For the life of me I can't remember where I read this but I do remember it as a reputable source. Apparently the whole 40 wks gestation idea was the brainwave of some guy a couple of hundred years ago who was basing it on the menstrual and lunar cycles. Studies have shown that without artificial induction the average gestation for a first time mom is 40 wks plus 8 days and for a multip it's 40 wks plus 3 days. interesting eh? Corrine Mahar-Sylvestre Quinte Doula Service Postpartum Support Program of Quinte [log in to unmask] "Perhaps we share stories in much the same spirit that explorers share maps, hoping to speed each others journey, but knowing the journey we make will be our own" Gloria Steinem on motherhood *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html