Induction of Labour when your baby is overdue or ‘post dates’

This page gives you information about your options when your pregnancy goes beyond your estimated due date to help you understand your choices and to make decisions about your care.

Post-term pregnancy is a pregnancy that goes past 42 weeks gestation (‘term’ pregnancy is 37-42 week gestation period). Post-dates pregnancy is a pregnancy going past the estimated delivery date (EDD), also known as due date at 40 weeks gestation.

When is labour likely to happen?

50% of birth happens before 40 weeks, 82.8% before 41 weeks, 99% before 42 weeks (NICE, 2021).

If your pregnancy has been straightforward, local and national guidance supports offering an induction of labour from 41 weeks. This is always your choice, and waiting for labour to start on its own is an option.

Why might it be offered?

There may be reasons why you may be offered an induction of labour (such as medical problems) but induction of labour at 41+0 weeks may reduce:

The likelihood of caesarean birth
The chance of your baby needing admission to the neonatal unit
The chance of your baby dying before they are born (stillbirth) or shortly after they are born

However, the quality of the evidence about whether there really is a higher risk in these situations can vary (NICE, 2021).

The information in a recent (2019) UK review of stillbirth rates from 15 million births is the one used most often as a guide. This shows that the overall risk of stillbirth in every 1000 births is:

Although the above risks are very small, there is no accurate way of knowing exactly which pregnancies could have a problem, which is why it is recommended that you have labour induced before 42 weeks.

An induction of labour is a medical intervention that may affect your birth options and your experience of the birth process.

If your pregnancy has been straightforward, your chance of an unassisted vaginal birth is highest if your labour starts spontaneously (by itself) and if you plan to labour and birth on a midwife-led birth centre or at home
Your choice of place of birth will be limited, as you may be recommended interventions (for example, oxytocin infusion, continuous baby (fetal) heart rate monitoring and epidurals) that are not available for a home birth or in a midwife-led birth centre
You may be less likely to be able to use a birthing pool (if you need the oxytocin drip)
You may be more likely to need an assisted vaginal birth (using forceps or ventouse)
An induced labour may be more painful than a spontaneous labour
Your hospital stay may be longer than with a spontaneous labour

If you want to find out more information about birth settings and types of birth, see the links below:

What if you choose not to have an induction?

An induction of labour is an offer, and you might decide that it is not the right decision for you and your baby. You will be supported in your choice and an individualised plan will be made with you.

Are there any risks to induction?

With any medical intervention, there are possible risks, and everyone’s body reacts differently, as well as each induction method being different. Some possible risks include:

– Over contracting (hyperstimulation)

– A long labour (induction may take a few days to establish labour)

– May increase pain, and likelihood of epidural

– More chance of an unplanned caesarean (NICE 2021)