Alia Bucciarelli, MS
A typical pregnancy lasts 38-42 weeks. A post-term pregnancy lasts beyond 42 weeks. The risk for certain health problems is higher in post-term pregnancies than in full-term pregnancies. This condition requires additional care and monitoring from your doctor.
The exact cause of a prolonged pregnancy is unknown. About 5%-10% of pregnancies become post-term.
Previous post-term pregnancy is the most common risk factor.
If you are still pregnant after your due date, see your doctor.
Your doctor will review your history to make sure that your due date is correct. Your doctor may recommend:
To see if your body is preparing for labor, your doctor may also check your cervix to see if it is opening and thinning.
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:
Some women and their doctors choose to wait for labor to begin on its own. During this wait and see period, the doctor will closely monitor the baby’s heart rate, amniotic fluid levels, breathing, and movement. If there are any signs of problems or your pregnancy continues beyond 42 weeks, your doctor may recommend labor induction.
If labor has not started naturally, there are a number of ways your doctor can try to induce labor.
In general, women with a post-term pregnancy who have an induced labor are less likely to need a Cesarean delivery than women who wait for labor to begin naturally.
There is little that can be done in advance to reduce your chances of having a post-term pregnancy. If your pregnancy lasts beyond 42 weeks, talk to your doctor before trying any home remedies for starting labor. Most home remedies are unproven and some may be harmful to you or your baby.
American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor
http://familydoctor.org
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org
The Canadian Women's Health Network
http://www.cwhn.ca
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org
Briscoe D, Nguyen H, Mencer M, et al. Management of pregnancy beyond 40 weeks’ gestation. Am Fam Physician. 2005;71:1935-1941.
Labor induction. American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/pregnancy-newborns/labor-childbirth/labor-induction.html. Updated August 2010. Accessed April 23, 2013.
Labor induction and cervical ripening. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what. Updated April 1, 2013. Accessed April 23, 2013.
Management of post-term pregnancy. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice Bulletin No. 55, September 2004. (Reaffirmed 2011.)
Postdates pregnancy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what. Updated August 21, 2012. Accessed April 23, 2013.
Pregnancy: what to expect when your due date has passed. American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/pregnancy-newborns/labor-childbirth/pregnancy-what-to-expect-when-youre-past-your-due-date.html. Updated August 2010. Accessed April 23, 2013.
Sanchez-Ramos L, Olivier F, Delke I, et al. Labor induction versus expectant management for post-term pregnancies: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol. 2003;101(6):1312-1318.
Last reviewed April 2013 by Andrea Chisholm, MD; Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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