Here in Va, a Labor and Delivery Nurse at a local hospital told me that 90% of the women who deliver there are induced. When I exlaimed, "Wow, that many people are post-dates?" she answered, "No, they are induced prior to their due date." I suppose it's not a coincidence that the cesarean rate at this hospital is over 40 percent. The homebirth midwives I work with here are generally comfortable waiting through the 41st week and some even through the 42nd week. If it is desired by the client, some midwives will do a stretch and sweep, others will not on principle. Only the nurse-midwives I work with, whose back-up physicians require the women to be delivered by week 42, routinely take steps to induce prior to this time...starting with the stretch and sweep, often in conjunction with having the mother drink castor oil. I have also seen the nurse midwives use a foley with balloon to assist an induction at home. I personally have had one baby who was beautiful and healthy at 42 weeks and 3 days (both my LMP and by ultrasound), with a quick labor that started spontaneously, so I have very little stomach for pushing induction before the end of the 42nd week. I think the more important question in cases where the due date comes and goes is to ask, "why?" Is the baby presenting in a less than optimal position that could be adjusted with mother's active (postural) assistance, or is there something going on with mother-to-be that is causing her to emotionally/psychologically hold the labor off? I always try to address the underlying issue first, before tinkering with mother nature. In my experience, so many induced labors are much more difficult than those which begin spontaneously, both for mother and baby. I look forward to hearing more on this topic.