Your baby
Have you ever wondered what your baby notices of the birth? Probably little in the first hours; he or she may still be sleeping soundly.
What your baby probably notices most are the pushing contractions. The head is pushed downwards with the chin on the chest, then pushed back again, and on top of that he or she makes a turn. The heart then beats faster or more slowly because of the pressure on the head. During a contraction the heart also beats more slowly, because the blood supply through the placenta is briefly reduced.
Remember that your due date is only a date. It would really be better to speak of the 'due period': officially, a birth between the 37th and the 42nd week is still considered on time. So if your baby has not arrived this week, that is nothing out of the ordinary.
You
The due date has simply come and gone and nothing has happened. So there you are. There is more thumb-twiddling, because you may be getting a little impatient. Meanwhile your appointments with the midwife carry on as usual, so you will see her again this week.
Most women give birth between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy. In the Netherlands women are usually only induced before 41 weeks if there is a medical reason for it.
Sometimes your midwife can give nature a hand by sweeping the membranes. During an internal examination she uses her fingers to loosen the membranes from the cervix, without breaking them. That can stimulate the womb enough to get contractions going.
Are you 41 weeks and thinking about being induced? Go through the pros and cons together with your midwife.
Third trimester
