Is it normal to be 42 weeks pregnant

The average week fetus measures Yup, baby is still growing! What happens at 42 weeks of pregnancy? You might be stressed at 42 weeks pregnant. No one said pregnancy after 40 weeks was easy! Try to be patient as you let baby decide when to make their debut. Keep doing kick counts and letting your OB know if you notice any changes in kick frequency. Also tell your doctor right away if you have any troubling 42 weeks pregnant symptoms, such as strange discharge, bleeding or abdominal pain.

Look out for:. Wondering how to induce labor at 42 weeks pregnant? You probably have been trying natural methods such as walking, sex and acupuncture.

At 42 weeks pregnant, risks are higher for complications such as placental problems, low amniotic fluid and a pinched umbilical cord. And if baby gets too big, you may have to deliver by c-section.

Ways your doctor can induce labor:. Due to the 42 weeks pregnant risks, your OB will want to monitor baby extra closely. A 42 weeks pregnant ultrasound, a non-stress test and a biophysical profile will be given to make sure baby is still moving well, has plenty of amniotic fluid, is breathing well and has a healthy heart rate. Because your week baby has probably shed the vernix caseosa that filmy stuff that covered their skin , the skin is probably getting a little dry at this point.

In , a Los Angeles woman gave birth after reportedly being pregnant for days for comparison, the typical pregnancy lasts days. About 60 percent of women will give birth on or before their due date. Only about 1 in 10 babies is officially overdue or born beyond 42 weeks of pregnancy though. Based on these statistics, you may be wondering how to calculate your due date and what factors might contribute to having an overdue baby.

The actual date of conception for a baby is hard to know, so gestational age is the most common way to calculate how far along a pregnancy is and predict your due date. Gestational age is measured using the first day of your last menstrual period; days or 40 weeks from this day is the average length for a pregnancy. The weeks surrounding your estimated due date are your due date window, and birth is likely to happen at any time during that period.

If you have no idea when your last period was, became pregnant while using oral contraceptives , or have extremely irregular menstrual cycles, your doctor will likely request an ultrasound to determine the gestational age of your baby. The ultrasound allows your doctor to measure the crown-rump length CRL or the distance from one end of the fetus to the other.

However, during the second and third trimesters babies grow at different speeds, so this ability to accurately estimate age based on baby size diminishes. When a labor extends beyond 41 weeks late term and beyond 42 weeks post term there are increased risks of certain health problems. Some of the most common risks associated with a post term baby are:. If your due date has come and gone, you can rest assured that you will continue to receive medical care. 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.

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Your name: is required Error: This is required. Your email: is required Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value. Send to: is required Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value. How is my overdue pregnancy managed? Back To Top. Overdue babies - Better Health Channel betterhealth. What is DDH? Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance.

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