Overdue baby – what happens if my baby is later than expected?

What is a term pregnancy?

Pregnancy usually lasts between 37 and 42 weeks, and that’s when it’s called a full-term pregnancy or ‘term’ (Dekker & Ailshire, 2026).

As shown in the graphic below, for many people labour starts on its own before 42 weeks (NICE, 2021). A pregnancy that continues for longer than 42 weeks is called post-term (Dekker & Ailshire, 2026).

Graphic showing number of labours that start at up to 42 weeks

Fig: This graph shows the pattern of spontaneous labours each week (labours that start on their own) and the total of all these labours (the cumulative proportion of spontaneous labours) (NICE, 2021).

How accurate are due dates?

The Estimated Due Date (EDD) is defined as 40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period. This measurement is called Naegele’s rule after the person who devised this system in the 18th century (Dekker & Ailshire, 2026).

This calculation assumes that the woman or birthing person has a menstrual cycle of exactly 28 days, and they ovulate on exactly day 14 of the cycle. There is no current evidence to support this rule, and it has been called into question (Dekker & Ailshire, 2026).

An early ultrasound to date a pregnancy is considered a better way of calculating the due date. It leads to fewer situations where induction is recommended because the pregnancy is believed to be ‘late’ or ‘post-term’ (Dekker & Ailshire, 2026).

However, because ‘term’ is a five-week window, it’s unhelpful to focus on the baby being born on a specific date. Some people find it better to talk about the month when they expect to meet their baby.

What happens if I go past my estimated due date (sometimes called overdue?)

As the estimated due date approaches, the midwife will start discussing preferences about the birth and any possible induction. They will continue to schedule antenatal appointments past 40 weeks.

They may offer to schedule an induction date around 41 weeks, which the woman or birthing person can accept or decline. The midwife will explain the offer, but there should be no sense of pressure.

An earlier induction may be suggested in some circumstances, for example where the woman or birthing person has a medical issue.

A scheduled induction date is not a commitment, and the woman or birthing person can go ahead with the induction or change their mind at any point. They can continue to discuss their options at each antenatal appointment.

Why are some pregnancies longer?

It is not understood why some pregnancies are shorter or longer. A strong indicator is a family history of longer pregnancies (Dekker & Ailshire, 2026).

Other factors that may be associated with a longer pregnancy include (Dekker & Ailshire, 2026):

First pregnancies
Being older
Higher body mass index (BMI)
Having a boy

Can I start labour myself?

You may have heard about ways to bring on labour naturally. Look at our article Is it possible to bring on labour? for the evidence.

Are there any risks of a longer pregnancy?

Pregnancy that continues beyond 41 weeks may have a higher chance of (NICE, 2021):

Caesarean birth
The baby needing neonatal care

The likelihood of stillbirth and neonatal death also increases over 41 weeks.

Can the placenta get too old and stop working?

Sometimes women and birthing people are told that there is a risk the placenta may no longer be able to transport nutrients to the baby and take waste products away. Researchers investigating this found that one third of placentas at 41-42 weeks showed signs of ageing compared to placentas from 37-39 weeks of pregnancy, and two thirds did not (Dekker & Ailshire, 2026).

Coping with a longer pregnancy

For many, late pregnancy is a period of passively waiting for labour to start, and women and birthing people can have mixed feelings about longer pregnancies (Völkle & Wettmann, 2021). Some may feel frustrated, emotional, and impatient for the pregnancy to be over, or wish for the baby to arrive.

Others may feel content and comfortable, confident that the baby is well and growing. This may be particularly true if a previous baby was born prematurely, or if they plan for this to be the only pregnancy.

Mothers and birthing people might find comfort in thinking of it as an in between time to prepare for the journey ahead. This period is sometimes described as a liminal space, a threshold between the states of before and after birth.

Dealing with questions from friends and family

Frequent questions and suggestions from family and friends can feel overwhelming.

It can help if the pregnant woman or person is vague about when the baby is expected. They can reassure family and friends that they will be told when there is news, but in the meantime they will not reply to questions about the baby.

Tips for late pregnancy

Our NCT practitioners have shared tips for the woman or birthing person, based on their experience of working with families. Their suggestions include:

Keep occupied by getting things ready for the baby – prepare the hospital bag if planning on going to hospital or as backup for a planned home birth, write a birth plan if wanted, use our articles to research labour and birth and batch cook.
If feeling restless, consider meeting up with friends, perhaps NCT friends.
Exercise such as brisk walking will help with fitness for labour and could help the baby’s position in the womb.
Book something enjoyable, such as a massage or trip to the cinema.
If preferred, use the time to cocoon away to rest and recharge.
Enjoy time with a partner (where there is one). If there are older children, ask if anyone else can look after them for a while.
Some people use the time to get in touch with their emotions, for example by watching a film that moves them.
For some people, a longer pregnancy could be linked to anxiety about the birth or other issues within or outside the relationship. If this is the case, talk to a partner or someone trusted. Writing in a private journal can also help clear the mind.
If incomplete tasks are causing anxiety, deciding to put them away and come back to them after the birth can help reduce worries.
Research parent and baby groups. Better still, go along to one to get familiar with them before the baby arrives.

Tips for family and friends

Discuss with the pregnant woman or person how they want to manage this time. They may be happy to chat often, or they may find the constant questions overwhelming.