women s health issues
Introduction to Complications of Labor and Delivery
Timing of Labor and Delivery
The average length of pregnancy is 40 weeks, counted from the first day of the last menstrual period. The due date is set at 40 weeks, but this is an estimate. Most women do not deliver exactly on their due date, but some do. Labor may start Too early ( Preterm Labor ): Before the 37th week of pregnancy Late ( Postterm Pregnancy and Postmaturity ): After the 42nd week of pregnancy If a baby is delivered too early or too late, there is a risk of health issues. Labor may be early or late because a woman or fetus has a medical problem or the Fetal Presentation, Position, and Lie (Including Breech Presentation) . Determining the length of pregnancy can be difficult because the precise date of conception often cannot be determined. Early in pregnancy, an ultrasound examination can help determine how far along the pregnancy is. In mid to late pregnancy, ultrasound examinations are less reliable in determining the length of pregnancy. 