Length of pregnancy
Pregnancy is known to last for 9 months, but health care providers use days and weeks to express the duration of pregnancy, and the date of delivery is 40 weeks or 280 days from the first day of the last menstrual period (Menstrual period) The pregnancy period does not start from the moment the pregnancy actually takes place. The pregnancy is usually two weeks after the start of the period, and for the simple calculation of pregnancy, 7 days are added to the date of the first day of the last menstrual cycle and then 9 months are added. The monthly cycle is the first of February, with the addition of 7 days becomes the eighth date From February, and then adding nine months. The expected date of birth is November 8, yet only 4% of women give birth on their due date. Pregnancy may range from 37-42 weeks because some women are not sure of another date A menstrual cycle, this happens in the case of irregular menstrual cycle, for example.
Maximum duration of pregnancy
The mother may carry her fetus for up to 42 weeks or more, but doctors often stimulate the delivery at the fetal stage. These conditions are classified as postterm pregnancy, with a gestational age of 42 or 294 to 10 % Of pregnancies. It is worth mentioning that the possibility of delay in the date of delivery increases in the first pregnancies or in the event of the mother’s delay of the date of birth in a previous pregnancy, and plays the genetic role also and the division of the duration of pregnancy:
- Early term pregnancy, 37 weeks to 38 weeks and 6 days.
- Full term pregnancy, 39 weeks to 40 weeks and 6 days.
- Late term pregnancy is 41 weeks to 41 weeks and 6 days.
Risk of late delivery
Delayed birth dates are associated with many risks for the fetus and the mother, as detailed below.
The risk of delayed fetal delivery
The following are the most important risks to the fetus in case of delayed birth date:
- The birth of a dead fetus or the death of the fetus after birth: The incidence of this is between 4-7 cases per 1000 births, while stillbirths or neonatal death are 2-3 cases among 1000 births if the birth is between the week 37-42.
- Large body size: The size of the body of the fetus is large if the weight exceeds 4500 g, and the increase in the incidence of this problem in case of delayed delivery time of 3-7 times, and this causes problems during birth, such as length of birth, and the difficulty of passing the fetus of the birth canal, the probability of fractures, Some nerves hurt and damage.
- Suction suction syndrome: (Meconium Aspiration Syndrome). The incidence of this syndrome increases after 40 weeks of pregnancy, known as the presence of Meconium and amniotic fluid in the fetus’ lungs before, during, or after birth, The fetus is a dark green substance that is produced inside the intestines of the fetus before birth, and which is disposed of during the first days of the fetus. However, if the embryo is exposed to pressure, this substance may go out into the uterus and mix with the amniotic fluid around the fetus. Thus causing problems in the lungs, and in rare cases may lead to reduction of oxygen Connecting yen to the brain, thereby causing permanent damage to the brain, and although not considered life-threatening problem, but it may be fatal in severe cases or if not treated.
- Post-maturity syndrome: The fetus is characterized by long fingernails and long hair as well, usually due to obstruction of fetal blood flow in the uterus and inefficiency of the placenta, and it is worth Postpartum syndrome occurs in 20% of cases of delayed delivery.
- Long-term love: Some reports indicated that the delay in the date of birth causes a delay in the child’s physical and mental development, which may extend to five years.
The risk of late delivery on the mother
The delay in delivery is associated with serious risk to the mother. This may lead to labor dystocia and rupture and damage in the perineum area, which include the vagina, the anus and the anus. These risks are related to the size of the fetus at birth, It is also dangerous to increase the need for caesarean section. The caesarean section is associated with many risks, such as increased endometriosis, exposure to bleeding, and damage to neighboring organs. It should be noted that the psychological impact of late mother’s birth should not be underestimated. A 2007 study of 119,254 births indicated that maternal risk associated with late delivery increased by just over 40 weeks of gestation, some of which went beyond 39 A week of pregnancy.