Overdue Babies in Grand Rapids, Michigan

It’s very common for pregnant women in Grand Rapids and across Michigan to go past their due date. Only about 5% of babies actually arrive on the exact due date. Most babies are born between 37 and 41 weeks of pregnancy, usually within about a week on either side of the estimated due date.

If you are receiving prenatal care through Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health, or another Grand Rapids OB/GYN practice, your care team will monitor you and your baby closely as you approach and pass your due date.

Understanding Due Dates

Due dates are estimates, not exact predictions. From early in your pregnancy, it helps to think of your due date as a “due window” rather than a single day.

Twins and Triplets Often Arrive Early

If you are pregnant with twins or triplets, it’s especially important to remember that multiple pregnancies often end earlier than single pregnancies. Your Grand Rapids obstetrician or midwife will usually plan closer monitoring and may discuss earlier delivery options.

Reaching 40 Weeks: What to Expect in Grand Rapids

Once you reach the 40‑week mark, it’s completely normal to feel:

  • More physically uncomfortable
  • Anxious about when labor will start
  • Excited (and maybe impatient) to meet your baby

Coping Strategies While You Wait

To help manage the waiting period:

  • Keep busy
    Plan a small activity each day—such as a short walk on the Grand River trail, a visit to a friend, or a gentle prenatal yoga class—so you’re not just watching the clock.

  • Get out, but stay close
    Enjoy local spots like Millennium Park or neighborhood walks, but don’t go too far from home or your hospital. Always keep your phone with you.

  • Prepare freezer meals
    Stock up on simple, nutritious meals before baby arrives. During Michigan’s colder months, soups, stews, and casseroles freeze and reheat well and can be comforting on snowy Grand Rapids days.

  • Rest whenever you can
    Nap during the day if nighttime sleep is difficult. Even sitting or lying comfortably helps you conserve energy for labor.

  • Set boundaries with family and friends
    Let loved ones know you’ll contact them when there’s news. Daily “any baby yet?” calls or texts can add stress when you’re already feeling impatient.

Most doctors and midwives in Grand Rapids are comfortable with pregnancies going a few days past the due date as long as you and your baby appear healthy. Many will allow you to go up to 1–2 weeks over, depending on your situation and hospital policy.

Risks After 42 Weeks of Pregnancy

After 42 weeks, the risk of complications for the baby begins to rise. A very small number of babies die unexpectedly if they remain in the womb beyond 42 weeks.

The exact reason for this increased risk is not fully understood. One possible factor is that the placenta may not function as well as pregnancy continues, which can reduce the baby’s supply of oxygen and nutrients.

Because of this, most Grand Rapids hospitals and OB practices (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health) have guidelines for closer monitoring and often recommend induction of labor before or around 42 weeks.

Your 41‑Week Appointment: What Usually Happens

At around 41 weeks, your doctor or midwife will usually:

  • Double‑check your due date

    • Confirm the date of your last menstrual period
    • Review your early pregnancy (dating) ultrasound, if you had one

  • Check your overall health

    • Measure your blood pressure
    • Test your urine for protein (to screen for preeclampsia and other issues)

  • Assess your baby

    • Feel your abdomen to check your baby’s position and size
    • Listen to your baby’s heartbeat
    • Often order an ultrasound to:
      • Check your baby’s movements
      • Measure the amount of amniotic fluid

  • Examine your cervix

    • Perform a vaginal exam to see if your cervix is softening, thinning, or starting to open (dilate), which helps predict how ready your body is for labor

Your Options When You’re Overdue

After reviewing your health and your baby’s well‑being, your Grand Rapids doctor or midwife will discuss options with you. These usually include:

1. Waiting for Labor to Start Naturally

If everything looks healthy, you may choose to continue the pregnancy and wait for labor to begin on its own. In this case, you will usually:

  • Have frequent monitoring (every 3–4 days), which may include:
    • Listening to your baby’s heartbeat
    • Non‑stress tests
    • Ultrasounds to check fluid levels and movement

This approach may be more common if you are under 41–42 weeks, your baby is moving well, and test results are reassuring.

2. Inducing Labor

Your provider may recommend induction of labor if:

  • You are 41–42 weeks pregnant or beyond
  • Your water has broken but contractions have not started
  • There are concerns about:
    • Your health (for example, high blood pressure, diabetes, preeclampsia)
    • Your baby��s health (reduced movements, concerning heart rate, low fluid levels)
    • The placenta’s ability to continue supporting your baby

In the United States, about one quarter of pregnant women are induced. In Grand Rapids, specific timing for induction can vary by hospital and provider. Some policies allow induction 7–10 days after your due date; others wait up to 2 weeks. There is no single “perfect” time backed by strong scientific evidence, so decisions are individualized.

