[When the expected date of delivery is overdue]

When pregnancy has continued past the expected date of delivery, the capacity of the placenta to transport oxygen and nutrients will decrease, whereby the condition of the fetus may be endangered with concomitantly increasing intrapartum problems. In addition, the mother's risk of complications of labor will increase, which is partly due to the increasing size of the child. The pregnancy is closely followed at the maternity and prenatal clinic, and induction of active labor will usually be conducted no later than two weeks after the expected date.