What is the reason for the delayed due date? What should I do if the due date is delayed for a week and the baby is still not born?

Generally speaking, you should be ready for the birth of your baby on the due date. However, many people have encountered the problem of delayed due date. So what should you do if the due date is delayed by a week and you still haven't given birth? Let's introduce it together below!

What is the reason for delayed due date?

1. Inaccurate calculation of expected delivery date

If the due date of the expectant mother is delayed, it is very likely that the due date is not calculated accurately. Some people have irregular menstruation or cannot remember the time of the last menstrual period, which leads to a large error in the due date. Therefore, pregnant women must recheck the due date with the help of a doctor.

2. The fetus is too large

The delay of the due date of the expectant mother may be due to the large size of the fetus, which causes the fetal head to be unable to enter the pelvis, and the cervix is ​​not stimulated as it should be, which delays the delivery of the expectant mother and there is no sign of delivery. This is also a common reason for the delay of the due date of pregnant women, so expectant mothers should have regular prenatal examinations.

3. Lack of exercise

The lack of exercise in expectant mothers can also lead to a delay in the due date. When pregnant women are less active, the fetus lacks the passive exercise power given by the mother, so the fetus is less active and cannot actively secrete hormones to the mother. In addition, the muscles of pregnant women lack elasticity, and a small amount of oxytocin is not enough to initiate uterine contractions, so the due date is delayed.

4. Being too nervous

When expectant mothers are about to give birth, their own psychological pressure will increase. They worry about the outcome of pregnancy. Excessive tension will affect the secretion of oxytocin. At the same time, nowadays, only children are spoiled, and infertility is increasing, which makes families take extra care of pregnant women, which will also increase the psychological burden of expectant mothers.

5. Work pressure

Nowadays, the social life is stressful and the work pace is fast. Even if pregnant, expectant mothers need to work normally. Excessive work pressure will easily make expectant mothers tired, increase mental stress, and become emotionally unstable, leading to delayed due dates.

6. Taking medication

During pregnancy, expectant mothers have to take some medicines because of some illnesses. Although these medicines have no effect on the development of the fetus, they may affect the oxytocin level of pregnant women in the later stage, causing the oxytocin level to be too low, which is not enough to cause uterine contractions, thus delaying the expected date of delivery.

7. Placental sulfatase deficiency

The delay of the due date of pregnant women may be due to the lack of placental sulfatase. Although the fetal adrenal glands produce sufficient 16α-OH-DHEAS, due to the lack of placental sulfatase, this weakly active dehydroepiandrosterone cannot be converted into estradiol and estriol, resulting in the delay of the due date of the expectant mother.

8. Genetic factors

The delay of the due date of the expectant mother may be related to genetic factors. Some pregnant women have a long pregnancy period and have experienced delayed due dates for several births. Similar situations also occur in the family, indicating that the delay of the due date of the expectant mother is likely related to genetics.

One week delayed and still not giving birth

If a pregnant woman has passed her due date but has not yet shown any signs of labor, she must pay attention to the following points:

1. Don't be too nervous, and pay attention to the fetal movement. If the fetal movement is less than 3 times per hour or less than 20 times in 12 hours or the fetal movement is weakened, you need to go to the hospital for further examination immediately. The doctor will decide the time of delivery according to the situation.

2. Continue prenatal check-ups and give the doctor the results of early pregnancy check-ups (such as B-ultrasound, blood tests, pregnancy tests, etc.) and the time and results of fetal movement, so that the doctor can check the gestational age again.

3. Strengthen prenatal examinations, shorten the interval between examinations, keep in touch with the doctor at any time, inform the doctor of the intrauterine fetal movement, and follow up the amniotic fluid volume with B-ultrasound. If there is no abnormality, the pregnancy can continue under close monitoring.

If the due date is postponed to 14 days later, reaching the so-called clinical overdue pregnancy, the placenta of some pregnant women will age and the fetus will suffer from hypoxia and suffocation, which will cause great harm to the child. You should go to the hospital in time to take measures.

Notes on dietary conditioning

Before and after the due date, pregnant women should ensure balanced nutrition intake. Although nutrition should be supplemented during pregnancy to avoid malnutrition affecting the normal development of the fetus, in the third trimester, diet should be relatively restrained, because excessive diet will cause the baby in the belly to grow too big, and there is a risk of macrosomia.

From the 8th month of pregnancy, the fetus grows very fast. The main features are that the brain, bones, blood vessels, and muscles are fully formed at this time, the organs mature, the skin gradually becomes tough, and the subcutaneous fat increases. If the pregnant woman's nutritional intake is unreasonable or excessive, the fetus will grow too large and cause dystocia at birth. Therefore, the diet of pregnant women during this period must be arranged reasonably.

During this period, the diet should be small, rich, and varied. Generally, small and frequent meals should be taken, and the amount of food consumed should be appropriately controlled, especially high-protein and high-fat foods.

The seasoning of the diet should be light, and less salty food should be eaten. The amount of salt in the daily diet should be controlled below 7 grams, and it is not advisable to drink a lot of water. At the same time, pregnant women should choose small foods with high nutritional value, such as animal foods, and avoid eating large foods with low nutritional value, such as potatoes and sweet potatoes, to reduce the feeling of fullness in the stomach. In particular, sufficient calcium should be consumed. Pregnant women should pay attention to the intake of vitamins while eating calcium-rich foods.

Pregnant women should take in enough high-quality protein and essential fatty acids, and eat more vegetable oils. Pay attention to balanced nutrition, control salt intake in daily diet, do not eat too much high-calorie foods, sweets, rice, bread and other staple foods, eat more eggs, milk, meat and soy products containing high-quality protein, and also consider eating foods containing other nutrients.