The longest pregnancy ever recorded was 375 days, belonging to Beulah Hunter, who gave birth to her daughter, Penny Diana, in 1945. This is almost 100 days past the typical 280-day pregnancy.
While this is an extreme case, pregnancies of 42 weeks (around ten months) are relatively common and considered full-term. However, pregnancies lasting beyond 42 weeks are considered post-term. Doctors typically induce labor if a pregnancy reaches 42 weeks to minimize potential risks to both mother and child.
It's important to note that while elephants have the longest gestation period of any living mammal, lasting 18 to 22 months, their pregnancy is still significantly shorter than the longest human pregnancy recorded. Recent research suggests that bowhead whales may have an even longer gestation period, potentially lasting up to 23 months.
