Depending on the condition of the child, two types of post-term pregnancy are distinguished:
• Late delivery of a fetus without signs of overmaturity (prolonged pregnancy). Typical for women with ovarian dysfunction under 30 years of age. The baby is born large, but without signs of overmaturity. The cervix is mature. According to ultrasound and CTG, there are no signs of changes in the placenta and fetal disorders. Amniotic fluid is clear, normal color. Histology of the placenta shows no characteristic changes. Often such births are the result of an incorrectly determined gestational age.
• Belated childbirth with an overripe fetus (true gestation). Characteristic of the first pregnancy in women over 30 years of age with sexually transmitted infections, chronic inflammatory diseases of the genitals and a history of delayed childbirth. The cervix is immature or insufficiently mature. According to ultrasound, changes in the placenta and oligohydramnios are detected, according to CTG, signs of fetal hypoxia are noted. After birth, the fetus has signs of postmaturity: a large or small weight of the newborn, wrinkled yellowish or greenish skin with no cheese-like lubricant on it, dense skull bones, long nails. Histology of the placenta reveals its structural changes.
The longer the period of true gestation, the higher the risk of complications and adverse outcome of this pregnancy. Possible:
• injuries of the mother's genitals during childbirth due to the large size of the fetus and the density of the bones of its skull;
• trauma to the child, hypoxic damage to his nervous system and breathing problems.