41 weeks pregnant — what if labor hasn’t started yet?

At the start of your pregnancy, we calculated your due date — the day you reach 40 weeks pregnant. In the Netherlands, 70% of women have not given birth by that date. Most babies are born after 40 weeks.

Facts 

50% of all babies are born between 40–41 weeks
80% of women give birth before 41 weeks
95% of babies are born by 42 weeks of pregnancy
After 42 weeks, we speak of post-term pregnancy (serotinity): you’re officially “overdue.” 

Due date at 41 weeks

In both New Zealand and France, the official due date is set at 41 weeks of pregnancy. This is probably much closer to when most babies are actually born!

Many babies are born between 40 and 42 weeks — this is considered a normal length of pregnancy. Sometimes, however, babies stay in the womb longer than is ideal, and in those cases we may need to help them along. The challenge is that we can’t always tell which babies need help. Most of the information we have comes from the mother: how she feels, her general health, how she experiences her baby’s movements, and how the baby is growing. Every woman experiences this differently, and not everything can be measured accurately. That’s why we also rely on research data from other pregnancies.

It’s therefore impossible to say exactly what the “best” time is to induce labor. For many women, this may not be necessary until 42 weeks, but for others, it can be wiser to induce at 41 weeks — for example, depending on the mother’s age and health. In short: when you reach 41 weeks, you can wait for labor to start naturally, but there are also different ways to help start or induce labor.

Below you’ll find information leaflet and decision aids. Around 40 weeks, we’ll discuss your wishes and answer any questions you may have.

 

You can also watch an English explanatory video on the website of www.degynaecoloog.nl 

Want to read more?

• KNOV (Royal Dutch Organization of Midwives): Multidisciplinary guideline on post-term pregnancy (Dutch)
• Dutch Guideline Database: Policy for pregnancies beyond 41 weeks (Dutch)
• De Gynaecoloog: Options when you’re 41 weeks pregnant (Dutch)
• Thuisarts.nl: 41 weeks pregnant — choosing between waiting and induction (Dutch)