Postterm Pregnancy

Postterm pregnancy is a pregnancy continuing past the 42nd week of gestation, two weeks beyond the typical 40-week duration, and it is a reason to induce labor. After the 42nd week, the placenta, which supplies the baby with nutrients and oxygen from the mother, starts aging and will eventually fail, and postmature births carry risks for both mother and baby, including fetal malnutrition, meconium aspiration syndrome, and stillbirth. Incidence is approximately 7 percent generally, though birth certificate data puts the rate in the United States at about 0.4 percent of pregnancies.