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When you pass your due date

Pregnancy complications - post-term; Pregnancy complications - 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. Your health care provider can do special tests to check on the health of your baby. Keeping a close eye on the baby's health will help increase the chance of good outcomes.

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Why Does it Happen?

Many women who go past 40 weeks are not really post-term. Their due date was just not calculated correctly. After all, a due date is not exact, but an estimate.

Your due date is estimated based on the first day of your last period, the size of your uterus (womb) early in your pregnancy, and with an ultrasound early in pregnancy. However:

When a pregnancy truly is post-term and goes past 42 weeks, no one knows for sure what causes it to happen.

What are the Risks?

If you have not given birth by 42 weeks, there are greater health risks for you and your baby.

The placenta is the link between you and your baby. As you pass your due date, the placenta may not work as well as before. This could lessen the amount of oxygen and nutrients that the baby gets from you. As a result, the baby:

Other problems that may occur:

Any of these problems can increase the need for a C-section.

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).

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.

How Will the Doctor Induce Labor?

When you have not gone into labor on your own, your provider will help you start. This may be done by:

Will I Need a C-section?

You will only need a C-section if:

References

Levine LD, Srinivas SK. Induction of labor. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 12.

Thorp JM, Grantz KL. Clinical aspects of normal and abnormal labor. In: Resnick R,  Lockwood CJ, Moore TR, Greene MF, Copel JA, Silver RM, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 43.

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Review Date: 4/19/2022  

Reviewed By: John D. Jacobson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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