Let’s talk timing of birth
Your baby continues to grow and develop right up to 39 to 40 weeks. Research shows that every week your baby continues to grow inside you makes a difference to their short and long-term health and developmental outcomes.
When possible, for pregnancies without complications, being born as close as possible to your due date and waiting for labour to start on its own is usually best for you and the development of your baby.
In some cases it may be safer to have a planned birth before your due date. A planned birth is when a woman gives birth to her baby at a specific time, and this could be by an induction of labour or less commonly a caesarean section. Sometimes babies need to be born earlier to reduce the chance of complications, especially if you or your baby are unwell or have conditions that increase your chance of stillbirth.
Deciding whether you should have a planned birth or wait for your baby to be born is not always easy. Your midwife or doctor will discuss benefits and risks of both options with you, answer your questions and support you in reaching the best decision.
The chance of stillbirth and other major complications is generally very low. Your midwife or doctor will explain your chance of stillbirth and discuss with you options for the timing of your baby’s birth, and if you or your baby need closer monitoring.
Sometimes babies need to be born earlier to reduce the chance of complications.
What you can do
Talk to your doctor or midwife to discuss the benefits and risks of a planned birth.
The Decision Aid for Timing of Birth is designed to help you and your maternity care provider decide together about the best time for your baby to be born. This Decision Aid is for women who do not have medical or pregnancy conditions that may affect when their baby should be born. These include twins or triplets, diabetes, high blood pressure or concerns about the baby’s growth.
The Decision Aid includes information to help you understand your chance of stillbirth and things to consider when deciding when your baby should be born. It also answers common questions about whether a planned birth might be right for you and your baby.
The Decision Aid is designed for you to use with your maternity care provider. You can talk about the information together and discuss what matters most to you. If you have questions or would like more information, please speak with your maternity care provider.
