Over carried pregnancy

When is a pregnancy term?

The due date is determined by an ultrasound examination in the first trimester or by the date of the last menstrual period. However, this is an approximate date so that the pregnancy can be monitored throughout. A pregnancy is called full term from the 37th week of gestation. The due date, on the other hand, is at the 40th week. Pregnancies up to the 42nd week (41+6) are considered term. After that, after the 42nd week, it is a transferred pregnancy, which can have serious consequences, the most serious of which is intrauterine fetal death. To prevent this, the birth is induced early enough. The decision on the date of delivery is made by the doctors based on the results of, for example, an ECG or ultrasound examination, as well as any complications during the pregnancy.

An over carried pregnancy- what is worth knowing?

Many expectant mothers, especially towards the end of pregnancy, cannot wait for the birth, among other reasons because of the abdomen, which makes it difficult to perform everyday activities, or because of rapid fatigue or sleepiness. If the pregnancy is progressing physiologically and there are no signs of premature delivery, a pregnant woman can use home methods after her due date to speed up delivery. Recommended methods include nipple stimulation or eating spicy foods. Many specialists also recommend sexual intercourse (if there are no contraindications). If home remedies are unsuccessful, the expectant mother is admitted to the hospital for induction of labor. Due to the higher risk of complications in pregnancy after the due date, every pregnant woman should have ECG recordings to obtain information about the well-being of the fetus. Interestingly, one of the most common causes of transferred pregnancy is incorrect determination of the due date. Reasons for this may include irregular menstrual cycles, failure to correct the due date despite the discrepancy during the first trimester examination, or, for example, late reporting to the gynecologist during pregnancy.

When is a delivery induced?

The timing of labor induction depends on the previous course of pregnancy, existing complications or, for example, the estimated weight of the fetus. In many situations, it is necessary to induce labor earlier, even before the due date. This occurs, for example, in cases of hypertension, diabetes, or cholestasis. The treatment of multiple pregnancies also varies. However, if there are no complications and the ECG recordings are normal, labor is induced after the 41st week of pregnancy, but before the completion of the 42nd week.

Over carried pregnancy – complications

A transferred pregnancy carries a particularly high risk of placental insufficiency, which can lead to hypoxia and even intrauterine fetal death. For this reason, the pregnant woman undergoes an ultrasound examination after the due date to determine the baby’s well-being. In the case of a transferred pregnancy, thrombosis or anencephaly can also occur with serious consequences. Babies born after 42 weeks have a characteristic appearance – dry skin or absence of fetal mucus. There is also a greater risk of meconium aspiration syndrome.