It’s past your baby’s due date and you’re feeling increasingly impatient. You’re dreaming about the birth and every slight movement or sensation you think may be the start of labour.

We totally understand your frustration. And you’re not alone! Approximately 45% of women are still pregnant at 40 weeks with the majority giving birth within the next week, and 15% go beyond 41 weeks.

By the time many women reach their due date, they are so ready for the baby to come and do everything they can for the baby to come.

What do I do when my baby is overdue?

If your due date arrives and you have not experienced any signs of labour, your pregnancy is referred to as postmature or overdue.

Here is a sequence of events and procedures offered in most antenatal clinics:

Your doctor or midwife will double-check the accuracy of your due date, using the date of your last menstrual cycle and early scan measurements. They will then access the position of your baby’s head and advise an internal examination of how ripe your cervix is.

If the head is sufficiently down and the cervix is soft and dilated, your doctor will usually offer to “sweep” the membranes at the top of the cervix to release certain chemicals (prostaglandins) that cause contractions. If this is not possible, you will be explained the pros and cons of induction (artificial labour) versus waiting a little longer.

If you decide that you’d like to wait a little longer then you may be asked to attend the maternity daycare unit for a post-maturity assessment just after your due date. If there are no issues you may continue to wait another 10 days after the 40-week mark. It is unusual for women to go beyond 42 without choosing to be induced but if you do, you will need regular monitoring and an assessment of the amniotic fluid using an ultrasound.

If there are any issues that come up in the post-maturity assessment, you will be advised on induction and the delivery of your baby. Although there is research to show how induction is likely to cause prolonged labour, there isn’t conclusive evidence showing an increase in the caesarean section rate. That being said, waiting beyond 42 weeks may increase the risk of distress for the baby or even stillbirth if the placenta stops functioning well. And even if the placenta is working well past 41 weeks, there may still be complications due to the baby being too large. It may be that a caesarean is the safest option for you. After weighing up the options, always do what is right for you.
During a post-maturity assessment, your doctor will begin by checking the exact size of the baby and how much amniotic fluid is in the uterine sac. This may be followed by a detailed Doppler blood assessment (a study of blood circulation in the baby’s body, uterus and placenta). The scanning equipment will perform a biophysical profile of your baby, monitoring their limb and breathing movements, heart rate and muscular tone to check your baby’s general wellbeing. The health of the placenta will also be assessed to check that it is functioning properly. It’s important to note that all these tests are rough indicators and are prone to errors so should not be considered a definite diagnosis.

What happens when my baby is overdue?

On Unii’s Giving Birth Journey, we share what happens after your due date.