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Babies are considered at term if they are born between 37 weeks and 42 weeks of pregnancy but they are usually healthiest if they are born after 39 weeks. It can be quite normal for you to pass your due date and give birth in the two weeks afterward. This is called post-term. Most babies that are born post-term are healthy. As you pass your due date, your health care providers will want to talk to you about keeping a close eye on your pregnancy to help increase the chance of a healthy birth. Your health care provider will likely recommend daily kick counts and may suggest non-stress tests (checking the baby’s heart rate) twice weekly, or that you have your amniotic fluid volume assessed by ultrasound. See below for information about going past your due date and what you can you can expect in the weeks following your due date.
- Association of Ontario Midwives - When your pregnancy goes past your due date (Also available in Arabic, Farsi, and Simplified Chinese)
- HealthyFamiliesBC - Induction during labour and birth
- US National Library of Medicine - When you pass your due date
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - After your due date
- March of Dimes - Why 39 weeks is best for your baby
- SOGC - Overdue pregnancy
- Verywell Family - What Happens When Your Pregnancy Is Past the Due Date?