What Happens When You Pass Your Due Date? When your due date
arrives, you will be more than ready to have your baby! Most
women deliver the baby somewhere between 37 and 42 weeks.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, only 5% of babies arrive on the exact due date.
Approximately 7% of babies are not delivered by 42 weeks, and
when that happens, it is referred to as a "post-term pregnancy."
Why Does This Happen? The most common cause of post-term
pregnancy is that your due date was miscalculated and you really
are not overdue, but right on time. Only about 2% of pregnancies
are really post-term. The reasons for having a true post-term
pregnancy are unclear. What Are The Risks? If you have still not
delivered at 42 weeks, there are increased risks to your health
and to the health of the baby. As the baby gets past its due
date, the placenta, which is the link between you and the baby,
may stop working as effectively as it had before. This could
influence the oxygen and nutrients