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This affects around 5 per cent of us. See Chapter 5: Your Options for ways to deal with this.

YOUR BODY | You may be feeling knackered and uncomfortable with all the symptoms continuing as before, possibly even more noticeably.

YOUR EMOTIONS | If you’ve prepared yourself for how common it is to go past the due date, you might be coping well (if slightly nervously or impatiently). If, however, you’re getting ten calls a day asking where the baby is, and you were convinced that by now you’d have him in your arms, you may be in despair. Fear of induction is a biggie (see Chapter 5). Know the facts about overdue babies, understand your rights and your choices and induction can be totally manageable.

BIRTH PREPARATION | Keep working on your confidence and relaxation. Rest, and work through lingering worries. Have a good induction plan.

EXPERIENCED WOMEN ADVISE | Sex (go on, force yourself), vigorous uphill walking, acupressure, acupuncture, ensuring all emotions and fears are sorted out, patience and distractions (salon appointments for manicures, pedicures, hair are one strategy to make you feel pampered when you really need it).

YOUR BABY | May be 20 inches long, and around 8lb. Regular checks by your midwife will ensure he’s safe and well. You may get some pressure to have an induction. Inform yourself fully before you make any decisions on this one.

Interestingly, blaming your partner may be legitimate at this point: Danish research published in the British Medical Journal, November 2003, suggests that a father’s genes play a major part in deciding the timing of the birth, and your chance of having a ‘prolonged pregnancy’.

Where to go for help:

For fetal development in more detail try Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Dr Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler (Da Capo Press, US, 2004)