So why the confusion?

http://community.babycenter.com/post/a31361555/born_at_37_weeks_nicu_stay_help_anyone_have_a_37_weaker_im_scared

No comment of the four pages corrected the 37 weeks being full term thing,
Hot topic lately,
I wonder why there is such confusion?

As with everything in the "medical" world
Disagreements and no clear straight forward info.

I still say 40-42 is full term, 37-39 is just term..
I'd say 37 weeks is probably safe, but it gets safer every week until 40, which is ideal.. Just because of
1. Lungs
2. Latch and milk supply

I don't think it's that confusing. Pregnancy lasts 40 weeks - ideally - therefore full term is 40 weeks. The experts (ACOG, March of Dimes) will back that up.

because even doctors do not always knwo what they are talking about. and some women take what their mothers say word for word and so when someone who is mistaken on this says oh 37 weeks is term (even says full term) people assume that 37 weeks is ideal for baby to be born so mom doesnt have to go through any more "pain and suffering" from being so big and all. if someone has a doctor who actually keeps up with to date information and if they do research on their own there is nothing to be confused about.

Quoting Squeaky McGee [17 wks]:" I don't think it's that confusing. Pregnancy lasts 40 weeks - ideally - therefore full term is 40 weeks. The experts (ACOG, March of Dimes) will back that up."

I agree. I've heard conflicting debates about it and its like, if you were full term at 37 weeks thats when your baby would be due, they wouldn't just put 3 pointless weeks of pregnancy.

As far as that question, I've had it go both ways. My 38 (although they think i was earlier since he needed so much help at first) weeker ended up spending 4 days in the NICU and my 37 weeker (36w6d- 6lbs 7oz) stayed in my room the whole time.

The hospital here with a special care nursery can handle anything above 32 weeks gestation. I typically deliver at a higher level hospital with a higher level NICU, but that's just because my situation is complicated. I think it would be pretty rare for a hospital with a special care nursery to not be able to handle any issues a typical 37 weeker might have.

Quoting Mandy Schlatterer:" http://community.babycenter.com/post/a31361555/born_at_37_weeks_nicu_stay_help_anyone_have_a_37_weaker_im_scared ... [snip!] ... is probably safe, but it gets safer every week until 40, which is ideal.. Just because of 1. Lungs 2. Latch and milk supply"

Isn't milk supply something that is triggered by hormonal releases during labor? I thought I read that somewhere.

Quoting 3 little monsters:" Isn't milk supply something that is triggered by hormonal releases during labor? I thought I read that somewhere. "

My milk came in at 23 weeks during my first delivery. It doesn't always work out like that for everyone, but yes labor triggered it for me.

Quoting Summerfrost:" My milk came in at 23 weeks during my first delivery. It doesn't always work out like that for everyone, but yes labor triggered it for me. "

Well I've heard of it coming in early but I've never heard of milk supply being an issue because of gestational maturity. Even in preemies pumping is the issue for the milk supply and not the gestational age. I get lungs immaturity and I get an undeveloped latching reflex but I don't understand milk supply as an issue in the OP's personal reasons. So I was wondering if she or anyone else had any legit info on that connection.

<blockquote><b>Quoting 3 little monsters:</b>" Well I've heard of it coming in early but I've never heard of milk supply being an issue because of ... [snip!] ... as an issue in the OP's personal reasons. So I was wondering if she or anyone else had any legit info on that connection. "</blockquote>




Maybe milk isn't an issue, but latch is. I thought I heard if milk not coming in if baby is too early or far from full term but maybe not

Quoting 3 little monsters:" Well I've heard of it coming in early but I've never heard of milk supply being an issue because of ... [snip!] ... as an issue in the OP's personal reasons. So I was wondering if she or anyone else had any legit info on that connection. "

It's iffy with preemies for the moms to get their milk in. Sometimes it comes in, but it won't come in all the way. Sometimes it doesn't come in at all. Just because in my personal experience, my milk came in, it doesn't mean every mom will have it come in normally at 23 weeks for example. It's more hit or miss.

Sometimes preemie moms bodies go into a sort of limbo afterwards because their body wasn't fully ready to be in labor or give birth, even though that's what happened.

Also just my throw in on this topic and it's been a hot topic on BG for years now, LOL. I asked my Dr during my last pregnancy about this "term" and "full term" thing. He told me it's the same thing and generally considered 37wks to 40wks with 40+ weeks considered "post-term". If your labor starts at 37 weeks it's still considered a full term pregnancy, if it's considered full term afterward I'm not sure why one wouldn't be considered full term at 37+ wks while still pregnant. Made sense to me and that doesn't mean I agree with forcing labor it just means I think from 37 wks on you are at the gestational age considered full term.

Quoting 3 little monsters:" Well I've heard of it coming in early but I've never heard of milk supply being an issue because of ... [snip!] ... as an issue in the OP's personal reasons. So I was wondering if she or anyone else had any legit info on that connection. "

I agree lol..I had both of my kids at 39 weeks, with my first I had bugger all milk, but with my second I had quite a bit..so...lol.

My OB said the same thing that 37-40 weeks is full term. However the pediatrician in the hospital we had to take DS to a few days after we brought him home got angry and said 37 weeks is NOT term and no one should say it is. He said it may be just a week until full term but that weeks is very important.

I guess it depends on who you talk to. In my son's case, those 3 weeks made a big difference.

Quoting 3 little monsters:" Isn't milk supply something that is triggered by hormonal releases during labor? I thought I read that somewhere. "

It's triggered by the placenta detaching. Colostrum may come in early, but milk doesn't come in until after baby.