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Sometimes mothers underestimate the risk, believing that since the child himself is not eager for the light, then he is not ready yet. We explain what a too long pregnancy is fraught with.
“The gynecologist says I’m walking around,” says her friend thoughtfully. – 42 weeks already. Directly almost forcibly shoves into the hospital for stimulation. But I don’t want stimulation! Maybe it’s too early for the baby. Why inject extra drugs when I myself can give birth! “
And she is not the only one – for some reason, the words of doctors about the need for stimulation are perceived by many mothers with hostility. For them, such a recommendation is like a receipt for their inability to give birth on their own. As if she was not a mother at all. But it makes no difference how the child was born – naturally or through a cesarean section, with the help of stimulation or not. The main thing is that he is healthy. The role of the mother does not change at all from the way in which she had to give birth.
Obstetrician-gynecologist of the network of centers of reproduction and genetics “Nova Clinic”.
When is a pregnancy considered post-term?
A full-term baby is one who was born at 38–41 weeks of pregnancy. If childbirth occurs later, they talk about prolongation. Many expectant mothers are afraid of premature birth, but not everyone understands that prolonged pregnancy can also negatively affect the condition of the baby. The doctor considers each situation individually, based, among other things, on the vital signs of the fetus and the maturity of the placenta by ultrasound.
The reason?
Throughout the entire period of gestation, certain changes occur in a woman’s body. First, all resources are directed to bearing the fetus (that is, the dominant of pregnancy is formed), and closer to the 40th week, the action of some hormones is interrupted and processes are launched aimed at increasing the contraction of the uterus (that is, the dominant of childbirth comes to replace). If new connections have not been established, labor will not be able to begin.
Who is at risk?
According to statistics, women are at risk:
very young or, on the contrary, late (over 35 years old) age who give birth to their first child;
in whom the previous birth took place more than 10 years ago;
with endocrine disorders that affect the activity of the reproductive system.
Why is overburdening dangerous?
Overturning negatively affects the health of the unborn baby, since the products of its own metabolism begin to affect it. In addition, the child experiences a lack of oxygen, because at this time the placenta is no longer able to fully ensure its delivery to all organs and systems of the fetus.
After birth, post-term babies usually require close medical supervision. The neonatologist monitors their condition for 2-3 days. Among the likely dangerous complications are disorders of the brain and respiratory distress syndrome.
With a post-term pregnancy, women are much more likely to have prolonged labor, and such abnormalities of labor activity as weakness and discoordination are also revealed. In many cases, there is a need for a cesarean section.
How to prevent overweight and avoid dangerous complications?
If labor does not begin at the 41st week, the expectant mother is sent to the hospital, where specialists carefully assess the situation and develop the optimal tactics in each specific case, focusing on various indicators. In particular, doctors take into account the height and weight of the unborn child, the volume of amniotic fluid, the state of blood flow, the size of the woman’s pelvis, and the characteristics of the course of pregnancy. Be sure to dynamically monitor the condition of the expectant mother and baby.
Doctors can influence the readiness of a woman’s body for childbirth, because they know what processes are necessary for this. Specialists stimulate labor activity using special drugs.