Medical Procedures for Inducing Labor

If you and your provider decide to induce labor, the first step is usually a vaginal exam to check if your cervix is “favorable” (soft, thinned, and slightly open). This may be a bit uncomfortable but is brief.

Based on the exam, one or more of the following methods may be used. These are commonly available at major Grand Rapids hospitals:

1. Sweeping (Stripping) the Membranes

  • Your doctor or midwife gently inserts a finger into the cervix and separates the membranes around the baby from the lower part of the uterus.
  • This can release natural hormones (prostaglandins) that may help start labor.
  • It can be uncomfortable and may cause mild cramping and a small amount of bleeding.

2. Artificial Rupture of Membranes (Breaking Your Water)

  • A small instrument is used to make a tiny opening in the amniotic sac around your baby.
  • Your cervix must be open at least a couple of centimeters for this to be done.
  • You may feel pressure or discomfort during the procedure.
  • Sometimes, breaking the water is enough to start contractions; other times, medications like oxytocin are also needed.

3. Prostaglandin Gel or Pessary

  • A gel or small insert (pessary) containing prostaglandin is placed in the back of your vagina.
  • This helps soften and open the cervix (“cervical ripening”).
  • It may be enough to start labor on its own, or it may be followed by:
    • Breaking your water
    • An oxytocin drip to bring on or strengthen contractions

4. Oxytocin Drip

  • Oxytocin is a man‑made version of the body’s natural hormone that causes contractions.
  • It is given through an IV (drip) in your arm.
  • It is usually used:
    • After your water has broken
    • To start contractions or to make them stronger and more regular
  • You will be closely monitored, usually on a labor and delivery unit at a Grand Rapids hospital, to track your baby’s heart rate and your contractions.

5. Cervical Ripening Balloon Catheter

  • A small balloon attached to a thin tube is inserted into your cervix.
  • The balloon is filled with saline (sterile salt water), putting gentle pressure on the cervix.
  • The balloon usually stays in place for up to about 15 hours or until it falls out.
  • This pressure helps the cervix soften and open.
  • It may start labor on its own, or you may still need:
    • Your water broken
    • Oxytocin to stimulate contractions

Coping With Being Overdue in Grand Rapids

Being overdue can be emotionally and physically challenging, especially during Michigan’s colder months when it can be harder to stay active and comfortable. To cope:

  • Rest often
    Nap during the day if nighttime sleep is poor. Use extra pillows for support, especially under your belly and between your knees.

  • Stay gently active
    If sidewalks are icy or the weather is harsh, try indoor walking at a local mall, prenatal exercise classes, or at‑home stretching.

  • Stay hydrated and nourished
    Dry winter air and indoor heating can increase dehydration. Drink plenty of water and eat balanced meals to keep your energy up.

  • Monitor your baby’s movements
    If you notice a significant decrease in movement, contact your provider or labor & delivery unit right away.

  • Ask questions
    Make sure you understand why your provider recommends waiting or inducing, and what each option means for you and your baby.

When to Call Your Provider or Go to the Hospital

Seek immediate medical advice from your Grand Rapids provider, or go to your hospital’s labor and delivery unit, if you:

  • Think your water has broken
  • Have regular, strong contractions
  • Notice decreased or no baby movements
  • Have vaginal bleeding more than light spotting
  • Have severe headache, vision changes, or upper abdominal pain
  • Have concerns or feel something “isn’t right”

Local Grand Rapids Resources

If you have questions or need additional support:

  • Your OB/GYN or midwife at:
    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health
  • Kent County Health Department – offers maternal and child health resources, education, and referrals
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs – may provide prenatal education, breastfeeding support, and parenting classes
  • Hospital‑based childbirth education classes – many Grand Rapids hospitals offer classes about labor, induction, and newborn care

Key Points About Overdue Babies

  • It is very common for pregnant women to go beyond their due date.
  • Most babies in Grand Rapids are born between 37 and 41 weeks.
  • After 42 weeks, the baby’s health may be at increased risk, possibly due to the placenta not working as well.
  • Policies on when to induce labor vary among hospitals and providers; there is no single proven “ideal” time for induction.
  • Induction methods (membrane sweep, breaking the waters, prostaglandin gel, oxytocin drip, balloon catheter) can be uncomfortable and may cause mild bleeding, but they are commonly used and closely monitored in Grand Rapids hospitals.
  • Your doctor or midwife will work with you to choose the safest, most appropriate plan for you and your baby.