Giving birth too early or past your due date

Every pregnancy is unique and follows its own rhythm. Still, there are medical boundaries that determine when a birth is considered “on time.”
This article explains when we speak of a premature birth or post-term pregnancy, what the possible causes and risks are, and what medical care looks like. This way, you’ll know what to expect and when it’s important to contact us.

Premature or preterm birth = when you give birth before 37 weeks
Post-term or overdue = when you give birth after 42 weeks
5% of women deliver prematurely and 5% deliver post-term.
(These percentages apply to healthy women carrying one baby.)

Premature birth: causes and risks

A premature birth (preterm birth) occurs before the 37th week of pregnancy. Babies born too early haven’t had enough time to fully develop. This can affect their health, depending on how early the birth occurs:

• Extremely preterm: before 28 weeks
• Very preterm: between 28 and 32 weeks
• Moderately preterm: between 32 and 37 weeks

Causes of preterm birth

The causes of premature birth vary and are sometimes difficult to determine. Possible factors include:

• Infections (for example, a kidney infection or inflammation of the membranes)
• Problems with the placenta (such as placenta previa or placental abruption)
• Twin or multiple pregnancies
• High blood pressure or pre-eclampsia
• Structural abnormalities of the uterus (unusual shape)
• Stress, smoking, or an unhealthy lifestyle

Risks of preterm birth

The earlier a baby is born, the higher the risks. Possible complications include:

• Breathing problems due to immature lungs
• Difficulty maintaining body temperature
• Feeding difficulties and low blood sugar
• Increased risk of infections
• Long-term developmental challenges

If you experience signs of labour before 37 weeks — such as regular contractions, bleeding, or loss of fluid — it’s important to contact us immediately. Together with the hospital team, we’ll do everything possible to prevent preterm birth.

Post-term pregnancy: what happens if you go past your due date?

We speak of a post-term pregnancy when it lasts longer than 42 weeks. From 41 weeks, it’s referred to as an “approaching post-term pregnancy.” While many babies arrive after the due date, from 41 weeks onward we monitor you and your baby’s health more closely.

Causes of post-term pregnancy

The exact cause of post-term pregnancy is often unknown. Heredity can play a role — if your mother or sister gave birth late, you may be more likely to as well.

Risks of post-term pregnancy

After 41 weeks, the risk of complications gradually increases:

• Decreased amniotic fluid, which can affect the umbilical cord
• A less efficient placenta
• A larger baby, which can make labour more difficult

That’s why, from 41 weeks onward, we plan extra checkups and discuss whether and when it might be wise to induce labour.

Medical care and what to expect

In case of threatened preterm birth

If there are signs of a possible preterm birth:

• Observation: We’ll refer you to the hospital for closer monitoring.
• Medication: You may receive medication to help your baby’s lungs mature and to slow contractions.
• Hospital stay: In more serious cases, you may be admitted for observation.

In case of approaching post-term pregnancy

After 40–41 weeks, we offer:

• Extra checkups: More frequent appointments to monitor your baby’s growth and your blood pressure. If there are any concerns, we may perform a CTG (heart rate monitor) and/or ultrasound to check your baby’s wellbeing and the amount of amniotic fluid.
• Membrane sweeping: This can help trigger labour naturally.
• Induction: If labour doesn’t start on its own, induction may be advised.

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