Contents
Duration of pregnancy
It is known that pregnancy lasts for a period of 9 months, but health care providers use days and weeks to express the duration of pregnancy, and the specific date of birth is after 40 weeks or 280 days from the date of the first day of the last menstrual period ; [1] That is, the period of pregnancy does not start from the moment the pregnancy actually occurs. Rather, pregnancy is usually two weeks after the beginning of the calculated period, and to calculate the duration of pregnancyIn simple terms, 7 days are added to the date of the first day of the last menstruation, and then 9 months are added; For example, if the date of the first day of the last menstruation is the first of February, then with the addition of 7 days, the date becomes the eighth of February, and then adding nine months, the expected date of childbirth is the eighth of November, yet only 4% of women give birth on The date set for them, as the period of pregnancy may range between 37-42 weeks because some women are not sure of the date of the last menstrual period, and this happens in the event of irregular menstruation, for example. [2]
The maximum duration of pregnancy
The mother may carry her fetus for a period of up to 42 weeks or more, but doctors often stimulate the birth process when the fetus reaches this stage, [2] and these cases are medically classified as postterm pregnancy, and the rate of pregnancy exceeds 42 weeks or 294 to 10% of pregnancies. It is worth noting that the possibility of a late birth date increases in the first cases of pregnancy, or if the mother was exposed to a late date of birth in a previous pregnancy, and the genetic factor plays a role as well [1] And the next division of the duration of pregnancy: [3]
- Early term pregnancy, which is between 37 weeks to 38 weeks and 6 days.
- Full term pregnancy, which is between 39 weeks to 40 weeks and 6 days.
- Late term pregnancy, which is between 41 weeks to 41 weeks and 6 days.
The risks of a late due date
The delay in the due date is associated with many risks to the fetus and the mother, and the details will follow. [1]
The risks of a late due date on the fetus
The following are the most important risks that occur to the fetus if the due date is delayed:
- Stillbirth or death of the fetus after birth: up ratio occurs between 4-7 cases per 1,000 births, while the percentage of births stillbirth or fetal death after birth (Neonatal death) to 2-3 cases Between 1000 births if the birth was between 37-42 weeks. [1]
- Large body size: The size of the fetus’s body is considered large if its weight exceeds 4,500 grams, and the incidence of this problem increases in the event that the date of birth is delayed by 3-7 times, and this causes problems during childbirth, such as the length of the birth period, the difficulty of the fetus’s passage from the birth canal, and the possibility Fractures occur, and some nerves are injured and damaged. [1] [4]
- Meconium aspiration syndrome: The incidence of this syndrome increases after 40 weeks of pregnancy, and is defined as the presence of meconium (Meconium) and amniotic fluid inside the fetus’s lungs before or during birth Or, meconium is a dark green substance produced inside the intestine of the fetus before its birth, which is disposed of during the first days after birth, but if the fetus is subjected to pressure, this substance may go out into the uterus and mix with the amniotic fluid around the fetus, and then enter inside The lungs of the fetus, causing problems in the lungs, and in rare cases it may lead to a decrease in oxygen reaching the brain, causing permanent damage to the brain, although it is not considered a life-threatening problem, but it may be fatal in severe cases or if untreated. [5]
- Post syndrome maturity: , and where the newborn long and weak shows the structure, with the loss of muscle mass and adipose tissue under the skin, and is characterized by the fetus infected this syndrome the presence of nails long long hair too, usually occur due to obstruction of blood supply to the fetus inside the uterus and not The efficiency of the placenta, and it is worth noting that post-maturity syndrome occurs in 20% of cases of late labor. [1] [4] [6]
- Long-term risks: Some reports indicated that a late date of birth causes a delay in the physical and mental development of the child, which may extend to five years. [4]
The dangers of a late due date for the mother
Late labor is associated with serious risks for the mother; As this may lead to dystocia (labor dystocia), and the occurrence of tears and damage in the perineum, which includes the vagina, labia and anus, and these risks are associated with the large size of the fetus at birth, and the risks also increase the proportion of need for a cesarean section, Caesarean section is associated with many risks, such as increasing the incidence of endometriosis , exposure to bleeding, and damage to neighboring organs. It should be noted that the importance of the psychological impact that the late date of birth causes to the mother should not be underestimated, and a study conducted in 2007 that included 119,254 births indicated that the risks to the mother associated with the delay of the due date increase as soon as he exceeds 40 weeks of pregnancy, and some of these risks occur by exceeding 39 One week of pregnancy. [1] [6]
References
- ^ A b t w c h x Errol Norwitz the R (16-3-2017), "Patient Education: Postterm pregnancy 'search (Beyond The Basics)" , Uptodate , Retrieved 12-11-2017. Edited.
- ^ A b "Baby Due Date" , Betterhealth , 8-2014, Retrieved 12-11-2017. Edited.
- ↑ Errol R Norwitz (26-9-2017), "Postterm pregnancy" , uptodate , Retrieved 12-11-2017. Edited.
- ^ A b T. Kathleen M Berkowitz, J. , Thomas Garite (10-2008), "Postdatism" , Glowm , Retrieved 18-11-2017. Edited.
- ↑ Darla Burke (4-1-2016), "Meconium Aspiration Syndrome" , healthline , Retrieved 18-11-2017. Edited.
- ^ A b M Galal, I . The Symonds, of Murray And H for Others, "Postterm pregnancy 'search " , Ncbi , Retrieved 18-11-2017. Edited.
