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Overdue pregnancy: What to do when baby's overdue
You probably didn't bargain for an overdue pregnancy — but it happens. Here's help hanging in there.
By Mayo Clinic staffYour due date has come and gone — and you're still pregnant. What's going on?
Probably nothing unusual. Although your due date may seem to have magical qualities, it's simply an educated guess about when your baby is most likely to arrive. It's perfectly normal to give birth one to two weeks before — or after — your due date. In fact, your pregnancy must continue two weeks past your due date to earn the official label of overdue pregnancy.
Enough already!
By this point, you're probably tired of being pregnant. Your back may ache, and your ankles may be swollen. You may be struggling with heartburn and varicose veins. You may have trouble sleeping because you simply can't get comfortable — or anxiety about childbirth may keep you awake.
Rest assured, an overdue pregnancy won't last forever. Labor may begin anytime.
Keeping an eye on your pregnancy
As your pregnancy continues, your health care provider will closely monitor you and your baby. He or she may check your cervix to see if it's begun to thin and dilate in preparation for labor. If you're more than one week past your due date, your health care provider may track your baby's heartbeat with an electronic fetal monitor or use ultrasound to observe your baby's movements and measure the amount of amniotic fluid.
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