What happens if I go beyond my due date?
I get asked this question ALL THE TIME.
As beautiful as pregnancy is, it IS NOT the most comfortable state of existence with all the heartburn, back pain, sleepless nights, etc. As a result of this, most expectant mothers can’t wait to deliver baby.
So what exactly does happen if you go beyond your due date? Honestly, not much! In my practice, once a mother reaches and exceeds her due date, we implement some form of antepartum testing which usually includes a NST(non-stress test), and a BPP(biophysical profile). The purpose of said testing is to ensure that baby remains in a safe environment to continue with the pregnancy.
The non-stress test is easy to perform. It’s our way of assessing fetal heart tones and looking at uterine activity. This is accomplished by connecting two belts around the gravid abdomen and looking at the aforementioned. Non-stress testing usually lasts for 20 minutes(minimally). As long as this testing is reassuring, the pregnancy is safe to continue.
The biophysical profile is another test that is often utilized to assess a pregnancy that has gone beyond its “due date”. The biophysical profile is an ultrasound that looks at a couple of different parameters, including: movement, tone, breathing, and amniotic fluid level. If the biophysical profile is reassuring, the pregnancy, once again, is safe to continue.
Having gone beyond the 40th week of gestation, if the antenatal testing, as mentioned above, is reassuring, the pregnancy is allowed to progress to 41 weeks. If by 41 weeks the expectant mother has not delivered, we typically pick a date for delivery whether that be via induction of labor or cesarean section. It is not our general practice to allow a pregnancy to go beyond 42 weeks gestation as the risks of remaining pregnant at this gestational age far exceeds the safety of allowing the pregnancy to continue.
Hoping this post adds value to your day!
Until next time,
Look Better. Feel Better. Be Better.
Dr. Angela
