Community Activities

 

Yoga Baby Bliss supports Birth Choices

Next Margaret River Meeting: 8th September 2008

Come along and have a cup of tea with a passionate group of women, doulas, mothers, babies, toddlers and midwives as we chat all things natural pregnancy, birth and baby.

Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of every month.

Birth Choices contact: Ange Savic-Packer 9755 9919 or aapacker@bigpond.com.au

 

Coming soon...

Belly & Birth Community

To be available the 3rd Thursday of the month @ Margaret River Health.

Free to all expectant women.

Supporting natural birthing and providing you with information and education for all of your birthing options.

 

Breastfeeding Community

Next free open session 4th September 2008

Available on the first Thursday of every month @ Margaret River Health.

Free to breastfeeding mothers and expectant mothers.

Come along have a cup of tea and chat with Karina, Natalie or just amongst yourselves.

Our first meeting: view photos and summary of events

 

Reflexology Workshop

Reflexology for pregnancy and labor.

Next free workshop with Sarah coming soon!

 

Interesting belly, birth & baby facts: Removing the myths

 

8th  August  2008

 

Estimated due date

 

Your estimated due date is just that...estimated.  Normal human gestation is noted to be between 37 weeks and 42 weeks.  Your estimated due date can be calculated by one of 2 methods.  The first is with the dating method which is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period (assuming that you have a regular cycle variations of cycle length can be taken in account e.g. 28 or 33 day cycles).  This is called the Naegele's rule (counting forward 9 months and adding 7 days from the first day of the last menstrual period).  The other method is dating with an ultrasound which relies on measurements of your growing baby, such as length of the long bone (femur) of your baby's leg.

 

Many women find as they approach their estimated due date that some health care providers will start mentioning induction (artificially starting your labor) post dates.  The term post dates is loosely applied and for some health care providers they will consider you post dates as early as 5 days past your estimated due date and for others 10 days.  You are, however, not post term until 14 days after your estimated due date.

 

Current research suggests that post term pregnancy (that is past 42 weeks) occurs in 10% of all singleton (one baby) pregnancies.  A woman who has previously experienced a post term pregnancy is more likely to experience the same again, and a first time expectant mother (primigravida) is more likely to birth after her estimated due date than before.  In fact a large proportion of first time expectant mothers birth within the first 10 days post their estimated due date.

 

So why am I telling you this?  Firstly so that you know that you are not putting yourself or your baby at any risk remaining pregnant past your due date, and therefore should not feel any pressure in a normal and healthy pregnancy to have your labor induced.

 

The benefits of avoiding the induction police include:

Your baby is birthed when he or she is ready

Your birthing hormones are peaking and will work optimally during your labor and birth

You are more likely to have a positive and empowering birth experience

You are more likely to successfully breastfeed your baby (due to optimal hormone release in natural labor)

Improves bonding with your baby

Reduces medical intervention during your labor and birth

 

Have you got a question for anything belly, birth or baby?

If I don't know the answer I will find it for you :o)

 I will be posting a new belly, birth or baby fact every few weeks.

 

More belly, birth & baby facts