What are the common complications if the baby is delivered more than 40 weeks?

Answer 1

My first son was born at 42 wks he was a very healthy 9.2lb and had no problems apart from dry skin. I wouldnt worry about the baby getting any bigger 2 wks is not gonna make that much difference.

Answer 2

if a baby remains in the womb beyond 40 weeks then the complications could be the size of the baby. if the baby is very big then the mother may have to have a c-section but other than that there really are not any complcations. gestational age is not an exact science....the baby will come when it is ready. some babies are ready before 40 weeks and some after. also age of the fetus may have been miscalculated.

Answer 3

The placenta may deteriorate. The placenta is designed to work for about 40 weeks from the time of conception. Most placentas function a bit longer than that, but in some cases the placenta deteriorates to the point where it can no longer provide the baby with the nutrients he needs to thrive. This can cause the baby to lose weight.


Your baby may be very large. If your placenta is still in top form, your baby may continue to gain weight after your due date has passed. In this case you may give birth to an extra large baby, which may put you at increased risk of delivery complications.


Amniotic fluid levels may drop. The amount of amniotic fluid your baby floats around in begins decreasing from about the 34th to 36th week of gestation. If a pregnancy continues too long, the amniotic fluid level can drop so low that your baby is at increased risk of settling onto the umbilical cord, creating a compression problem.


Your baby could inhale meconium. The longer your baby remains in the uterus, the greater the chance he will pass his first bowel movement in the uterus. If this happens, the baby could breathe in some meconium, the black, sticky, tar-like substance in your baby's bowels, before or during the birth. This could lead to breathing problems during the first days of life.

Answer 4

not any different. your babies head could be larger or his/her skin may be dryer. i delivered at 41 weeks exactly. and i had a 11 1/2 hour labour and 39 minutes of pushing . nothing wrong his apgar tests was 9.5 out of ten. they told me that they cant give any baby 10 out of ten

Answer 5

the woman can have a dry birth ( which means that there is no more fluid in the womb with the baby) which is also a problem because the baby needs that fluid