Overdue pregnancy: What to do when baby's overdue

Your due date has come and gone — and you're still pregnant. What's going on?

Probably nothing unusual. Although it may seem to have magical qualities, your due date is simply an educated guess about when your baby is most likely to arrive. It's perfectly normal to give birth one to two weeks before or after your due date. In fact, only an estimated 5 percent of women give birth on their due dates. You're not considered overdue until two weeks after your due date.

Enough already!

By this point, you're probably tired of being pregnant. Your back may ache, and your ankles may be swollen. You may be struggling with heartburn and varicose veins. You may have trouble sleeping because you simply can't get comfortable — or anxiety about childbirth may keep you awake.

Rest assured, you won't be pregnant forever. Labor may begin anytime.

Keeping an eye on your pregnancy

As your pregnancy continues, your health care provider will closely monitor you and your baby. He or she will check your cervix to see if it's begun to thin and dilate in preparation for labor. If you're more than one week overdue, your baby's heartbeat may be tracked with an electronic fetal monitor, and an ultrasound may be used to observe your baby's movements and measure the amount of amniotic fluid.

Giving baby a nudge

Sometimes, it's better to deliver sooner rather than later — particularly if your health care provider is concerned about your health or your baby's health or your pregnancy continues more than two weeks past your due date.

If your health care provider decides to induce your labor, you may be given medication to help your cervix soften and open. If your amniotic sac is still intact, an opening may be created with a thin plastic hook. It doesn't hurt, but you may feel a warm gush of fluid when the sac breaks open.

Often, these steps are accompanied by medication to kick-start your contractions. The most common choice is Pitocin, a synthetic version of oxytocin — a hormone your body produces at low levels throughout pregnancy and in higher levels during active labor. The dosage may be adjusted to regulate the strength and frequency of your contractions.

Hang in there

You're in the homestretch! Whether your health care provider suggests a wait-and-see approach or schedules an induction, do your best to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

• Accept your emotions. It's OK to feel frustrated or disappointed. You probably didn't bargain for more than 40 weeks of pregnancy.
• Take advantage of the extra time. Sleep in while you can. Put the finishing touches on the nursery. Stock your freezer with extra meals. Address birth announcements and thank you cards.
• Make plans. Your health care provider may want you to stay close to home, but that's no reason to miss a new movie, go out to dinner or take a walk in the park. Don't be afraid to make plans just because you may need to cancel at the last minute.
• Put your answering machine or voice mail to work. To keep well-meaning friends and loved ones up-to-date, consider recording a greeting with the latest on the pregnancy front. "We're patiently waiting for the big day!" may be enough to handle the inquiries that are sure to test your patience.
• Treat home remedies with a dose of caution. A simple Internet search will yield countless results for "natural" ways to trigger labor, such as eating spicy food or having sex. Some tactics are relaxing, others silly — and a few may do more harm than good. Get your health care provider's OK before trying any home remedies, herbal supplements or alternative treatments.
• Stay in touch with your health care provider. You'll need frequent checkups until your baby is born. If you think you're in labor, call your health care provider right away.

Soon you'll hold your baby in your arms — and the long wait will seem worth every minute.

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