Post-term pregnancy is defined as lasting longer than how many weeks?

Post-term pregnancy is specifically defined as a condition in which the pregnancy extends beyond 42 weeks of gestation. This timeframe is critical because it helps healthcare providers identify pregnancies that may require more intensive monitoring and intervention due to potential risks to the mother and fetus.

Beyond 42 weeks, the risk of complications such as decreased amniotic fluid, placental insufficiency, and fetal distress increases, which can lead to adverse outcomes. Establishing this definition is important for clinical guidelines and managing labor and delivery to ensure both maternal and neonatal safety.

The options of 40 weeks and 41 weeks do not classify a pregnancy as post-term; rather, they refer to the standard term pregnancy length, with 40 weeks being the average duration for a full-term pregnancy and 41 weeks still considered within the normal range for labor onset. The option of 43 weeks is beyond the commonly accepted definition but is not typically used in clinical practice to define post-term pregnancy. Thus, the identification of post-term pregnancy is firmly established at exceeding 42 weeks.