| Post Term Pregnancy |
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| Pregnancy Complications |
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Most women deliver their babies between weeks number 37 and 42 in their pregnancy. There are about 7 percent of women who deliver their babies at week number 42 or later. A pregnancy that goes over 42 weeks is known as a post term pregnancy. It can also be referred to as a prolonged pregnancy, post-dates pregnancy, and post-maturity pregnancy. Some women go longer than 42 weeks due to a miscalculation on the due date. This happens when a woman isn’t quite sure when her last regular menstruation was. It is still generally a mystery why a post term pregnancy occurs. There is the belief that if the woman is stressed or ill, that her body may feel it is unsafe for the baby to be born. The message is received through the release of hormones that may suppress the hormones needed for labor to be released. Stress and illness can also work the other way and the body feels there is a better chance for the baby’s survival outside of the womb premature labor may begin. Again it is believed that stress related hormones play a part, but in this case starting labor. There are risks related to post term pregnancies. These are some of the risks: · Longer labors · Operative delivery (forceps or vacuum-assisted birth) · Mothers are at increased risk for vaginal birth trauma due to a large baby size · Twice the chance of cesarean deliver · Increased risk for infection for mother · Wound complications · Postpartum (after birth) hemorrhage The risks aren’t isolated to the mother. The post term pregnancy also puts the fetus and newborn at risk for the following: · Placenta ages and functions less efficiently · Amniotic fluid volume may decrease · Fetus weight gain ceases · Fetus loses weight · Poor oxygen supply increases risks during labor and delivery · Birth injury due to size · Increased risk of meconium aspiration · Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) due to low glucose-producing stores. A woman is diagnosed with post term pregnancy by accurately calculating the due date, measuring the size of the uterus, by determining when the fetal heartbeat was first heard, and date movement was first felt. This information is combined with ultrasound evaluation. Tests that are done to determine if the baby is doing OK and to identify any possible problems include ultrasound, non-stress test, and amniotic fluid volume estimation. Post-term pregnancy can often be safely managed by inducing the labor before the baby gets too big so that a healthy mom can deliver a healthy baby. 
 
 
 
 
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