Pregnancy is a beautiful experience, but it can also be a daunting one. One of the concerns that many expectant mothers have is an overdue pregnancy. An overdue pregnancy is when a woman goes past her due date, which is typically around 40 weeks.
While it’s common for some babies to arrive a few days or even a week after their due date, anything beyond that can be a cause for concern.
An overdue pregnancy can lead to anxiety and discomfort for both the mother and the baby. In this article, we will explore the causes of overdue pregnancies, the risks involved, and what can be done to manage an overdue pregnancy.
Delaying childbirth makes the mother tired and anxious. In the following, we discuss the reasons for this occurrence and its effect on the mother and the baby.
Premature delivery is defined as a condition in which no signs of delivery appear in the mother’s body until the 40th week of pregnancy.
Premature delivery can make the mother tired or anxious. At the beginning of your pregnancy, your doctor estimates your due date based on the date of your last period.
But your delivery may happen later or earlier than the scheduled date. Such a situation is completely normal.
But if about two weeks pass more than the due date for delivery and the signs of the baby’s birth do not appear in the mother’s body, we will witness a delivery later than the due date.
Most babies are born between 38 and 42 weeks of pregnancy. If the baby is not born after 42 weeks of pregnancy, the delivery will be premature. Of the 10 births, these are premature births.
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It is past your due date and you are still pregnant. What has happened?
Although you may think that the due date has a magical quality, it is merely an estimate of when the baby is 40 weeks old. The due date does not estimate when the baby will arrive. Delivery before and after the due date is normal. In fact, the pregnancy must continue for two weeks after the time of delivery to be called delayed delivery.
Causes of premature birth
You may have a late delivery due to some reasons. But the cause of delayed delivery is still not fully known. Late delivery does not depend on your actions and behavior during pregnancy. Among these, there are factors that can facilitate the occurrence of premature birth. In the following, we will examine these factors:
- First pregnancy and childbirth
- History of premature birth
- History of premature birth in your family
- History of birth later than your due date
- Being a boy of the fetus
- Overweight the mother
An incorrect estimate of the due date. In this situation, you may not remember the date of the first day of your last period correctly. On the other hand, sometimes the therapist wrongly estimates the date of delivery based on ultrasounds of the second and third trimesters, which will cause the estimated date to be incorrect.
In rare cases, premature delivery may be due to problems in the placenta and fetus. In any case, for whatever reason, you will be satisfied with the pregnancy for a long time. But it’s best to keep in mind that labor does not last forever, and labor can start at any time.
Risks of delayed delivery
Research shows that if the pregnancy lasts between 41 weeks and 41 weeks and six days (delayed birth), as well as 42 weeks or more (late birth), the risk of fetal health problems increases, including:
- The weight of the fetus during delivery is higher than normal, which increases the risk of normal delivery, cesarean section, or the shoulder being stuck behind the pelvic bone during delivery (scapular dystocia).
- Delayed puberty syndrome, which is characterized by a decrease in subcutaneous fat, a lack of fatty coating (vernix caseosa), soft and downy hair (lanugo), and staining in the amniotic fluid, skin, and umbilical cord with the first movement of the baby’s stomach (meconium).
Decreased amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios), which affects the baby’s heart rate and puts pressure on the umbilical cord during contractions.
Delayed childbirth also causes problems in childbirth:
- Severe tearing of the vagina
- infection
- Postpartum bleeding
Be careful during pregnancy
Care during pregnancy continues with delayed delivery. The health specialist checks the size, heart rate, and position of the fetus at each appointment and asks you questions about the baby’s movements.
If it’s been more than a week since you gave birth, the specialist can check the fetal heart rate (non-stress test) and measure the volume of amniotic fluid or perform a non-stress test with ultrasound (biophysical profile).
In some cases, it is suggested to use the labor induction method. Stimulating the contractions of the uterus before the onset of labor pain is called induction of labor so that natural birth can take place.
Stimulate the baby
If you and the specialist agree to induce labor, you will be prescribed medication to help the cervix open. The specialist may insert a small tube (catheter) with a balloon attached to the end of it to open the cervix. Filling the balloon with saline solution and placing it inside the cervix helps to open it. If the bag of water still does not break, the specialist opens the passage with a thin plastic hook.
Be patient
You are in the final stage! Whether you decide to wait or choose a labor induction program, you should be in contact with a specialist and be sure to know what actions to take if labor pains begin. In the meantime, try to enjoy the last days of pregnancy.
The method of induction of labor when the delivery time is passed
If the decision to induce labor is made late, some measures will be taken for you. One of the methods of inducing natural labor is prescribing medicine to stimulate labor pains in the uterus. The next step is to stimulate the cervix with a catheter.
This procedure is not painful and will not be dangerous for you and the fetus. On the other hand, your therapist may attempt to tear the amniotic sac, which will stimulate labor.
In any case, it is true that giving birth later will cause worry and stress. But it is better to keep calm. As long as the tests confirm the health of the fetus, there is nothing to worry about.
What are the causes of delay in labor?
Can a baby stay in the womb longer than 40 weeks?
How long can a baby stay in the womb after the due date?
Do first-time moms always deliver late?
last word
In conclusion, overdue pregnancy, also known as post-term pregnancy, is a common concern among expectant mothers and healthcare providers. While most pregnancies last around 40 weeks, some may extend beyond 42 weeks, increasing the risk of complications for both the mother and baby.
However, it is important to note that not all post-term pregnancies lead to complications, and careful monitoring and management can reduce the risks involved. Expectant mothers should stay informed about the signs and symptoms of post-term pregnancy, and maintain regular prenatal check-ups to ensure the safe delivery of their baby.
Additionally, healthcare providers should carefully assess each pregnancy on an individual basis and provide appropriate care and support to minimize the risks associated with overdue pregnancy. Ultimately, with proper care and management, most overdue pregnancies can result in healthy and successful deliveries.
