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Overdue pregnancy: What to do when baby's overdue
Giving baby a nudge
Sometimes, it's better to deliver sooner rather than later — particularly if your health care provider is concerned about your health or your baby's health or if your pregnancy continues more than two weeks past your due date.
Why the concern about two weeks? At this point in pregnancy, your baby's size may complicate a vaginal delivery. In a few cases, aging of the placenta may compromise a baby's ability to thrive in the womb. An overdue baby is also more likely to inhale fecal waste (meconium), which can cause breathing problems or an infection after birth.
If you and your health care provider decide to induce your labor, you may be given medication to help your cervix soften and open. If your amniotic sac is still intact, your health care provider may break your water by creating an opening with a thin plastic hook. It doesn't hurt, but you may feel a warm gush of fluid when the sac breaks open.
If necessary, you may also be given medication to kick-start your contractions. A common choice is Pitocin, a synthetic version of oxytocin — a hormone that causes the uterus to contract. The dosage may be adjusted to regulate the strength and frequency of your contractions.
Hang in there
You're in the homestretch! Whether your health care provider suggests a wait-and-see approach or schedules an induction, do your best to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.
- Accept your emotions. It's OK to feel frustrated or disappointed. You probably didn't bargain for more than 40 weeks of pregnancy.
- Take advantage of the extra time. Sleep while you can. Put the finishing touches on the nursery. Stock your freezer with extra meals. Address birth announcements and thank-you cards.
- Make plans. Your health care provider may want you to stay close to home, but that's no reason to miss a new movie, go out to dinner or take a walk in the park. Don't be afraid to make plans just because you may need to cancel at the last minute.
- Put your answering machine or voice mail to work. To keep well-meaning friends and loved ones informed, consider recording a greeting with the latest on the pregnancy front. "We're patiently waiting for the big day!" may be enough to handle the inquiries that are sure to test your patience.
- Treat home remedies with a dose of caution. A simple Internet search will yield countless results for "natural" ways to trigger labor, such as eating spicy food or having sex. Some tactics are relaxing, others silly — and a few may do more harm than good. Get your health care provider's OK before trying any home remedies, herbal supplements or alternative treatments.
- Stay in touch with your health care provider. You'll need frequent checkups until your baby is born. Make sure you know what to do if you think you're in labor.
Soon you'll hold your baby in your arms — and the long wait won't matter.
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- Norwitz ER. Patient information: Postterm pregnancy. http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=pregnan/5708. Accessed March 20, 2009.
- What to expect after your due date. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp069.cfm. Accessed March 20, 2009.
- Healthy pregnancy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/stages-of-pregnancy.cfm#c. Accessed March 31, 2009.
- Inducing labor. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/240_20202.asp. Accessed March 31, 2009.
- Routine prenatal care. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Practice Bulletins - Obstetrics. Management of postterm pregnancy. ACOG Practice Bulletin. 2004;104:639.
- Jetti A, et al. Prolonged pregnancy. Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine. 2008;18:7.
- Murry MM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 23, 2009.
