The gestation of the human being is a complex process with a certain duration that should not be forced. The natural thing, and for that reason the most convenient thing, is that the childbirth is triggered spontaneously , when the physiological mechanisms that cause the labor to begin begin by themselves.
These mechanisms have their reason for being . The hormones secreted by the mother better predispose the baby for life outside the womb, and furthermore, its development is favored each day that it remains inside the womb until the day it decides to be born.
Full-term babies
A gestation under normal conditions lasts between 37 and 42 weeks . If it is born within those weeks, it is considered a full-term baby. Within this category, three subcategories can be distinguished, depending on the time the delivery occurred:
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Babies born between 37 and 39 weeks will be considered “early term .”
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Babies born between 39 and 41 weeks will be considered “normal full term .”
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Babies born between 41 and 42 weeks will be considered “late term .”
On the other hand, babies born before 37 weeks are considered premature, while those born with more than 42 weeks are considered post-term.
But, obviously, although in both cases it is considered a full-term baby, it is not the same to be born in week 37 as in week 42. There is no less than five weeks of difference, a key time for the baby’s development.
Every day inside the womb counts
Even though they are already formed, towards the end of pregnancy, the most important organs continue to develop and rehearse to function on their own when the baby is born. The brain is one of the most changing in recent weeks and develops better inside than outside the uterus.
In the last trimester, the brain multiplies by four its size . At week 35, for example, you only weigh two-thirds of what you will weigh at week 39 or 40.
For its part, towards the end of pregnancy the baby is responsible for accumulating fat that will allow it to better regulate the temperature outside, as well as better the functioning of the organs and the maturation of the lungs .
Every day in the womb is key to the development of the baby. Being born before the 39th week is related to greater respiratory, hearing, vision or learning complications, to name a few differences.
Babies born before term have a higher risk of jaundice as well as greater difficulties with sucking and swallowing. Although it may seem not, even being born days before can affect their development.
Physiological processes that prepare the baby
What triggers labor? Labor is triggered by a conjunction of synchronized biological factors between mother and baby. A recent study has discovered which is the ON button that starts labor: a signal that comes from the lungs that communicates that they are already mature and ready to begin breathing outside the uterus.
When the baby decides to be born, a series of hormonal processes beneficial to its health are set in motion. The mother’s hormonal response prepares it for birth, making the baby receptive to recognize its mother and the environment, to favor what is known as the moment of imprinting, which in the case of deliveries that are not triggered naturally it is altered.
Induction, only in exceptional cases
Induction of labor, according to the WHO, should be limited to certain medical indications and in no case should it be greater than 10% of deliveries .
Induction by means of synthetic hormones such as prostaglandin gels and / or synthetic oxytocin and elective cesarean section (without serious medical reason) are not always the best alternative, since the complications they bring can be greater. It is more likely to end in an instrumental delivery or cesarean section, so it should be limited to certain medical indications.
Staying active, walking, dancing are activities that promote pelvic rocking and help soften the cervix. On the other hand, gently stimulating the nipples and having sexual intercourse (as long as it is not contraindicated) secretes the hormone oxytocin that stimulates uterine contractions.
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