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Originally Posted by highthief
Yeah, doesn't the placenta or something start to break down at that point, leading to potential damage to the child, which is why women are typically induced if they go past 42 weeks? And that if the membranes break and there is no delivery within 24-48 hours, an increased risk of infection for the infant occurs?
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In looking up prolonged gestations(over 41 weeks), I found some interesting tidbits:
There is a general increase in death rates, partially due to some prolonged pregnancies being the result of malformations. Rates are considered small, about 6 in 1,000.
There is an increased chance of the baby inhaling meconium(its first bowel movement) or passing it into the amniotic fluids. This can lead to death.
Uteral-placental circulation should be tested.
The baby starts to lose weight and body fat.
When your water breaks:
If the amniotic fluid is ruptured for more than 24 hours your risk of developing a uterine infection increases dramatically.
Several things about freebirth really bother me, specially if it's decided that neither a doctor or midwife will be part of the process:
1) Breech.
2) Multiple pregnancy(it can be that you wouldn't know you're carrying more than one-happened to my grandmother and, I'm sure, many women before the advent of prenatal testings.)
3) Large baby.
4) Malformations/congenital defects
5) Nutritional deficiencies
6) Miscalculations of time
7) Self-diagnosing