Pregnancy is considered to be “full-term” at 40 weeks (or 280 days). A pregnancy that continues for longer than 42 weeks is called a
The dangers of going past your due date
Many will let pregnant women go up to two weeks over. After 42 weeks, however, the baby's health might be at risk. A very small number of babies die unexpectedly if they are still in the womb beyond 42 weeks of pregnancy.
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.
At 41 weeks pregnant, it is considered a late-term pregnancy but is still within the normal range. Even though doctors estimate your due date to be at 40 weeks, it's just that — an estimate. As frustrating as it can be to continue to have to wait to welcome your new baby into the world, it's completely normal.
If your pregnancy goes overdue, there is a risk that the placenta won't function well enough to supply your baby with oxygen and nutrients. The risk of stillbirth or neonatal death gets higher the longer you go overdue.
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.
When pregnancies last for 40 weeks or longer, there is an increase in the risk of stillbirth and neonatal death.
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.
Your baby won't necessarily drop before labor begins — whether it's your first pregnancy or a subsequent one. If yours doesn't, don't worry. When or whether baby drops and you experience lightening will have no impact on your labor.
If you are 40 weeks pregnant, no sign of labor and considered overdue by a physician, then it may be necessary to have your labor induced. There are several factors that contribute to this, including the status of your cervix, the health of your baby, fetal stress testing, and if you are truly ready to deliver.
You at 40 weeks
Pregnancy normally lasts about 40 weeks – that's around 280 days from the first day of your last period. Labour usually starts a week either side of this date, but you might go overdue. Your doctor may suggest inducing labour – it's your choice whether to have this or not.
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.
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.
Researchers found that babies born at late term—41 weeks' gestation—are slightly more likely to be classified as gifted and have higher standardized test scores than babies born at full term, or at 40 weeks' gestation.
The most common symptom of stillbirth is when you stop feeling your baby moving and kicking. Others include cramps, pain or bleeding from the vagina. Call your health care provider right away or go to the emergency room if you have any of these conditions.
Stillbirth in Australia
In Australia, 6 babies are stillborn each day, affecting more than 2,000 Australian families each year.
At or after 40 weeks, the risk of stillbirth increases, especially for women 35 or older. Their risk, research shows, is doubled from 39 weeks to 40 and is more than six times as high at 42 weeks.
Most babies (91%) in Australia are born at term (37–41 weeks). This is similar across the states and territories and has been stable over time.
Inaccurate dating based on the last menstrual period is the most common cause of postterm pregnancy. In accurately dated pregnancies, the cause of postterm pregnancy is usually unknown. There are some factors that place an individual at increased risk.
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.
The truth is your baby's sex has very little to do with the length of pregnancy.
While you might feel like you're going a little crazy with anxiety, remember: 98 percent of babies emerge by the end of week 42 (if your pregnancy dating is accurate!).
While the risk of stillbirth is increased in pregnancies that go beyond 42 weeks, it is still relatively small, at 4 to 7 deaths per 1000 deliveries, as opposed to 2 to 3 deaths per 1000 deliveries in women who deliver between 37 and 42 weeks.
According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Social Security Administration (SSA), the rarest month to be born in is February, making Aquarius the rarest zodiac sign. This makes logical sense, since February is the shortest month of the year, even with a leap year.