The Due Date | Inductions

The following is taken from the Pathways magazines (click link to read full article):

Recent report in the OB/Gyn Journal December 2001 states that eliminating the concept of a due date, “may be helpful to all involved.”

The process of calculating due dates may be flawed as not all women ovulate 14 days from the onset of their menstruation. Additionally, other health factors of the mother play a role in delivery time. In reality, only 5% of all babies are born “on schedule”, anyway.

Because of the due date women feel pressured, become anxious and are led into inductions by their practitioners. Inductions usually lead to further interventions in birth. Interventions in birth frequently lead to trauma for both the mother and baby.

Dr. Vern Katz suggests that doctors expand the concept of a due date to a “due week.” In doing so, “it may allow biology to take its course a bit more.”