Moon Phase Chart « Back to Group Discussions

[camprunner]

My history says I'm more likely to give birth near a new moon.

http://www.calendar-365.com/moon/moon-phases.html

[Oliver's Mama]

how does that work; are you just looking for a pattern of what the moon was when previous children were born? I've never heard of a moon phase correlation.  interesting.

I do recall gazing at a full moon while in the labor tub with ds2, and found it so peaceful and captivating.. and now as a toddler ds2 is just totally obsessed with the moon and always looking for it.

[TIFF4NY]

FWIW, my SIL is a labor and delivery R/N and she says it's always CRAZY busy during the full moons. 

According to that chart, the next full moon will be mid 37 weeks for me so I'll be a-ok if I go then. ;)

[brooklyn_warbler]

Originally Posted by TIFF4NY 

FWIW, my SIL is a labor and delivery R/N and she says it's always CRAZY busy during the full moons. 

According to that chart, the next full moon will be mid 37 weeks for me so I'll be a-ok if I go then. ;)

Yes!  Research has "shown" that this is a myth, but almost everyone I know who works in L&D have anecdotal experience that suggests a correlation. 

My kids were born 1 day after a new moon and 2 days after a full moon, respectively, so I definitely scoped out the new and full moons near my EDD a while back, just out of curiosity.  My EDD is 4/5; the closest full moon is 3/27 (so I'd be 10 days early -- which is how early I was with my daughter) and the closest new moon is 4/10 (so 5 days late).

[bambihelton]

I don't have much experience with people delivering on full moons, just because I haven't been around THAT many pregnant people. BUT my mom and step father live on a farm and my sister and I have shown horses for years. We do breed horses some and any time a mama gets really big, I always ask "when do you think she'll have that foal?" The answer is ALWAYS "when's the next full moon?" And there have been LOTS of times that he's been right! 

I've always heard that it has something to do with a shift in gravitational pull, but I could be wrong. 

[IronMam]

Originally Posted by brooklyn_warbler 

Yes!  Research has "shown" that this is a myth, but almost everyone I know who works in L&D have anecdotal experience that suggests a correlation. 

Confirmation bias is a powerful thing.

ETA: and I mean the confirmation bias of the people working in L&D, not you! I know a doula who also makes a comment anytime it's busy around a full moon...but in fact, she's always crazy busy (because she rocks and I don't know how she does it all).

[Kara9080]

I've always heard the full moon theory too.

I was curious about the moon phases for my first 2 births and found them here: http://www.dacre.net/moon/moonframe.html

According to that, I'm not a full moon birther. 

[1babysmom]

My FIL (ER doc/FP for 50+ years) says the absolutely hospitals fill up with laboring mamas and all sorts of other interesting things on full moons and snowstorms. Something about the barometric pressure???

[Greenlea]

My DH worked in the medical field for a while, and it wasn't just babies who came on full moons - all the crazy stuff and calls he made were on full moons. 

For this baby the full moon would be 4/25 and baby would be 2 days early. And actually the tech at my U/S said baby was measuring for a 4/25 due date. So maybe that will happen!!

DS2 was born on a new moon, but nothing "moon like" with DS1.

[omphaloskepsis]

This kind of thing is so interesting! I was showing my oldest (almost 4) the calendar the other day, pointing out the baby's due date and whatnot, and I asked him when he thought the baby might come. Without hesitation he pointed directly at the 25th and said "she's coming on Thursday!". I saw that it was the full moon and thought...wow...that's probably a pretty good guess, lol. I had my last baby the night before the full moon and I labored outside for a long while...it was soooo beautiful and peaceful, I just loved being under that moon!

[camprunner]

Originally Posted by brooklyn_warbler 

Yes!  Research has "shown" that this is a myth, but almost everyone I know who works in L&D have anecdotal experience that suggests a correlation. 

My kids were born 1 day after a new moon and 2 days after a full moon, respectively, so I definitely scoped out the new and full moons near my EDD a while back, just out of curiosity.  My EDD is 4/5; the closest full moon is 3/27 (so I'd be 10 days early -- which is how early I was with my daughter) and the closest new moon is 4/10 (so 5 days late).

Me too. Same EDD and everything BUT my midwife will be out of town at that time so I'm hoping that I won't go then!

[Cali2SC]

Hmmm, DD was the day after a new moon.  I remember wishful thinking that she would be born under the full moon because it was two weeks earlier, but no such luck.  Really I think I was just getting close to risking out of a mw birth as I approached 42 weeks and we were trying to get things going.  There is a full or new moon every 2 weeks so I guess it is pretty likely that one would give birth near a new or full moon.  

There is a full moon just 3 days before my EDD this time.  We shall see.  (Fun even if it isn't true.  I would love to do an informal survey after we all have our babies and see if there was a pattern in our Due Date Club.)

[Cali2SC]

Oh and for what it is worth, my sis was an EMT and a Emergency Room nurse and claimed that it was always crazy around full moons.  Not just busy, but crazy cases, most of which I can not repeat without heavy censoring.  

[TIFF4NY]

We're 6 days away from the next Full Moon. I'd be totally okay with this little one coming around then. At least I think I would be. LOL. I turn 37 weeks tomorrow.

[Greenlea]

Well full moon is tomorrow which is still too early for me. Perhaps the next one 4/25 will be the one!

[BeanBean06]

I'm hoping tomorrow is ôur day!!! But I'm not holding my breath lol ill be 39 + 2

[omphaloskepsis]

BeanBean, if you make it to 40 weeks I think we should throw a virtual party! Your little munchkin sure is determined to have it her way! ;D

[TIFF4NY]

Originally Posted by omphaloskepsis 

BeanBean, if you make it to 40 weeks I think we should throw a virtual party! Your little munchkin sure is determined to have it her way! ;D

[JennJenn84]

Originally Posted by omphaloskepsis 

BeanBean, if you make it to 40 weeks I think we should throw a virtual party! Your little munchkin sure is determined to have it her way! ;D

What she said!

I guess that means it's tonight, and if I went tonight, even meaning I would have an emergency csection, I would so be ok with that! I am 38w 4d.

[camprunner]

38 weeks and 5 days. If I go tonight, I won't be happy!  We must wait until April!