Your Due Date Is a Guess, Not an Expiration Date
Let’s get one thing straight:
Your due date is not a deadline.
It’s not a timer.
And it’s definitely not a magical line where everything before is “safe” and everything after is “risky.”
It’s a guess.
An estimate.
A ballpark figure based on a 280-day calculation that assumes you ovulated on day 14 of your cycle and got pregnant like a textbook.
Sound ridiculous? That’s because it is.
📆 Where Due Dates Actually Come From
Most people don’t know this, but the 40-week due date model comes from the 1800s—literally. It was created by a German obstetrician who decided pregnancy lasted ten lunar months (28 days each), not actual months.
Science has since confirmed that only about 5% of babies are born on their due date.
Let me repeat that: Five. Percent.
So why do we still treat it like an expiration date?
⏳ The Pressure Starts at 39 Weeks
The closer you get to your “due date,” the more likely someone will say:
“We don’t want to go too far past…”
“Let’s just talk about a backup plan.”
“Your baby’s getting big.”
“There’s no reason to still be pregnant.”
You might even be told you're allowed to go to 41 weeks—like they’re doing you a favor.
Spoiler: You don’t need permission to stay pregnant.
🤰🏼 What the Evidence Actually Says
Let’s talk numbers:
A full-term pregnancy is anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks.
Most first-time moms go past 40 weeks—many closer to 41.
Spontaneous labor peaks around 41 weeks and 1 day.
Inducing labor before 41 weeks (without medical reason) can lead to longer labors, higher epidural use, and increased risk of c-section.
Your body is not a clock. It’s a process. And it’s working—even when it doesn’t look like it from the outside.
💬 How to Handle the “You’re Still Pregnant?!” Comments
First of all, yes. You’re still pregnant. And that’s not a problem.
Here’s what you can say when the pressure starts:
“I’m not on a deadline. I’m on baby’s timeline.”
“We’re watching things closely and waiting for labor to start naturally.”
“The current evidence supports waiting unless there’s a medical reason to induce.”
And if your provider is pushing induction with no medical reason? That’s a red flag.
🧠 Quick Reminder: You Get to Ask Questions
You can ask:
What are the risks of waiting vs. inducing?
What does the research say about going past 40 or 41 weeks?
What’s your policy on expectant management?
If the answers feel rushed, vague, or fear-based—it’s okay to slow the conversation down and get clarity before saying yes to anything.
Final Thoughts
You’re not “overdue” at 40 weeks and 2 days.
You’re not failing because your body didn’t go into labor on a calendar date.
And you don’t need to panic just because your pregnancy is still happening.
Your body knows what it’s doing.
Even when the system treats it like it’s broken on a schedule.
📌 P.S. Want to feel more confident when labor does start?
Download my free guide:
7 Questions to Ask Before Saying Yes in Labor
→ Click here to grab it