Over-term pregnancy: useful tips to live it to the fullest!
Looking for advice on late pregnancy? You have come to the right place! If you are pregnant, your due date has already arrived, but nothing has happened yet, don't worry: it can happen and there is no reason to panic.
We talk about full-term pregnancy when it lasts between 38 and 42 weeks: this is the time the baby needs to form. Over-term pregnancy is the one that occurs after the 42nd week. If the labor does not show signs of starting after the 41st week plus 3-4 days, then we proceed with an induced birth.
Until that time, it is good to monitor the fetus and the good continuation of the pregnancy - let's see how with some advice. Meanwhile, here is a video with the things not to do during pregnancy:
Over-term pregnancy: what are the risks?
If some women even go into labor before the deadline, for others that date may arrive without anything happening yet. A few days of delay does not create particular problems and we must not be alarmist, but it is also true that - the more we go on in time - the more the possibility of incurring complications of various kinds increases, which could make it necessary to induce childbirth.
The first risk is that of senescence of the placenta which, after the fortieth week of pregnancy, can reduce its ability to carry oxygen to the fetus, with possible consequences for the baby. Even the amniotic fluid tends to decrease after that date and the baby, in an increasingly narrow space, could compress the umbilical cord with the consequence of reducing the blood supply. The decrease in amniotic fluid could also lead to accumulation in the lungs of the baby meconium, intestinal release generally expelled by the exchange of fluids, resulting in suffering for the fetus.
The same continued growth of the baby could then make his shoulders too large for the maternal pelvis, causing traumatic injuries at the moment of release. Even the mother is at risk of perineal lesions, and moreover in most cases she will be forced to undergo an operative birth, resorting to the use of the vetosa or caesarean. certainly good neither to the mother nor to the fetus!
Furthermore, the risks of infant mortality for a child born with an over-term pregnancy are 5 times higher than those of a child born with full-term pregnancy (however, we are talking about an average of 6 children out of 3000 pregnancies) ... , though: all these problems don't exactly trigger on the stroke of 42nd week! They increase as time passes from that date.
Helpful Tips: First, date your pregnancy beyond term
The first of the tips on what to do in case of over-term pregnancy is to make sure as accurately as possible of the dating of the pregnancy itself. Usually the presumed date of conception, which occurs two weeks after the last menstruation, is taken as a reference, and it is the reason why one that goes from 280 days onwards is considered as an over-term pregnancy.
However, to be able to date it correctly, it is necessary to be careful: the conception of the child occurs during ovulation, ie around the fourteenth day of the cycle. If the cycle is not so regular (as it happens in most cases), the date of conception could be postponed a few days before or after.
This is the reason why it is difficult to calculate the exact date of delivery: of course knowing when the last cycle was important, but the most precise indications are only on the "first trimester ultrasound, in the so-called" dating ultrasound. ", which takes place between the tenth and twelfth week.
Proceed with the necessary tests to keep everything under control
If the baby is late in arriving, it will be necessary to keep him under control, in order to prevent all the risks of suffering of the fetus that we have listed above. There are some tests, therefore, which will be good to do from the 40th week of pregnancy onwards.
This is nothing alarming: it is just a way to be able to check your and your baby's well-being with a certain frequency, in order to plan a possible induction to birth. If there are no previously identified risk factors and the pregnancy proceeds well, between the 38th and 40th week a cardiotocographic monitoring can be carried out, useful for checking the activity of the baby's heart, and an ultrasound scan, to be able to evaluate the movements of the fetus (called MAV) and the "AFI, ie the amount of amniotic fluid (which must" be between 5 and 20 centimeters).
If the outcome of both these tests does not highlight any particular problem, the doctor will give you an appointment after 3-4 days to repeat the checks. If the over-term pregnancy continues to last beyond the 42nd week, hospitalization will be recommended to induce childbirth.
More tips to make the most of your pregnancy beyond term
The first advice in case of over-term pregnancy may seem trivial, but it is not: do not be alarmed! Keeping calm and optimistic will be of great help: relaxation is essential to remove all the tensions that stiffen the cervix area, preventing it from dilating! Do not lose the positivity: body and mind are less separated than you think. Instead, try talking to your baby, imagining what it will be like to hold him in your arms ... these positive fantasies will circulate oxytocin, which will help in labor!
No physical effort needed: the old grandmother's remedy of walking back and forth to give birth first is useless, except to tire you. Instead, save your energy for when the time comes and rest as much as possible!
It may not seem like the moment, but sexual activity can help you: many women are afraid to have sex when pregnant, but those rhythmic movements rock the baby and circulate the endorphins, which the fetus likes a lot! sex stimulates the production of oxytocin which, as we have said, helps contractions.
There are also natural remedies, homeopathic, herbal remedies or those related to aromatherapy and acupuncture which, however, should always be used under the supervision of competent people, avoiding do-it-yourself. Castor oil is one of the oldest remedies to induce childbirth in a natural way: taking a teaspoon stimulates the digestive tract, helping the start of labor. Always follow the advice of your trusted doctor and you will not regret it. !
For more useful information on over-term pregnancy, you can view the AOGOI guidelines.
