You at 42 weeks
In most pregnancies, labour naturally starts by 42 weeks.
If your pregnancy lasts longer than 42 weeks and you decide not to have your labour induced, you should be offered increased monitoring to check your baby's wellbeing.
There's a higher risk of stillbirth if you go over 42 weeks pregnant, although most babies remain healthy.
At the moment, there's no way to reliably predict which babies are at increased risk of stillbirth, so induction is offered if you do not go into labour by 42 weeks.
Things to think about
- how long does it take to recover from a caesarean?
- breastfeeding and diet: healthy eating for breastfeeding mums
- your body after the birth: what to expect
- make sure your newborn baby is sleeping safely – find out how to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
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