Prolonged pregnancy: what is it, what duration, differences from the transferred

Many future mothers hear such a diagnosis from the doctor as a prolonged pregnancy. Do not be scared - this is a natural state, but which should occur under the supervision of the doctor.

Content

Pregnancy is coming to an end. Everything is ready for the appearance of a new family member: playpen, diapers, stroller and hundreds of cute things. The future mother and everyone around is looking forward to a significant event.

Read on our website an article on why is it impossible to be very nervous during pregnancy. You will find out what needs to be done so as not to be nervous and find out whether it is possible to use sedatives in this position.

So passes 40th week, followed by 41stbut nothing happens. There are no signs of imminent birth. Further about what this means and whether it is worth worrying. What is a prolonged pregnancy? What are the symptoms, duration? Read further.

What is a prolonged pregnancy: what is characterized?

The term is common in medicine "Prolonged pregnancy". It means that the period of bearing the fetus is delayed for objective reasons. If the pregnancy passes without pathological changes, nothing threatens the health of the child and mother, all indicators are normal, then it is most likely about a prolonged pregnancy, and not about the pathological overending of the baby.

Such pregnancy is characterized by the following signs:

The term exceeds 40 weeks.
There are no signs of approaching labor (there were no training contractions, the stomach did not sink).
The cervix matured for childbirth.
Farmers are transparent, did not decrease in volume.
Placental blood flow in sufficient quantities.
Medical readings of the fetus are normal.

Below even more useful information.

To prolong pregnancy: what does this mean?

There is such a state of mother and child, when it is still early to give birth, that is, the term for childbirth has not yet come. For example, this may be with the placenta. If the gestational age is up to 37 weeks, blood loss up to 25 ml, the episodes of bleeding are repeated no more than 3 times, and the condition of the mother and fetus is satisfactory, then the doctor may prescribe pregnancy. What does it mean? The future mother is appointed:

Strict bed rest
Sedative therapy
Enchanting and tokolithic drugs that reduce the tone and contractility of the uterus (metacin, magnesium sulfate, etc.)
Hemostatic drugs
Anemia tablets safe for such patients
Normalizing uterine-placental blood flow
Preventive measures of the distress syndrome of the fetus

As a result, the future woman in labor should take place for several more weeks, while the deadline comes to give birth. But the woman must follow all the doctor's recommendations. Then the situation ends soon with normal births and the birth of an absolutely healthy baby. Perhaps he will be a little heavier than his comrades born at 40 weeks, but there will be no negative consequences for the child.

Remember: The most important thing in a situation of a delayed pregnancy is to consult a doctor in time and do all the necessary examinations. Only a doctor can determine the causes of a woman’s condition and exclude overstraining.

What is the duration of a prolonged pregnancy?

A generally accepted period of bearing a child is considered 280 days or 40 weeks. Usually, during this time, the fetus manages to develop all the organs necessary for life outside the maternal womb. However, the rations are considered to be a variant of the norm during the period from 38 to 41 weeks. In 8 percent of women in labor, this occurs at 42 weeks, and sometimes for a longer period. It is worth knowing:

The duration of the prolonged pregnancy is 10-14 days. Conventionally, the countdown begins from the 40th week.

There are frequent cases when a prolonged pregnancy occurs due to error when calculating the time of childbirth. The start of the discharge of the pregnancy period is not the day of fertilization, but the first day of the last menstruation. Such incorrect terms may occur if a woman has an irregular menstrual cycle.

Symptoms of prolonged pregnancy

The main symptoms of prolonged pregnancy:

Delay in the occurrence of childbirth and a related state of nervous anxiety.

The woman does not feel any more discomfort. Some other symptoms that cause concern are absent.

Important: If you have other symptoms (bleeding, severity in the lower abdomen, nausea, etc.), urgently consult your doctor who observes pregnancy, or call an ambulance. Perhaps this is the beginning of childbirth. Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis.

Causes of prolonged pregnancy: List

There are several reasons for this condition. Here is a list of factors for the development of prolonged pregnancy:

Individual features of the development of the child
The heredity of the mother
Irregular menstruation
Menstrual cycle for more than 30 days
Complications of pregnancy in the early stages
Psychological factors: fear of childbirth or desire to give birth to a certain date
Large fruit or incorrect presentation

Many women confuse the concepts of “prolonged” and “transferred” pregnancy. But these are different terms. Read further.

