Exceeding the due date
Release time : 03/23/2025 09:30:02
In real life, very few mothers actually give birth on the day of their due date. Many mothers give birth within two weeks before or after their due date. Normal labor occurs between 37 and 42 weeks into pregnancy.
Due to the delay in labor, some mothers can become anxious and uncertain when their child does not start moving after a due date.
What should be done if a woman overdue for labor doesn't have any signs of labor, and what could be the reasons why she hasn't given birth by the due date? How can it happen that a woman goes overdue for labor? Let's explore the causes of overdue labor! The etiology of overdue labor remains unclear at present. However, doctors have summarized several possible causes: 1. Low estrogen levels. Although the mechanism of labor is complex, there is a close relationship between the level of estrogen in the blood and labor, and overdue labor may be related to low estrogen levels.
However, there is no direct evidence to suggest that in large numbers of pregnancies with a prolonged gestational age, the estrogen level falls below that of normal pregnancy.
2. Placentasulfatase deficiency, also known as the rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder, is reported by Ryan in 1980. Although the fetus produces sufficient amounts of 16α-OH-DHEAS, it fails to convert this less active dehydroepiandrosterone into estrogens and estradiol due to the absence of placental sulfatase. This results in prolonged pregnancy.
3. The cephalopexus does not match, and in cases of overdue pregnancies with some fetuses being larger, the head has not yet entered the pelvis, and the cervix has not been subjected to the appropriate stimulus, resulting in the delay of the commencement of labor.
This is a common reason.
4. Genetic factors may contribute to a minority of women having longer pregnancies, with multiple pregnancies presenting in the same way as chrono-pregnancy and occasionally seen within a family, suggesting this tendency is likely genetic.
What is the due date? The due date is an estimated date of when you are due to give birth. However, the due date isn't very accurate. Only 5% of people actually deliver on their due date, while 75% of pregnant women give birth within three weeks before or two weeks after their due date.
Due to the fact that each pregnant woman's ovulation cycle varies, it is difficult to accurately determine the actual fertilization time for a pregnant woman.
Currently, the method of calculating a due date is as follows: start from the first day of the last menstrual period. A pregnancy lasting 280 days and 40 weeks is calculated based on this method. This estimated due date is an approximate figure.
In addition, there will be certain individual differences in the maturity of the fetus and individual differences in the physique of pregnant women, which will affect the total duration of pregnancy. Generally, pregnancy is delivered at 37-42 weeks, which is full-term delivery.
Recommended reading: The expected date of birth has passed and has not yet given birth, master the method of birth promotion and the method of calculating the expected date of birth. 1. Calculated based on the last menstruation, the month of the month of the last menstruation plus 9 or minus 3 is the number of months you are expected to be due.
The first day of the last menstruation plus 7 days is the expected date of delivery.
For example, your last menstrual period was May 1, 2014. The month is 5-3. The day is 1+7. So the estimated due date is February 8 next year.
2. Based on the date of fetal movement, if you can't remember your last menstrual period, you can calculate it using the date of fetal movement. Generally, a fetus moves around 18-20 weeks, for first-time mothers it is the fetal movement day plus 20 weeks, and for experienced mothers it is the fetal movement day plus 22 weeks.
3. Based on B-ultrasound examinations, the fetal head biparietal diameter, head to rump length, and femur length can be measured, which can be used to estimate the baby's gestational age and then calculate the estimated date of delivery.
Recommended Reading: How to Self-Assess Your Pregnancy Due Date. What to Do if You Exceed Your Due Date? If you exceed your due date by one week, it is best to do the following: 1. Do not be overly anxious, as even if the gestational age is accurate, delivering within two weeks after the due date has no significant impact on both mother and baby. However, monitor the baby's movements regularly to ensure proper fetal movement monitoring.
If the fetal movements are fewer than three times per hour, or fewer than 20 times in 12 hours, or if the fetal movements weaken and become irregular, then you should go to the hospital for further examination.
2. Continue with the prenatal check-up and be sure to provide the original results of tests such as ultrasound, blood tests, and pregnancy tests, along with the latest ultrasound results and the timing of recent fetal movement, for the doctor to recheck your estimated due date.
3. Strengthen prenatal examinations to shorten the duration of prenatal check-ups, maintain constant contact with the doctor, and inform them about any changes in the internal condition. Additionally, it is necessary to undergo ultrasound scans to monitor fetal fluid volume changes.
If there are no abnormalities, then continue waiting; otherwise, you may need to induce labor.
If the expected delivery date is one week overdue, hospitalization for labor induction should be considered as per the doctor's advice. If the due date is more than two weeks or beyond, immediate medical attention is required because it is a case of ectopic pregnancies, where the placenta ages and can potentially lead to fetal hypoxia and asphyxiation.
Upon visiting a hospital, the doctor will devise treatment solutions based on the diagnosis of post-term pregnancy.
Recommended Reading: Pregnancy after the due date, what can expectant mothers do to induce labor? The harm of being overdue for more than two weeks or two weeks. Is it possible to have a natural birth if the cervix is mature and the placenta function well and the fetus is normal in size under strict monitoring? Generally, there are three methods to induce labor: physical exercise, diet induction, and pharmacological induction.
Exercise for Growth: Daily walks of 30 minutes or more (suitable for all expectant mothers).
Gradually ascending the stairs several times a day (suitable for pregnant women who do not experience excessive shortness of breath or abnormal contractions).
Heel-to-toe contact and seated on one's heels (the purpose is to train the pelvic floor and facilitate natural childbirth).
The medical information provided in this text is for reference only.
If you experience discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately for accurate diagnosis and treatment.