[StellaNuova]

<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Awkward way to phrase this I know but didn't know quite how to put it....I am expecting my first girl and wondering if I am in for a longer pregnancy this time - I think I heard somewhere that girls take longer? My mom is coming from out of town to help with childcare towards the end and I want to plan the timing of the visit so she can stay a bit after the baby too. She can probably stay about a month. My others are boys, with my first my water broke at 35 weeks much to my surprise, and he was born (healthy & fine) the day he turned 36 weeks. My second was 40 weeks and one day. I am now expecting a girl -- one other variable -- she has a different father. Here's yet another variable, I am in my 40's...Anyone have any thoughts or experiences they can share?</p>
<p><br>
Thanks,</p>
<p>Stella</p>

 

[momzilla]

As a doula for five years...all those variables in my experience do not effect pregnancy length. Through experience, I think you will more likely give birth around the same time as with your second.

 

[mylilmonkeys]

<p>Here's my history, shorthand:</p>
<p>#1 B - 40w convenience induction (but arrived for my induction with bloody show)</p>
<p>#2 G - 42w+1d</p>
<p>#3 B - 42w+1d</p>
<p>#4 B - 42w+1d</p>
<p>#5 B - 40w+3d</p>
<p>#6 G - 41w</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, I dunno?  Both my girls cooked longer than their most immediate previous brothers.</p>
<p>I don't believe these twins will come early, either.  Not with my history.</p>

 

[philomom]

<p>No, not for me. In my small sample, My boy cooked two weeks longer than my girl.</p>

 

[kawa kamuri]

<p>Not for me. Seems the length of stay is based more on my body (41+w) than the babies and certainly their genitals have nothing to do with how long I gestate. </p>

 

[ibusymomto5]

I tend to carry all mine about the same time which is usually 41wks, but one of my boys was born 1 day shy of 40wks.

 

[KyrieNioMama]

<p>Mine were about the same. My daughter was born at 42 weeks and 1 day, and my son was 41 weeks and 6 days. I think I had more accurate dating with my son, too, so he was probably actually later than my daughter (she was estimated to be about 41 weeks after she was born). I had read that boys take longer, but don't know if that's really true.</p>

 

[pacificbliss]

<p>Not for me but it's a small sample size. My first, a boy, was born at 41w2d and my second, a girl, was born at 38w1d.</p>

 

[dayiscoming2006]

<p>DDCC</p>
<p>My OB with my first kid said that boys mature slower in the womb than girls and have a higher chance of lung problems with induction or slightly premature delivery. I've also heard this many other places. I've only had boys so far so I can't really give you any personal experience. I have no idea what I'm having this time. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/smile.gif"></p>

 

[Mama Metis]

<p>DDCC too! There is no difference in gestation length according to sex of the fetus. What you may have heard is what Dayiscoming2006 referred to - that girl babies seem to develop slightly more quickly. For example, survival rates for a boy baby born at 29 weeks are similar to surival rates for a girl baby born at 28 weeks. The other sex difference is that male babies weigh more on average.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>ETA: Okay, I have to stand corrected. I just found a study that said that found preterm birth is slightly more common in male babies. Not exactly what you asked, but it seems that there is a difference after all. <a href="http://www.earlyhumandevelopment.com/article/S0378-3782(03)00169-5/abstract" target="_blank">http://www.earlyhumandevelopment.com/article/S0378-3782(03)00169-5/abstract</a></p>

 

[BeanyMama]

<p>My first two are boys and came at 38 and 39 wks, my third little one is a girl and was born at 42w. So in my case, yes I was expecting her any day now for a month!</p>

 

[StellaNuova]

<p>Thanks everyone for weighing in on this!  Hope everyone is well and enjoying leftovers today! <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/smile.gif"></p>

 

[Nitenites]

<p>DS1 = 40w 2d</p>
<p>DS 2 = 38w 2d</p>
<p>DS 3 = 40w 4d</p>
<p>DD 1 = 41w 1d</p>
<p> </p>
<p>With the exception of DS2, it would appear that the more children I have, the longer I'm pregnant. Not really a gender thing, at least for me. </p>