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.
What if my Pregnancy Goes Past the Due Date? Until you reach 41 weeks, your provider may not do anything unless there are problems. If you reach 41 weeks (1 week overdue), your provider will do tests to check on the baby. These tests include a non-stress test and biophysical profile (ultrasound).
You are more likely to be overdue if you are obese, have never given birth before or if you're over the age of 30. Your midwife or doctor will check that both you and your baby are healthy by giving you ultrasound scans and checking your baby's movement and heartbeat.
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.
You should discuss this with both your doctor and midwife so that together an appropriate plan of care can be made. This plan will include increased antenatal assessments. If your pregnancy continues past 41 weeks and 3 days, your midwife will recommend you attend hospital for a biophysical profile.
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.
No Signs of Labor at Week 40
At 40 weeks, the risk of stillbirth is approximately 2 to 3 per 1,000 babies; at 42 weeks, it's 4 to 7 per 1,000. If labor hasn't started spontaneously, you'll probably be induced at 41 weeks—at the latest.
After studying the data of various moms and their birth dates, researchers found a connection between high stress events and women having longer-than-expected pregnancies. Pregnant women that were 33-36 weeks along on September 11, 2001 were found to have more post-term pregnancies than expected.
Overexertion
You may not want to slow down during the third trimester, but overtaxing your body could cause your uterus to start "false" contractions. "If you're doing too much, you could cause Braxton Hicks contractions," Dr. Putterman says.
In early labor, catecholamines (the stress hormones) have the potential to stop labor. When a woman is very frightened—of pain, of the hospital, of the unknown—labor fails to progress. Contractions can become very strong and difficult to handle or, more typically, they become weaker.
No Signs of Labor at Week 40
At 40 weeks, the risk of stillbirth is approximately 2 to 3 per 1,000 babies; at 42 weeks, it's 4 to 7 per 1,000. If labor hasn't started spontaneously, you'll probably be induced at 41 weeks—at the latest.
Babies born early (called premature babies) may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born on time. This is why it's important to wait until at least 39 weeks to induce labor. If your pregnancy is healthy, it's best to let labor begin on its own.
81% having their first baby went past the due date. 61% of second, third or later pregnancies went past the due date. Fetal surveillance begins to be recommended.
Experts believe labor starts on its own in large part because baby signals your body that she's ready to be born. It may feel like not much is happening during those last weeks before labor, but your body and your baby are both busy preparing for birth.
According to the results of the present study, walking during late pregnancy could be an effective, safe, and acceptable method to achieve cervical ripening and spontaneous onset of labor.
Very active baby before labor
Some women experience their baby moving a lot in the run-up to labor. One theory for this is the increase in Braxton Hicks contractions. As your body prepares for labor and birth, you might start to experience a greater frequency of Braxton Hicks contractions.
The baby will keep moving until the labor begins, and this movement will continue during the early labor. However, the movement pattern may change. Instead of kicking the womb, the baby may squirm or shuffle. The feeling of the baby's movement provides assurance that the baby is doing well.
According to Brichter, sitting on an exercise or birthing ball in neutral wide-legged positions prepares the body for labor by increasing blood flow, opening the pelvis, and encouraging cervical dilation. You can also try birth ball exercises such as circular hip rotations, rocking, and gentle bouncing.
Researchers now believe that when a baby is ready for life outside his mother's uterus, his body releases a tiny amount of a substance that signals the mother's hormones to begin labor (Condon, Jeyasuria, Faust, & Mendelson, 2004). In most cases, your labor will begin only when both your body and your baby are ready.