How overdue can you be

Your doctor may suggest some extra monitoring and medical tests to make sure that your baby is healthy. Many doctors will begin to recommend this around 40 or 41 weeks.

In making a determination to recommend induction, your doctor will take into account things like your age and health history, the health of the pregnancy, and the birthing wishes of the parents-to-be. If your doctor or midwife would like to induce you, there are many things you can do to help nudge your little one along that range from more natural methods to medical procedures.

Some methods of induction with varying effectiveness include:. You should have a discussion with your provider about which methods make sense in your particular situation. Most babies are born within a few weeks of their due date.

If you find yourself nearing the end of your estimated due date window with no signs of labor, there may be actions you can take to help nudge your baby into the world. Before doing so, you should always consult with your doctor or midwife. They can discuss the benefits and risks of your specific health situation and offer guidance on the safest ways to help your little one arrive in your arms. While it can be hard to wait, there are benefits to allowing your baby plenty of time to develop before entering the world.

When the time comes that the risk of keeping your baby inside outweigh these benefits, your doctor or midwife will be there to support you in determining a safe birthing plan.

You asked, we answered. Check out our experts' tips for the first 6 weeks after birth. Covering everything from breastfeeding and vaginal soreness to…. There are some natural ways to induce labor. If your due date is here, read this and talk to your doctor about what's right for you. Are you pregnant and past your due date? Help induce labor naturally by pressing on these acupressure points along the body. Meconium aspiration syndrome can cause health complications for your newborn if left untreated.

Labor induction is the stimulation of uterine contractions during pregnancy before labor begins on its own to achieve a vaginal birth. If you and your health care provider choose labor induction, you might be given medication to help your cervix ripen.

Your health care provider might dilate your cervix by inserting into it a small tube catheter with an inflatable balloon on the end. Filling the balloon with saline and resting it against the inside of the cervix helps ripen the cervix. If your amniotic sac is still intact, your health care provider might break your water by creating an opening with a thin plastic hook.

If necessary, you might 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.

You're in the homestretch! Whether your health care provider suggests a wait-and-see approach or schedules an induction, stay in touch and make sure you know what to do if you think you're in labor. In the meantime, do your best to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

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Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. If neither of these indicators is available, it may be difficult to determine whether or not you are overdue. The research suggests that there is a small additional risk 1 in of stillbirth or neonatal death after 41 weeks of pregnancy. At 43 weeks, this risk rises to 1 in for births. Techniques for monitoring your baby cannot give per cent assurance that he or she is not at risk.

Your midwife or doctor can make arrangements for you to be admitted into your hospital or birthing unit at a mutually convenient time to have your labour induced. A variety of methods can be used to induce your labour, either on their own or in combination. These include:.

If your pregnancy has been healthy but prolonged and you do not wish to have your labour induced, it is recommended that you have increased antenatal monitoring. This involves:. If the tests detect a potential complication for you or your baby, induction of labor will be recommended.

Breast and nipple stimulation is known to result in the production of the hormone oxytocin which causes the uterus to contract. There is evidence to suggest this may be an effective method of natural induction although the required timing and frequency is unknown. The role of sex in stimulating labour is not well understood.

It has been suggested that semen is high in prostaglandins and the action of intercourse may stimulate uterine contractions. As with nipple stimulation, oxytocin is also produced during the female orgasm. However, there is no evidence to support this as a method for natural induction. This is a vaginal examination performed by your midwife or doctor that involves placing a finger inside the cervix and making circular sweeping movements to separate the membranes from the cervix.

This has been shown to increase the chances of labour starting naturally within 48 hours and reduces the need for induction. Additional membrane sweeping may be beneficial if the first attempt is not successful. This can be performed from 40 weeks gestation.

The procedure can be uncomfortable and a very small amount of bleeding is common afterwards. There is also a potential risk of your waters breaking during the procedure and as with all vaginal examinations there is a slight risk of infection. It has been suggested that some complementary therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy or herbal supplements may assist in stimulating labour.

There is insufficient evidence to determine the effects of these therapies as induction agents. If you wish to consider these options it is essential you see a specialist in this field as some types of complementary therapies are not recommended in pregnancy and have been found to be unsafe. You will be offered induction of labour from 41 weeks of pregnancy. If you choose not to be induced, your decision will be respected. You should discuss this with both your doctor and midwife so that together an appropriate plan of care can be made.

This plan will include increased antenatal assessments. If your pregnancy continues past 41 weeks and 3 days, your midwife will recommend you attend hospital for a biophysical profile.