Postterm pregnancy risks

Research shows that when pregnancy extends between 41 weeks and 41 weeks and 6 days (late-term pregnancy) as well as 42 weeks or beyond (postterm pregnancy), your baby might be at increased risk of health problems, including:

• Being significantly larger than average at birth (fetal macrosomia), which might increase the risk of an operative vaginal delivery, C-section, or getting a shoulder stuck behind your pelvic bone during delivery (shoulder dystocia)
• Postmaturity syndrome, which is marked by decreased fat beneath the skin, a lack of a greasy coating (vernix caseosa), decreased soft, downy hair (lanugo), and staining of the amniotic fluid, skin and umbilical cord by your baby's first bowel movement (meconium)
• Low amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios), which can affect your baby's heart rate and compress the umbilical cord during contractions

Late-term and postterm pregnancies can also pose risks, such as delivery complications:

• Severe vaginal tears
• Infection
• Postpartum bleeding