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.
If your labour doesn't start by the time you reach 42 weeks, you are overdue. This is also called 'postdates' or prolonged pregnancy. You can calculate your due date by using this due date calculator.
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.
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.
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.
Ultrasounds in Later Pregnancy
As pregnancy progresses, the accuracy of an ultrasound for predicting due dates decreases. Between 18 and 28 weeks of gestation, the margin of error increases to plus or minus two weeks. After 28 weeks, the ultrasound may be off by three weeks or more in predicting a due date.
If labor hasn't started spontaneously, you'll probably be induced at 41 weeks—at the latest. "If your cervix has started to dilate, odds are in your favor for a successful induction," Dr. Warshak says. Translation: You probably won't end up having a cesarean section (C-section).
Tocolytics are medications used to delay delivery, sometimes for up to 48 hours. If delivery is delayed even a few hours, it may allow more time to give corticosteroids or magnesium sulfate. This delay also may allow time for transfer to a hospital with specialized care for preterm babies.
Theoretically, the unequal walking pattern created by the curb causes the pelvis to open and allows the baby's head to descend. When the baby's head is deeper into the pelvis, there is more pressure on the cervix, causing dilation and effacement. This uneven walk should be done for about 10 minutes.
In general, this doesn't happen a lot—but it usually depends on how your due date is calculated in the first place. “If dating is only based on the last menstrual period and a later ultrasound shows a discrepancy, then the due date may be changed,” Lamppa says.
This is because pregnancy is counted from the first day of the woman's last period, not the date of conception which generally occurs 2 weeks later, followed by 5 to 7 days before it settles in the uterus.
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.
Squatting. Squatting can be especially effective when you're ready to push. In fact, squatting is sometimes called the "midwife's forceps" because of its ability to work with gravity, enlarge the pelvic opening, and speed the pushing phase of labor. Try squatting supported by another person or a sturdy chair.
However, if the body is not ready then all that happens is you get tired out. After taking a bath the next thing to do is head into bed. With the contractions a bit farther apart and not as long and strong this is the best time to rest. Sleeping helps to pass the time so you are not as focused on the contractions.
As labor gets closer, hormonal shifts and pregnancy-related discomforts can worsen insomnia. However, while insomnia may signal that labor is drawing closer in some cases, the absence of insomnia does not mean a person will not go into labor soon. Not everyone will experience this symptom.
Side-lying release
Not only can this position be used to help engage the baby into the pelvis and to encourage cervical dilation, but it can also be used during labor to help ease discomfort.
Gently bouncing on an exercise ball to induce labor not only encourages baby to move down and in turn assist with cervix dilation, but it can also soothe baby, Green says. Sit on the exercise ball, with your legs wide apart, and move your hips up and down.