The benefits of having a baby later than your due date

If the baby is not born after the due date, it is generally called post-term pregnancy. Under normal circumstances, as long as it does not exceed half a month, it is a relatively normal phenomenon, because the due date may be calculated incorrectly. Don't be too nervous at this time. Go to the hospital for an ultrasound examination in time to see if the situation in the uterus is normal. During the due date, the pregnant woman should walk more, such as climbing stairs, etc., which will help a smooth delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Post-term Pregnancy

Question 1: What is overdue pregnancy?

When a pregnant woman with a normal menstrual cycle is pregnant for more than 2 weeks beyond the due date, it is called a post-term pregnancy.

The expected date of delivery is calculated based on the pregnant woman's last menstrual period, that is, 280 days (40 weeks) from the first day of the last menstrual period. Because the menstrual cycle varies from person to person (28 to 30 days), and because the ovulation date varies from person to person, the cause of labor is still not very clear, so there is a certain gap between the date of birth and the expected date of delivery. It is generally believed that babies born between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation are normal full-term babies. If delivery has not occurred after 42 weeks, the placenta may be aged and its function may decline, causing fetal intrauterine hypoxia, malnutrition, or even death. Therefore, experts classify post-term pregnancy as a high-risk pregnancy in order to attract the attention of obstetricians.

Question 2: What are the dangers of overdue pregnancy?

Many pregnant women and their families are superstitious about the so-called "ripe fruit will fall off the vine", believing that the baby will be born sooner or later, and that the baby is not born because it is not yet mature. Children born through induced labor are not good, so they do not agree to induced labor even if the pregnancy exceeds 42 weeks. Scientifically speaking, there are difficult births and normal births, and not all births are inevitable. Expiration will have adverse effects on both mother and baby. For mothers, the cesarean section rate of post-term pregnancy is significantly increased because: 1. The fetus of post-term pregnancy is often larger, with a harder skull and poor plasticity, which is not easy to deform during delivery, resulting in a high rate of dystocia. Placental aging and decreased function can easily cause fetal intrauterine distress. Currently, there are few effective methods to promote cervical ripening, and cesarean section is often required after drug-induced labor fails. In addition, according to statistics, the rate of postpartum hemorrhage is high in overdue pregnancies, and heavy bleeding after delivery poses a danger to the mother. For the fetus, the placenta ages and its function declines, which affects the fetal oxygen and blood supply, causing fetal malnutrition. Once uterine contractions occur, the fetus cannot withstand the increased hypoxia, resulting in fetal distress and neonatal asphyxia. In severe cases, intrauterine fetal death or neonatal death may occur.

Question 3: What is the cause of overdue pregnancy?

Since the mechanism of initiating labor is not very clear, the cause of post-term pregnancy is also not very clear. However, some people believe that it may be related to the following factors:

(1) Endocrine dysfunction may be the main cause of post-term pregnancy. In late pregnancy, progesterone, estrogen, and prostaglandins may be involved in the initiation of uterine contractions. Progesterone inhibits uterine contractions, prostaglandins promote uterine contractions, and estrogen increases the sensitivity of the uterus to oxytocin. Progesterone levels drop before labor begins. Estrogen and prostaglandin levels rise, allowing uterine contractions to begin. Post-term pregnancy may be related to insufficient secretion of endogenous prostaglandins and estrogen, and excessively high levels of progesterone, resulting in delayed delivery.

(2) Genetic factors: Some women with post-term pregnancy have a family history, and it is speculated that the disease may be related to genetic factors.

(3) Overnutrition and lack of activity Excessive nutrient intake, coupled with lack of activity in late pregnancy, has been observed to lead to a high incidence of post-term pregnancy.

(4) The incidence of post-term pregnancy is high in cases of fetal abnormalities, abnormal fetal position, anencephaly, or severe adrenal hypoplasia, which may be related to fetal pituitary and adrenal insufficiency. When the fetal position is abnormal, the fetal presenting part cannot be close to the cervix to exert sufficient pressure on the cervix, resulting in poor uterine contractions and failure to induce regular uterine contractions.