If your pregnancy goes beyond your due date, you may feel disappointed or upset. You’ve been waiting all this time for that magical date to arrive, but it comes and goes with no baby. It may help to know you’re not alone. Many women go past their due date. About 10% of pregnancies go past 42 weeks.
Remember that a due date is an estimate. Only about 5% of babies are born on their due dates. The rest come either before or after the date. Your due date is calculated by your last menstrual period. If you aren’t exactly sure when you had your last period, the date may not be accurate. Generally, exams and ultrasound are used to confirm the date.
If you go a week past the due date, the doctor will monitor your baby. An ultrasound may be done to check the baby. When you get two weeks overdue, the doctor will do a variety of tests to determine the condition of the baby. What happens next will be determined by the results of the testing.
You will be asked to count the baby’s movements several times each day. The doctor will give you instructions for this. In most cases, you are asked to keep track of how long it takes for the baby to make ten movements. This should usually happen within an hour. If not, you will be asked to repeat it for a second hour. Anytime you feel the baby hasn’t been moving well, call your doctor.
A Non Stress Test is done by electronically monitoring the baby. The uterine contractions are also monitored. The results of both are used to determine the condition of the baby. This is often done in the doctor’s office.
An ultrasound may be done to monitor the baby and check the level of amniotic fluid. If the fluid level decreases, this can be a sign that the placenta is not functioning well. In this case, the doctor may decide to induce labor.
A Biophysical Profile is done with an ultrasound. Several things are checked, including the amniotic fluid level, breathing, baby’s movements and muscle tone. If the score is good, the test may be repeated in a few more days. This test is often done in addition to the Non Stress test to determine the condition of the baby.
Try to stay positive after your due date passes. Get some extra rest and try to stay occupied to keep your mind off the calendar. Go out to dinner and see a movie. Enjoy activities that may be limited after the baby arrives.