New Beginnings: Pregnancy Guides - Mission Health

D ID YOU KNOW...
Every Week Counts
Scheduling your baby’s birth too early can cause problems for mom and baby.
As long as you and your baby are healthy, it is best to stay pregnant for at least
39 to 40 weeks.
Your baby needs 39 weeks because:
• His brain, lungs and liver need this time to fully develop
• He will be less likely to have problems with his vision or hearing
• He will have time to gain more weight, so he can stay warm
• He will be better able to suck, swallow and stay awake to eat
And, we know that:
• Due dates may not be exactly right. If you schedule to have your baby and your
dates are off by one or two weeks, your baby may actually be premature
• Inducing labor may not work, especially if your body and baby are not ready.
And then you may need to have a Cesarean birth
• Cesarean birth can cause problems in future pregnancies
• Cesarean birth is major surgery……it takes longer to recover and you are more at
risk for problems, like infections
Breastfeeding
Breast milk is the best food for a
baby.
• Breast milk is the best food for your
baby. It helps with physical growth
and brain development.
• Babies have less problems with spitting
up and gas when they are breastfed.
• Breastfeeding is free.
• Breast milk is always ready.
• Breast milk has antibodies that
protect your baby from germs –
formula does not.
• Breastfed babies have fewer health
problems even when they are older.
• Breastfeeding mothers have fewer
occurrences of breast or
ovarian cancer.
• Breastfeeding keeps a mother from
bleeding too much after birth.
If your doctor is recommending your baby’s delivery before 39 weeks, you may
want to ask them:
• Is there a problem with my health or my baby’s health Why do you recommend
inducing my labor Why do you recommend scheduling a Cesarean
• Can I wait until I am closer to 39 weeks
• What risks am I and my baby facing with this earlier delivery
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