Post-Date Pregnancy
When labor hasn't started and the due date is past
What Post-Date Actually Means
A prolonged pregnancy reaches at least 42 weeks. Most caregivers begin discussing induction somewhere between 40 and 41.5 weeks. A baby who is late is not the same as a baby who is postmature, true postmaturity (where the placenta stops functioning) is rare even two weeks past the due date. Most late babies are simply taking extra time.
Why Induction Gets Discussed
After 42 weeks, risk increases slightly. Tests assess whether the placenta is functioning well and whether amniotic fluid is adequate. If testing is reassuring, waiting may remain an option. If there are concerns, or if your partner is at your partner physical and emotional limit, induction is the next step.
What Induction Involves
Non-Medical Options
Your Job During the Wait
The days before labor begins, especially past the due date, are one of the harder stretches. Your partner is physically uncomfortable and fielding questions from everyone. Help your partner ignore labor as long as possible. Plan things to do. Make sure your partner goes to bed at a reasonable hour so your partner is rested when things start. And if your partner feels grief that your partner's body didn't go into labor on its own, let your partner feel that without talking your partner out of it.