full moon

I don't have a whole lot to report today, at least not what I know you came here to find out. I have had what feel like mild menstrual cramps on and off since early this morning, but other than that not much has changed. I wouldn't want you thinking no news is good news (or bad news, god forbid). Nope, no news is just...no news.

Of course, tonight is a full moon, but any effect that the phases of the moon might have on the onset of labor are probably coincidental. The only legitimate thing I could find about it, via another pregnancy blog, was this study, which basically concludes that there's no difference in the number of births during the various phases of the moon. I have heard from people who work in hospitals that L&D (labor & delivery) does tend to be busier and well-staffed for that reason, but again, a lot of women are essentially in false labor, convinced it's the real thing because they know it's a full moon. Other than that, I've read on a few midwifery-type sites that there is some evidence to suggest that perhaps the moon affects the amniotic sac in the same way it affects the tide, and that women whose water breaks before they go into active labor (which doesn't happen nearly as often as movies would lead you to believe - only in about 15% of pregnancies does the water break first) are more likely to do so during the full moon. So who knows. Makes for good conversation, I guess, but I'm not putting my money on it.