41 and 42 Weeks Pregnant

At 41 and 42 weeks pregnant, you are classed as overdue but most doctors and midwives will not act right away. Experts believe that there is no risk to you or your baby by letting the pregnancy to continue for another two weeks after the expected due date. There is also nothing wrong with the pregnancy if you do go onto weeks 41 or 42 pregnant.

If you really think waiting 42 weeks is hard, just be thankful that you’re not an elephant. Did you know they go through two years of pregnancy?

Your Baby’s Development at 41 and 42 Weeks Pregnant

There is no development left. All your baby is now doing is gaining weight. The good news is that your baby has a very very high chance of survival if born right now. In fact, the only risk is other medical conditions that are either known of before birth or indicated at the time of birth.

However, your little one is gaining weight, getting larger and the bones in the skull may start to harden. That is why most women are induced by the 12^th day after the due date. In some cases this will happen sooner, but it does depend on the circumstances. If there are other medical risks, you may be booked in for an earlier induction date.

Being Induced at Pregnancy Weeks 41 and 42

While most women will wait until they reach the 12^th day, there are times that women are induced early. This is especially the case if there is a risk to the baby’s or mother’s life, or if there have been complications beforehand.

You may also have a c-section booked instead of a natural birth. Most experts will avoid this though, as the belief is that natural is better. If this is a subsequent pregnancy and you had a c-section before, you will likely be offered one this time. However, a vaginal birth after c-section (VACS) is possible, and you should talk to your doctor or midwife about this if it is something that you prefer.

Spend this time talking to your little one. Her hearing has developed now, and she wants to get to know your voice. After birth, you may find that she responds to your voice because she has gotten so used to hearing it. There is a lot to take in straight after birth, and having something familiar is comforting.

Look Out for the Signs of Labor

This is the time to keep an eye on those signs of labor. This doesn’t mean you should panic at every twinge or call the midwife at every “show.” You just need to be ready to time the contractions and make sure that hospital bag is with you. Chances of planning to go away right now are slim, but if you fancy that last minute weekend break make sure you do have your hospital bags and all your notes with you.

You may want to kick-start labor, and there are various ways to do this. None of them are proven to work, and are based on old wives’ tales, but there are many women who do recommend them. There’s no harm in giving them a try.

If you’re looking for something to do at home, think about getting ahead with some meal planning. Make enough of your main meals to freeze portions. You can then put them straight into the microwave, instead of having to think about cooking when you’re completely drained after giving birth. Just doing anything like this to take your mind off the fact that you are 41 or 42 weeks pregnant is often enough to forget about the delay.

Don’t panic about getting to this stage and there being no sign of labor. Some women do go to the full 42 week mark and not see any sign. Your doctor or midwife will be prepared for something like this and discuss all your options with you. Chances are your baby will decide she wants to make an appearance at a time that suits her.