Can you go to 42 weeks pregnant?

Most pregnancies last 37 to 42 weeks, but some take longer. If your pregnancy lasts more than 42 weeks, it is called post-term (past due). This happens in a small number of pregnancies. While there are some risks in a post-term pregnancy, most post-term babies are born healthy.

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How common is it to go 42 weeks pregnant?

Between five per cent and 10 per cent of women have a pregnancy that naturally lasts this long . However, many maternity units have a policy of inducing labour before 42 weeks, so only about two per cent of babies are born after 42 weeks .

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What happens if you reach 42 weeks pregnant?

When a pregnancy reaches 42 weeks and beyond, it's postterm. Late-term and postterm pregnancy can raise the risk of some health problems, including: Larger than average birth size (fetal macrosomia). This increases the chance that you may need forceps, a vacuum device or another instrument to assist with the birth.

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Will doctors let you go to 42 weeks?

The dangers of going past your due date

Most doctors and midwives are happy for you to go a few days over your due date as long as everything seems to be okay. Many will let pregnant women go up to two weeks over. After 42 weeks, however, the baby's health might be at risk.

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Is it normal for a baby to be born at 42 weeks?

Very few babies are born at 42 weeks or later. Because of the risks listed below, obstetric providers will induce delivery before 42 weeks. Other terms often used to describe these late births include post-term, postmaturity, prolonged pregnancy, and post-dates pregnancy.

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You're 42 Weeks Pregnant: What You Need to Know

27 related questions found

How far overdue can you go?

Key facts. Your pregnancy is considered overdue once you reach 42 weeks. The risk of stillbirth gets higher the longer you go overdue. Induction of labour is recommended after you reach 41 weeks, but it's your choice.

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What is the longest human pregnancy?

The longest recorded human pregnancy was 375 days, or just over 12 and a half months, according to Guinness World Records. During this pregnancy, a woman named Beulah Hunter gave birth to a healthy baby girl in 1945.

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Why don t doctors let you go past 41 weeks pregnant?

When you reach between 41 and 42 weeks, the health risks to you and your baby become even greater. Your provider will likely want to induce labor. In older women, especially older than 40, it may be recommended to induce labor as early as 39 weeks.

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What does delaying delivery to 42 weeks increase risk of?

Stillbirth and newborn death. Placenta problems. Decreased amniotic fluid. The baby may stop gaining weight, or may even lose weight.

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Can sitting too much delay labor?

Spending most of your time in bed, especially lying on your back, or sitting up at a small angle, interferes with labor progress: Gravity works against you, and the baby might be more likely to settle into a posterior position. Pain might increase, especially back pain.

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Why do babies go overdue?

The reason why the baby is overdue is usually not known. Sometimes it is because of a genetic predisposition (hereditary). Women who have already had a baby that came much later than their due date are more likely to have an overdue baby in future pregnancies. Being born after the 40th week only rarely harms the child.

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Why shouldn't you go past 42 weeks pregnant?

You at 42 weeks

There's a higher risk of stillbirth if you go over 42 weeks pregnant, although most babies remain healthy. At the moment, there's no way to reliably predict which babies are at increased risk of stillbirth, so induction is offered if you do not go into labour by 42 weeks.

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Can you be pregnant for 43 weeks?

Most pregnancies last 37 to 42 weeks, but some take longer. If your pregnancy lasts more than 42 weeks, it is called post-term (past due). This happens in a small number of pregnancies. While there are some risks in a post-term pregnancy, most post-term babies are born healthy.

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Can you refuse to be induced at 42 weeks?

It's your choice whether to have your labour induced or not. If your pregnancy lasts longer than 42 weeks and you decide not to have your labour induced, you should be offered increased monitoring to check your baby's wellbeing.

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Should I be induced at 41 weeks or wait?

Your provider may recommend inducing labor if: Your pregnancy lasts longer than 41 to 42 weeks. After 42 weeks, the placenta may not work as well as it did earlier in pregnancy. The placenta grows in your uterus (womb) and supplies your baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord.

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Is it better to induce labor at 41 weeks or 42 weeks?

In this trial, induction of labour at 41 weeks resulted in less overall adverse perinatal outcome than a policy of expectant management until 42 weeks, although the absolute risk of severe adverse outcome (perinatal mortality, NICU admission, Apgar score <4 at five minutes) was low in both groups.

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Can I say no to induction at 41 weeks?

If someone is over 37 weeks pregnant and their waters break with no signs of labour, they may be offered the choice of an induction or 24 hours to wait and see if labour starts . It always remains the woman's decision to accept or decline an induction.

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What are the risks of going past 41 weeks?

Other risks include an increased chance of an assisted vaginal delivery or cesarean delivery. There also is a higher chance of infection and postpartum hemorrhage when your pregnancy goes past your due date.

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What is the shortest pregnancy ever?

James Elgin Gill was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on May 20, 1987, around 128 days early or 21 weeks gestation. He set a record when he was born for the world's most premature baby.

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Do first babies arrive late?

First babies are less likely to be “on time” at 39 weeks, and more likely to be a little late, between 41 and 43 weeks. Among full-term pregnancies, first babies are born about 1.3 days later on average.

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How do you get a baby out when overdue?

Tips for inducing labour naturally when you're overdue

Walking, squatting, climbing stairs (sideways!) and prenatal yoga are all great ways of helping to widen the pelvic brim.

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How can I make my cervix open faster?

Getting up and moving around may help speed dilation by increasing blood flow. Walking around the room, doing simple movements in bed or chair, or even changing positions may encourage dilation. This is because the weight of the baby applies pressure to the cervix.

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How can I soften my cervix at home?

Natural ripening methods include:
  1. Acupuncture.
  2. Breast stimulation.
  3. Castor oil.
  4. Enemas (injection of water or liquid into the rectum to clear the colon).
  5. Herbal supplements.
  6. Hot baths.
  7. Sexual intercourse.
  8. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

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What happens if you go past 43 weeks pregnant?

Pregnancy may linger into the 43rd week from time to time. Some babies are vigorous and healthy through a 43-week pregnancy. The rate of stillbirth begins to rise somewhat, and the rate that babies pass meconium is higher; however, most babies will be born healthy.

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