Child with post-term pregnancy

Future mothers often experience that labor does not start earlier than the time specified by the doctors, but it also happens that the time limit has already come, but there are still no signs of labor activity. Is it dangerous and what is being done if the pregnancy lasts longer than expected?

On average, a normal pregnancy lasts 40 weeks - during this time the fetus develops so much that it can independently exist outside the mother's womb.

If a woman carries a fetus for 41-42 weeks, but there are no signs of over-ripeness of the child and the onset of aging of the placenta, such pregnancy is called prolonged.

When her baby is born later than expected, but is healthy and full-term. One of the reasons for such a “delay” of a normally developed baby inside the uterus is the long menstrual cycle of a woman before conception.

In the following video you can learn more about the causes of post-term pregnancy and how to determine it.

Among the factors provoking pererashivanie called:

• Violation of the menstrual cycle in women before pregnancy.
• Underdeveloped female genitals.
• Infectious diseases before pregnancy and during gestation.
• The future mother's endocrine diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus or thyroid pathology.
• Diseases of the digestive tract and liver in a pregnant woman.
• Inflammatory diseases of the female genitals.
• Tumors in the uterus.
• Gestosis with gestation.
• Abortion is in the past.
• Reduced physical activity of the pregnant.
• Mental trauma or emotional shock.
• The bed rest of the expectant mother for a long period.
• Drug prevention of miscarriage.
• The age of the mother is over 35 at the first pregnancy.
• Pathological course of a previous pregnancy or the birth of a large fetus.
• Big weight future mom.
• Pelvic previa baby.
• Malformations of the fetus (adrenal glands, central nervous system, kidney and other organs).

A perennial pregnancy manifests itself:

• Decrease in volume of amniotic fluid. This leads to a decrease in abdominal girth to 10 cm and a decrease in weight by 1 kg or more.
• Reducing skin turgor of a woman.
• Lack of flakes in amniotic fluid.
• Sometimes the lack of a flat bubble of water, which is located above the head of the baby.
• Greenish or grayish tinge of water due to ingress of meconium into them.
• A more dense structure of the uterus and immature neck.
• The beginning of the discharge from the nipples is not colostrum, but milk.
• Identifying signs hypoxia baby

In babies born as a result of post-term pregnancy, they note:

• Shriveled and dry skin with no or insufficient amount of original lubricant on its surface.
• Greenish skin.
• Not enough subcutaneous fat.
• Compressed cranial bones with narrow fontanelles and sutures.
• Big weight and big growth.
• Long nails.
• Modified head shape.

• Stage 1 - fetal activity increases, and the heart rate increases. Amniotic fluid decreases slightly. Often this stage is observed at week 41 of gestation.
• Stage 2 - changes in the uterus begin, which are manifested by increased tone and a higher standing of the bottom. Girth begins to decrease every day. This stage is diagnosed at 42 and 43 weeks of pregnancy.
• Stage 3 - the blood flow in the placenta is disturbed, resulting in hypoxic damage to the fetus. Such a stage occurs very rarely in our day, because already at the 1-2 stage of postmortem, doctors must take measures to stimulate the onset of labor.

First of all, determine the gestational period of pregnancy, counting it from the last menstruation (and if you know the exact dates of conception or ovulation, then from them), as well as on the basis of the first perturbations and ultrasound data.

Next, they examine the pregnant woman and determine the abdominal circumference, the height of the uterus bottom, and the weight of the future mother. A gynecological examination (it will reveal a neck unprepared for childbirth and changes in the head of the fetus) and an ultrasound scan (it will help to detect the reduction of water and the presence of inclusions in them) are by all means appointed.

Pregnancy, which was delayed more than the expected period, may end in complicated childbirth, sometimes with the need for surgery and an unfavorable outcome. For babies born during such pregnancy, the risk of damage to the nervous system due to hypoxia is 2–5 times higher, because due to the dense bones of the skull and an insufficient amount of lubricant, fetal movement through the birth canal is difficult.

With a gestational age of 41 weeks, the expectant mother is hospitalized at the maternity hospital to resolve the issue of delivery.

If the cervix is ​​still immature, topical treatment using a hormone gel or tablets is used for several days. Such drugs soften the cervix and dilate the cervical canal. Next, prescribe medications, the action of which is the stimulation of uterine contractions. In the process of birth continuously monitored fetal heartbeat.

If the pregnancy is postponed, the following situations may occur during childbirth:

• The process of delivery may be delayed.
• Amniotic fluid pours out prematurely.
• Generic activity may become discoordinated.
• Perhaps the development of atonic or hypotonic bleeding.
• The risk of infectious complications increases, such as endometritis or mastitis.
• The child develops hypoxia, which threatens hypoxic birth trauma.
• Perhaps the emergence of such a serious complication, as asphyxia.
• There may be mechanical birth injuries.
• The risk of aspiration of amniotic fluid contaminated with meconium increases, which is the cause of pneumonia in the newborn.

In children who were born overripe, can develop:

• Severe jaundice.
• Hormonal crisis.
• Skin infections
• Neurological pathology.
• Delayed development.

To prevent problems caused by a postponed pregnancy, the expectant mother should be more careful about her health. She can advise:

• Plan a pregnancy and prepare for it.
• Regularly visit the doctor during the carrying.
• Time to take all the tests and perform scheduled examinations.
• Do not avoid moderate exercise during pregnancy (if there are no complications). The best choice would be gymnastics, breathing practices and swimming.
• Do not refuse further examination and hospitalization, if there are signs of prolongation.