The main differences of the transferred pregnancy and prolonged: List

The prolonged pregnancy differs from the transferred

In contrast to imaginary, the transferred pregnancy is fraught with negative consequences. The largest blow is in the health of the baby. The main differences between prolonged and biological (transferred) pregnancy are reflected in the table - list:

Signs	Filled pregnancy	Prolonged pregnancy
BEFORE GIVING BIRTH
Reducing the volume of the abdomen by 5-10 cm	Observed. Associated with a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid	Not visible
Changing weight in a woman	Weight loss may occur	The weight is normal
Changes in the motor activity of the fetus	It is possible to strengthen or sharply reduce the intensity of movements	There are no noticeable changes
The condition of the cervix	Immature, not ready for childbirth	Ripened, soft, prepared for childbirth
Placental and uterine blood flow, placental condition	The blood flow is reduced, the fetus does not receive the necessary substances in full. Placenta with signs of aging	Blood flow is normal, the status of the placenta is satisfactory
Amniotic fluid	In small quantities, green, contain particles of meconium	In sufficient quantities, light
Consequences in childbirth
Fat lubricant on the child's body, facilitating the passage of the birth canal	Not enough	Enough
Skull bones, fontanel	The bones are compacted, the fontanel is narrow. This can cause injuries of the baby's head, as well as the ruptures of the perineum and damage to the bones of the pelvis of the woman in labor	The bones of the skull are soft, mobile. Fontanel within normal limits
The detachment of the placenta	May be accompanied by violations, bleeding	It passes normally
The consequences for the child
Fruit hypoxia	In most cases	As in ordinary births
Weight, subcutaneous fat layer	Weight above the norm (in rare cases below the norm), the subcutaneous fat layer is reduced	Weight is often higher than normal, subcutaneous fat layer is normal
Skin condition	The formation of senile folds, dry skin with the effect of the bath (wrinkled), has a greenish tint, peeling off	Fine
Influence on health	Damage to the brain of varying degrees, liver damage, lungs. May have mortal consequences	The child is healthy

If the doctor sees that the mother and the child are normal, but the gestational age is 40 weeks, then this is a prolonged pregnancy. If there are any deviations in the health of the baby or woman, then the diagnosis of “postponed pregnancy” is made, the future woman in labor is sent to the hospital. Depending on the state, it will be observed or doctors decide to cause childbirth in order to save the child and preserve the health of the future mother.

Differential diagnosis of transferred and prolonged pregnancy

In case of delay in the occurrence of childbirth, pregnant women should undergo special diagnostics. It will be the same for the transferred and prolonged pregnancy.

Such differential diagnosis includes the following examinations:

External inspection - the condition of the cervix, uterine bottom, measurement of the abdominal circumference
Oxytocin and unstress test
Samples of amniotic fluid
Biochemical analysis of blood substances: hCG, progesterone, lactogen, estriol
Ultrasound study of the blood supply to the placenta and umbilical cord
Ultrasound examination of the fetus and placenta
Cardiographic examination of the heart rhythm of the child

All these measures in the complex will help to identify the reasons for the delay in childbirth and confirm or exclude the danger of overstraining.

Prolonged pregnancy: medical tactics

First of all, the doctor needs to determine with which type of prolonged pregnancy he deals with - with a portioned or prolonged. The above diagnosis is carried out for this. In each of these cases, the further tactics of medical support will radically differ.

With a prolonged pregnancy, medical tactics - waiting for intensive observation.
The readiness of the cervix for childbirth is periodically evaluated. It should be soft, patency of at least one finger, the child’s head should already be pressed to the pelvic bottom.

A prolonged pregnancy itself is not an indication for urgent active actions. But doctors in this situation offer hospitalization. Even with the most positive forecasts and good analyzes, the doctor can recommend generic stimulation. In some cases, they resort to Caesarean section. The cause of the fetus, its incorrect position or health status of the future mother may be the reason.

Is it possible to accelerate childbirth without medical intervention?

There are many recipes and tips to accelerate childbirth. But we live in the age of education and the development of medicine. Therefore, it should be understood that using dubious decoctions and drugs is very dangerous. This can jeopardize the life and health of both the mother and the baby.

There are also safe ways to bring birth without medical intervention:

Physical activity. Move more, engage in simple household chores. You can and should do gymnastics for pregnant women.
Sexual intercourse. Do not completely abandon sexual activity in the last dates. Sperm contains substances softening the cervix. In addition, sexual intercourse improves a rush of blood to the uterus. The main thing is that the process is not too active, otherwise the placenta can occur.
Proper nutrition and walks.It is necessary to eat more vegetables, fruits, avoid heavy food and breathe fresh air.

A prolonged pregnancy is not a pathology, but a natural process. Fear and excessive excitement can only harm both the expectant mother and child. A pregnant woman should be under constant enhanced medical supervision. You need to visit a doctor in time, follow his recommendations and take all the necessary tests. The result will be the birth of a strong, healthy baby. Good luck!