The March of Dimes' campaign, Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait, aims to raise awareness about the importance of having a full-term birth and allowing for natural labor, if possible. If you’re thinking about scheduling your baby’s birth for non-medical reasons, Health Net Federal Services, LLC (HNFS) wants you to know the facts.
Premature births (fewer than 37 weeks gestation) rose nearly 30 percent in the U.S. between 1981 and 2006.1 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than a half million babies in the U.S.—that's one in every eight—are born premature each year, which is the leading cause of death among newborn babies. These babies are also at risk for serious health problems, including underdeveloped organs, breathing and respiratory problems, feeding and digestive problems, vision or hearing loss, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities.2
Full-term: How many weeks?
Between 37 weeks and 41 weeks is considered full term, however, a recent study found babies born between 37 and 39 weeks of gestation have a higher infant mortality rate than those born between 39 and 41 weeks.3 By waiting until at least 39 weeks to have your baby, you can give your baby the time he or she needs to grow.
Sometimes you may not have a choice about when to have your baby. If there are problems with your pregnancy or your baby's health, you may need to have your baby early.
Questions to Ask Your Physician
Early deliveries scheduled for non-medical reasons can cause problems for both mom and baby. If your provider recommends you have your baby before 39 weeks, don’t be afraid to ask questions.
For example:
- Is there a problem with my health or my baby’s health that may make me need to have my baby early?
- Can I wait to have my baby until I’m closer to 39 weeks?
Ultimately, this decision is between you and your doctor. Being informed gives you the best chance to make healthy decisions for your baby.
Additional Information
Visit TRICARE's Maternity Care page to learn more about coverage, which includes prenatal care from the first obstetric visit, labor and delivery, postpartum care for up to six weeks after the birth of the child and, treatment of complications.
1 Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, et al. Births: Final data for 2006. National vital statistics reports; vol. 57, no 7. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2008
2 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preterm Birth. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/PretermBirth.htm
3 Melissa G. Rosenstein, MD, Yvonne W. Cheng, MD, PhD, Jonathan M. Snowden, PhD, James M. Nicholson, MD, MSCE, and Aaron B. Caughey, MD, PhD. Risk of Stillbirth and Infant Death Stratified by Gestational Age Obstet Gynecol. 2012 July; 120(1): 76–82. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31825bd286
