Only very few babies are born at the expected time of birth
Gender-specific assignments shape everyday life from childhood onwards – regardless of whether they are clichés about certain behaviors or findings from gender research. But could it be that many boys have a different rhythm the day they are born ?
Although most expectant parents today consider themselves enlightened and medically well-informed, interest in pregnancy myths is still great. It seems too fascinating for many to question the truth of such theses. This is evidenced by lively discussions in relevant forums and social networks.
Baby myths still captivate many people
There is a need to discuss, among other things, the question of whether girls tend to be born after their due date, while boys tend to be born earlier. The explanation for the frequent lateness of the “fairer sex” is provided by the old wives’ tale: girls often take their time before giving birth because they first have to make themselves pretty.
“As nice as this baby myth sounds, in my opinion there is nothing to it,” comments Max in a chat. “We experienced the exact opposite. Our son was a week late, our younger daughter even two days before the due date. Don’t make it look pretty!”
Is it all just a coincidence?
“In our case, it was actually the case that my older daughter only hatched a week later than expected. However, my second daughter arrived on time. In this respect, this supposed rule only applies to us 50 percent of the time. It all probably depends on chance.” says another mother.
And Laura writes: “I don’t think the birth date for babies has anything to do with gender. My two children – a son and a daughter – were both over a week late, so labor had to be induced every time. The The date of delivery was therefore more likely to be influenced by decisions made by the obstetrician.”
“Gender relations” examined
There are no scientific studies on this pregnancy myth in this country. However, general figures for the time of birth that refer to all newborns are certain – without any gender-specific differentiation. Overall, only around four percent of all babies are born exactly at the expected time and around 27 percent of children are born in the week around the due date.
Study: Guys like things a little more punctual
However, almost two years ago, American demographers and geneticists from Cambridge near Boston presented a study in which they measured and analyzed gender ratios in several phases from conception to birth.
One finding of this complex research was that male babies are actually born a little earlier on average than girls. This was reported by the German Pharmacist Newspaper.
According to this, the proportion of male fetuses in pregnant women in the USA is around 51 percent up to the 36th week of pregnancy and then drops to around 49 percent up to the 39th week because many boys have already been born by then. The study excerpts do not reveal what the detailed statistics for the girls turned out to be and what causes lie behind the slight differences in timing.
Experts don’t believe the old wives’ tale
The specialist in gynecology and obstetrics Dr. Based on her many years of experience with expectant mothers, Isolde Voltz does not want to confirm the truth of this myth. Although it does not keep statistics on this, one cannot say that there are differences in punctuality between male and female babies based on birth dates, which are set in relation to the calculated delivery date.
“When a delivery finally starts and how long it takes depends on numerous factors – be it the physical condition of the mother or certain medical indicators affecting the fetus. There are so many unknowns in this complex equation, that when looking at the timing and circumstances of a birth, you shouldn’t just look at one aspect.”