On Due Dates

Have you ever pondered how a flower like this beautiful peony knows exactly when to germinate, bud, bloom and surrender it’s petals to the earth?

Like babies in utero, seeds inherently know exactly what to do; they hold an innate intellegence, a timing connected to the both their environment and the wisdom of the universe. The same birthing energy exists within all of nature and in birth. It signals to our bodies and our babies when the time is right for birth.

With this in mind, the concept of assigning a specific “due date” seems to undermine the natural rhythm and wisdom of our unique bodies and births.

While a due date might be a helpful reference point, they can also create unnecessary stress and pressure. The concept of estimating due dates was first proposed by Franz Karl Naegele, an early 19th century German Obstetrician. Naegele's Rule, as it came to be known, calculates the estimated due date by adding 40 weeks to the first day of the mother’s last period. Given there are so many variables to consider for each individual mother and baby (and ultrasound measurements can be wildly inaccurate), it’s no surprise that only around 5% of babies are born on their due date.

So, if you find yourself faced with medical professionals pressuring you to accept induction of labour because you're "overdue", it can be helpful and comforting to remember the above, to shift the focus away from the pressure to conform to strict timelines and instead connect with and trust in the natural rhythms of pregnancy and birth and the beautiful wisdom of your body and your baby.