Expert: Catherine Beier MS CBE - 4/28/2009

Question
My wife is 37 weeks pregnant today. She went to her Dr. today (scheduled) and he said that she was a half a finger dilated and 70% effaced. We are scheduled to go in for induction on 5/11/09. What are the chances our little boy will come before then.


Answer
Wheeler,


As for when the baby will come, it could be be a few days to a few weeks away.  There is no hard and fast rule to tell when labor will begin.  However, she's already started to make progress, which is a good sign that things are moving in the right direction.  She's also almost completely effaced, which takes the longest in a first-time pregnancy, so this is another good sign that your son may make his appearance soon.

But why in the world is she already scheduled for an induction?  

If there are no health factors, which I suspect there aren't as you're asking if the baby will come before then, indicating it's safe for her to go into labor on her own, then there's absolutely no reason to schedule an induction.

The average length of a first-time pregnancy is 41 weeks, 4 days.  So, barring any complications, the research shows that women can safely go to 42 weeks before induction should be a consideration.

So, if you wish to avoid the induction, you can refuse it until she has gone 2 weeks past her due date if your son hasn't arrived by then.  But, from the progress she's already made, it seems he will arrive sooner than that.


Best,
Catherine