A prolonged or post-term pregnancy is a pregnancy that lasts longer than 42 weeks. The main risks include:
- Aging of the placenta
- If the placenta becomes too old, the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the baby decreases, which can affect his health severely.
- Neonatal aspiration of meconium
- If the pregnancy lasts too long, the baby may expel the meconium to the amniotic fluid. As a consequence, it can end up entering his lungs, which can cause inflammation of the fetal lungs. This is the reason why you should pay special attention to the color and consistency of your water in case of membrane rupture.
- Fetal macrosomia
- If the baby is too large, vaginal delivery might not be possible, forcing the doctor to schedule a C-section.
Read the full article on: Is It 9 or 10 Months for Pregnancy? – The Final Stages ( 78).
Victoria Moliner
BSc, MSc
Embryologist on CREA
Degree in Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences from the University of Valencia (UV). Master's Degree in Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction from the UV and the Valencian Infertility Institute (IVI). Presently, she works as a Research Biologist.
