A little past your due date
Once you reach 41 weeks the risks, while still very small, do start to increase. Your care team will talk through the options with you, which might include extra monitoring or an induction.
Under NHS (UK) guidance a membrane sweep is usually offered after 39 weeks, and induction of labour is offered if labour has not started on its own by 41 weeks, because after that there is a higher risk of problems for the baby. Your own maternity care team will talk through the options and timings that apply to you.
Once you're past the date, the days can feel even longer and impatience can peak. These feelings are very common. Many parents describe this as the hardest stretch of waiting — and one that does end.
Everyday things are easier to keep simple this week — short trips, light plans, nothing that has to hold.
Your midwife or maternity team can talk through monitoring and your options if your pregnancy continues past this week.
Services ParentSide defines for this stage. Each page explains what the service covers and which professionals are approved to provide it.
