The Truth About Due Dates, Going Past 40 Weeks, and Supporting Labor Naturally

For many families, the due date becomes a psychological finish line. Once it passes, the questions start coming quickly.

“Any signs yet?”
“When are you getting induced?”
“Aren’t you worried about going late?”

But here’s the truth that doesn’t get talked about enough: a due date is not a deadline. It’s an estimate. And for many healthy, low-risk pregnancies, going past that date is not only normal, it’s expected. Our team calls it due time rather than due date.

Understanding what a due date really means, and what options you have if you approach or pass 41 weeks, can help you feel calmer, more confident, and far less pressured during the final weeks of pregnancy.

What a Due Date Really Is (and Isn’t)

Your due date is typically calculated based on the first day of your last menstrual period, assuming a 28-day cycle with ovulation on day 14. Many people do not ovulate exactly on that schedule.

Even early ultrasounds, while helpful, still allow for variation. Studies show that only about 5 percent of babies are born on their exact due date. Most babies arrive anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks.

This means that being “past your due date” does not mean your body is failing, your baby is overdue, or something is wrong. It often simply means your baby and body are still completing important preparation.

Why Babies Often Come After 40 Weeks

Late pregnancy is a time of final development. In the last days and weeks, babies continue to mature their lungs, brain, and nervous system. The body is also preparing hormonally for labor, including a natural rise in oxytocin and prostaglandins.

Labor typically begins when:

• The baby is in an optimal position

• Hormonal signals align between parent and baby

• The cervix is ready to respond

• The body feels safe and supported enough to begin

Rushing this process for non-medical reasons can sometimes lead to longer labors, more interventions, or a cascade of procedures that weren’t originally part of the plan.

It Is Okay to Go Past Your Due Date

If you are low risk and both you and baby are doing well, there is often time and space to wait.

Going past 40 weeks does not automatically increase danger. Many providers monitor pregnancies more closely after this point with non-stress tests, ultrasounds, and check-ins to ensure baby is thriving.

The important piece is this: monitoring is not the same as induction. You can agree to extra monitoring while still choosing to wait for labor to begin on its own.

You Are Allowed to Question and Delay an Induction

One of the most common reasons families feel pressured into induction is not medical urgency, but scheduling.

Sometimes you may hear:

• “We don’t have many induction spots left.”

• “Your provider won’t be on call after this date.”

• “It’s easier to plan now.”

Convenience, staffing, and scheduling realities are real, but they are not medical indications.

You always have the right to:

• Ask why an induction is being recommended

• Use the BRAINS framework to understand benefits, risks, and alternatives (READ HERE for how to use the BRAINS framework)

• Delay or reschedule an induction if you are comfortable doing so

• Cancel an induction appointment if you change your mind

Induction is a medical procedure, not an obligation.

Why Giving Your Body Time Can Matter

For low-risk families, allowing labor to begin on its own can:

• Reduce the likelihood of additional interventions

• Support more efficient contractions

• Encourage better positioning of baby

• Help labor feel more intuitive and connected

• Support postpartum recovery and emotional well-being

This doesn’t mean induction is wrong. It means timing matters, and the decision should be based on health, not pressure.

Natural Ways to Support Labor Readiness

If you’re approaching or past your due date and want to gently encourage your body toward labor, there are many evidence-informed, non-invasive options to explore.

Movement and Positioning

Daily movement helps encourage optimal fetal positioning and supports pelvic balance.

• Walking with intention

• Gentle squats

• Forward-leaning positions

• Side-lying releases
  
  
  

Spinning Babies® Techniques

Spinning Babies focuses on balance, gravity, and movement to help babies settle into positions that make labor easier.

• Daily activities that promote pelvic balance

• Gentle stretches and releases

• Positions that encourage engagement

These techniques are not about forcing labor. They are about creating space so labor can begin when the body is ready.

Relaxation and Oxytocin Support

Labor is driven by oxytocin, the same hormone released through:

• Feeling safe and supported

• Relaxation and deep rest

• Physical affection

• Laughter and connection

• Reduced stress and pressure

Creating a calm environment, prioritizing rest, and limiting anxiety-inducing conversations can be just as important as physical movement.

When families talk about “natural induction,” what they’re usually referring to are methods that support the body’s own labor hormones, rather than forcing contractions before the body is ready. These approaches work best when your body and baby are already close to labor and should always be discussed with your provider.

Nipple Stimulation

How it works:
Nipple stimulation triggers the release of oxytocin, the same hormone responsible for uterine contractions and bonding. Oxytocin helps contractions become stronger and more coordinated when the body is already primed for labor.

How it’s used:
Gentle stimulation for short periods, often one side at a time, with breaks. This can be done by hand or with a breast pump under provider guidance.

Sexual Intercourse

How it works:
Semen contains prostaglandins, which help soften and prepare the cervix. Orgasm also releases oxytocin, supporting uterine activity.

Important note:
This is only recommended if your membranes are intact and your provider has not placed restrictions on intercourse.

Acupuncture or Acupressure

How it works:
These methods may support labor by influencing the nervous system, reducing stress hormones, and promoting oxytocin release. They may also help encourage cervical ripening and balanced uterine activity.

Bonus:
Many families report improved sleep and reduced anxiety, which can indirectly support labor onset.

Walking and Upright Movement

How it works:
Gravity helps baby descend into the pelvis, applying gentle pressure to the cervix. This pressure can stimulate the release of prostaglandins and encourage the cervix to thin and open.

Why it’s helpful:
Upright movement also encourages optimal fetal positioning and pelvic mobility.

Miles Circuit

How it works:
This sequence of positions helps create balance in the pelvis, allowing baby to settle into a position that applies even pressure to the cervix. When baby is well-positioned, labor often progresses more efficiently.

Best used:
In late pregnancy or early labor, especially if contractions feel irregular or stall.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

How it works:
This herb is thought to tone the uterine muscles, helping contractions work more efficiently once labor begins.

What it doesn’t do:
It does not start labor on its own. Instead, it supports uterine function during labor.

A Gentle Reminder,

No natural method can force labor if your body and baby are not ready. These approaches work best when they are seen as supportive tools, not deadlines or guarantees.

Your body knows how to labor. Sometimes it simply needs time, balance, and reassurance.

Preparation Makes Waiting Easier

Education and support can make the final weeks feel less overwhelming.

When families understand:

• What’s normal in late pregnancy

• What signs truly require action

• How to advocate for themselves

• What options exist beyond “wait or induce”

They often feel calmer and more confident holding space for labor to begin naturally.

This is where childbirth education and doula support make a powerful difference. Doulas help families navigate conversations, understand recommendations, and stay grounded in their values, especially when decisions feel emotionally charged.

The Takeaway

Being past your due date does not mean you are late.
It does not mean something is wrong.
It does not mean you have failed or need to rush.

If you and your baby are healthy, you deserve time, space, and respect as your body prepares for birth.

You are allowed to ask questions.
You are allowed to wait.
You are allowed to change your mind.

Birth works best when it unfolds in partnership with your body, your baby, and your values, not a calendar.