A normal pregnancy term lasts for 40 strenuous but exciting weeks. Only a small fraction of babies are born on their actual due date. However, it is more common for babies to be born before their due date rather than after. As surprising as it may sound, it is not unknown for a woman to pass her due date and carry on to 42 weeks of gestation. A woman is generally said to be overdue at this stage. Approximately ten percent of all deliveries occur after the due date. More often than not, this is usually the result of a miscalculation when calculating the due date. This is mainly seen in women who experience irregular periods and the...
...actual ovulation date is doubtful. Fetal development at week 42 may be very slow but this does not mean that it comes to a complete standstill. As an expectant mother passes her due date, she tends to get very anxious. This is an utterly normal feeling especially considering the long wait she has been through. However, it is essential for the expectant mother to relax as she passes on her feelings to her baby. Relaxing also helps to reduce complications. In most cases, the babies are absolutely fine and are just not ready to leave the confines of their mother’s womb to come into the world as yet. At this stage, the baby would be moving in to position in the pelvis in preparation for labor. Fetal development in week 42 allows the baby to continue to put on weight. Growth within the womb is quicker than outside it post term. Babies born past their due date generally weigh more at birth in comparison to those born before or on the expected due date. Some babies are born with long, thin arms and legs.
Fetal development in week 42, the baby’s hair and nails also continue to grow. Hence, these babies are usually born with long, thick hair. Their long fingernails and toenails need to be trimmed at birth itself. In some rare cases, the babies are also born with a tooth or two. Babies born late are generally more alert and open their eyes earlier than others. They have drier skin as the protective layer that covers the baby becomes thinner as the due date nears. At birth, the skin looks like parchment and it tends to peel off. The skin may also be loose, especially around the buttocks and thighs. However, babies born later than the anticipated due date are not known to suffer any long-term issues unless a complication arises at the time of birth itself.
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