If you’re approaching your due date, there’s a fair chance somebody will mention your placenta. Perhaps you’ve heard: “Your placenta starts to deteriorate after 40 weeks.” “Your placenta might stop working.” “Baby needs to be born before the placenta fails.” That sounds pretty alarming. After all, the placenta is your baby’s lifeline during pregnancy. If somebody tells you it could stop working, saying yes to an induction can suddenly feel less like a choice and more like the

Do you have a big circle around your “due date” in the calendar, eagerly waiting for your baby to arrive? Here’s the truth: only around 4–5% of babies are born on their exact due date. That’s why I often tell parents in my antenatal classes - treat your due date as a day to distract yourself. Plan a takeaway, a movie night, or something fun. Chances are, you’ll still be pregnant, and that’s completely normal. Why Are Due Dates So Hard to Pin Down? The estimated due date (EDD