prostaglandins are hormones produced in the body Thomas et al, Prostaglandins are used in inductions to encourage the cervix to soften, shorten and open, and the uterus to start to contract regularly Thomas et al, Contractions after vaginal prostaglandins have been inserted usually begin within a few hours, reaching a peak after five to six hours NICE, a.

They increase the likelihood of vaginal birth within 24 hours Thomas et al, Many hospitals may be happy for you to go home after the procedure if you are induced via a pessary, tablet or gel Sharp et al, They should let you know who to contact if you have any concerns NICE, Oxytocin is released naturally from the pituitary gland, stimulating the contraction of the uterus during labour NICE, a. An artificial form can be swallowed, inserted into the vagina in the form of tablets or fed into a vein using an IV drip IQWiG, Along with other methods of induction, your midwife might ask to break your waters themselves.

This is called an artificial rupture of the membranes and its aim is to shorten your labour. Yet this should not be offered routinely as a primary method of induction on its own as there may be some risks such as infections NICE, a; Tommys Double balloon catheters can also be used to safely induce labour in pregnant women who have not had a previous caesarean section.

A double balloon catheter is another way to try to help the cervix to soften and dilate. If a double balloon catheter is used to induce your labour, the catheter is inserted so that one balloon is in your uterus and one is in your vagina. The balloons are slowly and alternately inflated with saline. The device is left in place for up to about 12 hours and removed if labour begins, the device comes out, the waters break, or the baby seems to be in distress NICE, Induced labour is likely to be more painful than spontaneous labour.

This can range from simple pain relief, such as distraction, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, to an epidural NICE, Labour after induction may be more painful because a labour that starts spontaneously usually builds up gradually, giving you time to get used to each new sensation.

You get used to the sensation because your body has the chance to release pain-relieving substances called endorphins. On the other hand, some women like induction because it enables them to have control over knowing roughly when their baby will be born.

Induction at or beyond term might lead to a reduced rate of caesarean section but a slightly higher rate of instrumental birth with forceps or ventouse. If your induction does not work, your midwife or doctor will discuss other options with you and support you.

Other options include another attempt to induce labour or having a caesarean section NICE, a. Your wellbeing should be considered and the wellbeing of your baby should be assessed using electronic fetal monitoring with your consent. Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: We also offer antenatal courses which are a great way to find out more about labour and life with a new baby.

Information from NHS choices on being overdue and on induced labour. Find out more about NICE guidance on the induction of labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Kelly A, Tan B. American Journal of Epidemiology. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.