Did you know that stillbirth risk doubles after 40 weeks of pregnancy?
Did you also know that there is no medical or regulatory reason that you should be denied an induction after 39 weeks of pregnancy, if you wish to have one?
For that reason, assuming high confidence in the pregnancy’s dates, we typically do not recommend pregnancy ever going past due, and are supportive of "elective" delivery at term (37+ weeks) if there are any reasons to suspect this baby might be at higher risk of stillbirth (due to altered fetal movement, fetal growth restriction, small placenta, hypertension, persistent maternal concerns, etc.).
Check out this valuable information from the NIH on gestational age and stillbirth.
ACOG also has extensive studies on birth timing and stillbirth. They state that "Large observational studies demonstrate that advanced maternal age is an independent risk factor for stillbirth even after controlling for risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, placenta previa, and multiple gestation." The chart below clearly shows how the risk of stillbirth doubles after 40 weeks' gestation.
If you find yourself pregnant after 35, ask your provider about a possible early induction. Need some extra help? The Earth Mama birth plan tool is amazing!
Find this post helpful? Please share it with your pregnant friends! Together, we can push for better outcomes for parents and babies everywhere. 💙
For more resources on self-advocacy and stillbirth prevention, check out our Empowered Pregnancy Guide.