Many pregnant women scrutinize the lunar calendar to estimate their delivery. So we asked ourselves, ldoes the star influence the birth of a baby ? That's what we're going to try to decipher today! Myth or reality ? What does science have to say on the subject?
What influence does the moon have on getting pregnant?
For centuries, the moon's cycle has been perceived as a star linked to women and to all sorts of beliefs about fertility, periods, birth, sleep, character...In mythology and culture, many fertility deities are linked to the earth's satellite (Chandra in Indian mythology, Artemis in Greek mythology, Ixchel the Mayan goddess of water,...).
According to several scientific studies, it has no influence on getting pregnant. In fact, it has no impact on conception, the quality of ovulation, sperm encounters or the chances of implantation. And yes, it has no magical powers :)
Why does this belief persist? Let's not forget that women have average cycles of 28 days, whereas the lunar cycle is 29.5 days! Some menstruating women are therefore aligned with the satellite ! This means they may ovulate at the same time as a full moon.
What's more, the night star is an instrument for measuring temporality. In ancient times, and still for some of our grandmothers, the full moon and its cycle were a way of identifying one's ovulatory period and anticipating the arrival of periods. Today, the cycle is well known and there are calendars and applications to help you know your chances of conceiving.
How can I calculate my due date using the moon?
As we have just seen, there is no direct link between conception and pregnancy. It's very important to monitor your pregnancy and determine your due date with a professional : a gynecologist, midwife or doctor trained in gynecology. Depending on the date of conception and a check-up ultrasound, you'll have a clear idea of when labor will begin !
You can have fun calculating your DPA thanks to . The average pregnancy lasts 280 days, 41 weeks and 9 months after the last periods, which corresponds to 10 lunar months.
To calculate your due date with the satellite, you'll need to know the 4 key moments and the length of the cycle , and wait for it to recur 10 times : the new moon, the first quarter, the full moon and the last quarter.
- A lunar cycle is renewed each time the Earth, Moon and Sun are aligned;
- It takes 27.3 days to circle the earth and return to the sun's axis;
- It takes 29 and a half days for the three stars to align.
Can the moon help us predict our due date?
As the moon's cycle is repetitive, it can be used as a calendar. It is therefore possible to synchronize your pregnancy calendar with the star , and obtain the closest moment to delivery, more or less precise but based on conception.
It is believed that 3 days before and 3 days after a full moon are added to estimate the arrival of a baby. So, if your baby's due date is January 9, your baby could arrive between January 4 and 10 if a full moon is predicted for January 7.
For those of you who want to do the exercise, here are the full moon dates for the year 2023!
- Saturday, January 7, 2023
- Sunday, February 5, 2023
- Tuesday, March 7, 2023:
- Thursday, April 6, 2023
- Friday, May 5, 2023
- Sunday, June 4, 2023
- Monday, July 3, 2023
- Tuesday, August 1, 2023
- Thursday, August 31, 2023
- Friday, September 29, 2023
- Saturday, October 28, 2023
- Monday, November 27, 2023
- Wednesday, December 27, 2023
How does the moon affect childbirth?
Over the years, beliefs change, but the myth of the influence on childbirth remains almost intact. Let's take a look at what the science shows:
- In 2005, a serious study carried out by the Mountain Area Health Education Center in North Carolina (USA) on nearly 600,000 births observed over 5 years, i.e. 62 lunar cycles,established that there is no link between full moon and births. The researchers observed no more births lon full moon nights than during other lunar phases.
- In the 2000s, a Belgian midwife explained in her dissertation that she had studied over 3,000 births in 4 different hospitals. Her findings show that the same number of babies are born on full-moon days.
The frequency of births and complications of childbirth (vaginal delivery, Caesarean section, etc.) are not affected . If you have any doubts or fears, don't hesitate to talk to your healthcare professional!
Childbirth and lunar attraction
The moon's attraction to the body supports the myth that maternity wards are full on moonlit nights. Marion, founder of the Elia brand, has given birth twice on these special evenings. Coincidence? For some years now, science has been demonstrating that the celestial star has no effect on childbirth!
So why maintain this belief? The myth is that the lunar attraction and the gravitational force that affects the earth's tides, seas and oceans have the same impact on the body. This period would therefore influence the amniotic fluid, and water loss would occur more frequently when the star, earth and sun are aligned.
Following this logic, the increase in births would take place in
- Declining phase
- Between the new and waning moon
- Full moon evenings - More premature deliveries if the term is far off
Please note that we recommend that you always monitor your pregnancy with a licensed healthcare professional who is able to give you reliable information on the progress of your pregnancy and your baby's development!
The FAQ of the moon and childbirth
What's the moon that makes you give birth?
In mythology and in many cultures, the full moon is said to influence the number of births to the detriment of other periods: the new moon, the first quarter and the last quarter... However, scientific research shows that this is not the case.
Does the full moon influence childbirth?
It has been proven by several researchers, studies and health professionals that the full moon has no influence on childbirth or its complications.
How many moons to give birth?
The lunar cycle is divided into 4 repeating phases. It takes about 10 lunar periods after the start of the last periods for a pregnancy to reach term and for childbirth to occur.
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