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Childbirth

can stress make a baby overdue??

6 replies

K8M · 05/12/2006 10:48

Sorry if this is a stupid question... let me explain.

My baby was due on 29th November, but on 23rd November my father-in-law died very suddenly from heart failure. He hadn't been ill and we had no warning that anything was wrong. It's been a nightmare, as you can imagine, and we're all completely devestated.

It's left me feeling all confused - you know, excited that I'm having my first baby but so so sad that Ian has gone. And my DH is trying to be strong for me but I'm so worried about him...

Is it possible that all the stress (and there has been lots of it) could have caused the baby to be overdue??

OP posts:

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saggarmakersbottomknocker · 05/12/2006 10:51

I'm not sure it does but I know when I was having my first that dh was away around the time it was due and I was in a panic about him missing the birth. The same day he came back I went into labour - 12 days overdue. As though I somehow relaxed and let it happen.

Sorry to hear about your FIL

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twickersmum · 05/12/2006 10:52

feel for you.
but you're only a week overdue with your first baby.
this is very very common (more normal than not i think)
don't know if stress can cause it to be overdue, i would have imagined it would have made it come earlier tbh.
good luck though, your little one will be here soon and bring some happiness into your family at this difficult time.

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KristinaM · 05/12/2006 10:53

I don't know. My last two babies have been 17 and 19 days late. I had a lot of stress in both pregnancies but not in the last month IYSWIM. I believe that it runs in families

Sorry about your FIL

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lulumama · 05/12/2006 12:19

sorry to hear of your loss

all sorts of reasons cause babies to be overdue..not least the 40 weeks is an estimated due date...38 - 42 weeks is normal..

might be your body knows you are stressed and anxious and waiting to start labour until you are a wee bit stronger....

it will be a time of mixed emotions as you say..with the joy of the baby and the sadness of your dh losing his dad......

give yourselves time to grieve, but don;t feel bad for the excitement of the birth...will give you all a positive focus...xx

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sleepfinder · 05/12/2006 14:53

I have heard about extreme stress causing babies to be born early, which makes sense if you think about the adrenaline involved - but not late.

I wouldn't worry that the two events are connected, as someone has already said, 40/41 wks is ok.

Good luck with the birth / delivery!

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K8M · 06/12/2006 17:31

Thanks so much for all your replies - we were checked out at the hospital today and apparently all is well which is a weight off my mind.

All we need to do now is wait for Baby M to make an appearance... Failing that we're being induced on Sunday, so by this time next week I'll be a mum!

And at least there'll be something good happening for my in-laws...