Korean Job Discussion Forums

[noelinkorea]

Was wondering why Korean women are pregnant for 10 months? An reasons...it might explain why the opt for the C-section so often, given the overly-expanded baby head-sizes from the extra-long gestation...

[jazblanc77]

Oh no, you said the "W" word for women. Watch out!

Koreans consider the entire span of how many months the pregnancy lasts. this means that even if conception happened on the last day of a given month, that month is counted as one whole since the time span included it. I don't really get it either but I know this becuase I have had several arguments with my wife over it!

[PatrickSiheung]

haha yeah, like they're already a year old once they're born.

riiiiiight.

And you should have that "w" word edited or this post will be locked

[jazblanc77]

I think we are the only crusaders on a lost cause!

[jazblanc77]

The birthday thing is because they count the entire term from conception as part of a baby's life. However, I'm a little confused about the 100 day birthday as 100 days is roughly 3 months and added to 9 months of pregnancy, that would actually be the right time to give a baby it's first birthday (in terms of completing a full year), at least according to the Korean birthday mentality.

Doesn't this seem logical to you? Hmm, I'm going to ask my wife about that as soon as she gets home from work.

I'll update you if I get an interesting answer.

[snufalufagus]

[Zed]

[Grotto]

An average human pregnancy lasts for about 280 days or 40 weeks from the date of the last menstrual period (LMP). Traditionally, it has been calculated as 10 lunar months, or in terms of the modern calendar - 9 months and 7 days.

Fertilisation of the egg by the sperms, however, occurs (considering an average menstrual cycle of 28 days) 14 days after the last periods. Thus, the actual duration of a human pregnancy (gestation period) is 280 - 14 = 266 days.


nuff said

[jazblanc77]

I did not know that!

[dg611]

My wife an I have also had the discussion of the 9/10month issue. The basic difference is in when we begin counting. Most westerners begin counting from the date of conception...which usually works out to about 9-9.5 months. Koreans count from the beginning of the gestation period which is after menses (like the poster said 40 weeks, give or take). I therefore save myself further argument by assuming that half of the baby's DNA is sitting there(putting on her makeup or something) and is not quite ready until approximately the 2 week point when the sperm can come backstroking up the canal (or down depending on your position ) to fertilize the egg.

SO actually, we are only about 2 weeks apart in our counting and the arguement is just not worth sleeping on the couch!

cheers.

[dg611]

grotto got it up there faster than me:)

[snufalufagus]

The math is accurate, unfortunately not for the currently accepted gestational period. In the last 250 years gestation has increased by nearly 2 weeks and all the calculations floating on the internet via a search engine are not really used in real medical practice - thus, where you used the word "traditionally" is accurate - as it's not really correct these days. There are very good research studies showing the ever increasing period of pregnancy and the theories behind it.

Also, fertilization is the responsibility of ONE sperm and not spermS

For the most part the numbers are accurate

And statistically there is no difference in Asian developed countries versus North American gestational periods. And Korea's rate of Cessarian delivery is only 1-3 % higher than North American and yet Korean baby birth weight is 13 % LOWER, and cranial diameter/circumference 6 % lower ... the numbers compared, are of course, the average of each factor.

[dg611]

Don't get me started on the C-section rate in Korea. If it is even correctly documented (which I doubt) the numbers are ridiculous. Even a 1 percent increase is potentially thousands of women who are being taken advantage of by their doctors and hospitals. They are convinced too often that C-section is necessary when in fact it is not. (snuff, you stats seem to support that c-section is not necessary) Of course the women can't know for sure and they really have little or no say in the matter when it comes down to it and they are being wheeled on their back screaming into the surgery room.

Bottom line, it is an issue of money...a C-section costs more and the hospital makes more whenever one is performed. In Korean medical practice, the patient rarely questions the knowledge or choices of the doctors and even if they do question the wisdom of a C-section, there is very little possibility for the establisment to grant a malpractice suit because of it. There are just too many reasons a doctor can say a c-section is warranted when it is not. And in the end, the whole medical establishment in Korea is suspect for allowing such nonsense.

[snufalufagus]

Rates of Cessarian delivery is the hottest topic of discussion in Obstetrics to this day, world-wide. Yes, it is generally considered to be overused, especially in cases of deliveries after a Cessarian was previously used. I can assure you, most Physicians (in the US) do not do them as a matter of money-making, rather as a severe level of caution; and many because of the fear of malpractice claims. In addition, the risks/sequelae should things go bad are much more severe, damaging, life threatening, and life altering in vaginal deliveries versus Cessarian.

Overall they seem to be used too often, it's hotly debated, however, the reason no definitive answer has been forthcoming is that each case is on an individual patient, and yes Doctor, basis ... statistics are of zero value in the individual patient clinical situation.