My favourite is this one: The length of uncomplicated human gestation.
Mittendorf R, Williams MA, Berkey CS, Cotter PF. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. By retrospective exclusion of gestations with known obstetric complications, maternal diseases, or unreliable menstrual histories, we found that uncomplicated, spontaneous-labor pregnancy in private-care white mothers is longer than Naegele's rule predicts. For primiparas, the median duration of gestation from assumed ovulation to delivery was 274 days, significantly longer than the predicted 266 days (P = .0003). For multiparas, the median duration of pregnancy was 269 days, also significantly longer than the prediction (P = .019). Moreover, the median length of pregnancy in primiparas proved to be significantly longer than that for multiparas (P = .0032). Thus, this study suggests that when estimating a due date for private-care white patients, one should count back 3 months from the first day of the last menses, then add 15 days for primiparas or 10 days for multiparas, instead of using the common algorithm for Naegele's rule. Vedrana -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wump fish Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 12:55 PM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Resounding failure of "active labour management" Perhaps we need to get away from due dates altogether. Instead of giving women an edd, maybe saying that if your baby has not arrived by x date we can discuss various options. I agree, that when we give women a particular date they fix on it. As do their family and friends = lots of pressure as the date comes and goes. Doesn't matter how much we tell them the 38-42wk thing - they are aiming for that 40wk due date. >From: "Janet Fraser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au >To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au> >Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Resounding failure of "active labour management" >Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2006 22:03:16 +1100 > >It really does and the overwhelming focus on the 40 week mark means that >women are freaking out by 40+3 convinced they'll never go into labour and >really upset and angry. There's no point saying "term is 38-42, you're >quite ok" because they have the fear of god in them about the mythical >40+10 which means induction. >Bloody terrible! It was so different planning a home birth and just >floating about high on endorphins knowing no one was going to hassle me. >Too many women, ie the majority, really miss out on this. >We need that ridiculous compulsory induction before 42 weeks to just end. >I'm so tired of giving postdates info to women at 39 weeks who are already >being pressured by their hospital because "If you don't go into labour by x >date we will induce you!" >Who can labour with that hanging over them? >J > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Dean & Jo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au> >Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 7:49 PM >Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] Resounding failure of "active labour management" > > > > The issue faced by women when they go post dates has a huge impact on > > things. I wonder if women were to celebrate and cherish the last few > > days of being pregnant instead of feeling 'fed up' - if women did not > > hear from anyone (and usually everyone) the comment of "are you still > > here love?" or the best one:" You still here, my gawd you are huge!" If > > women were told they look beautiful, if women were given social > > 'approval' to be pampered; to internalize; to value the last few days > > then perhaps more women would go into labour without that desperate fed > > up notion that makes induction more appealing. > > > > The last few weeks of a pregnancy I think are the most challenging for > > many women. We as a society need to allow them and encourage them to > > value the last few days of holding their child close. Birth blessings, > > women circles (where a group of females get together and celebrate the > > birthing women or even do something helpful like a cooking afternoon > > with meals for the freezer, or housework bee to do all those jobs that > > bother expectant mums); massages; pedicures; hair appointments WHATEVER! > > Anything that says to the woman 'take your time, feel comfortable within > > yourself think positive and baby will come.' > > > > *sigh* but instead women are fed phrases that enforce they should be > > doing something to get baby out. > > > > -- > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.14.23/243 - Release Date: > > 1/27/2006 > > > > -- > > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > _________________________________________________________________ Are you using the latest version of MSN Messenger? 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