At the 40th week of pregnancy, you have completed a full-term pregnancy! You may have gone through early labors at the beginning of the 37th week and will often experience such during the consequent weeks. If not, you can expect to go into labor at the
pregnancy week 40. Increasing Braxton Hicks (warm up) contractions, pelvic pressures, backaches, and ‘show’ are the signs of normal labor. Now, your pregnancy is drawing to an end. The long-cherished moment is soon to arrive. Following a bout of
labor pains (particularly, the third stage of labor), prepare yourself mentally and physically to undergo delivery. Finally, it’s the time to meet your baby!
During this
week 40, your baby is well-formed; weighing an average of 7.6 pounds and measuring about 52 cm from head to toe. It starts responding to sound, light and touch. It can turn head and often moves or rotates at the pelvic floor. You can even hear the baby’s heartbeats! These
fetal movements are easily felt. Moreover, identification of the fetal parts becomes much easier.
Now the mom-to-be can actually “feel” how impatient the baby is to come out of her womb! You are nearing the due date. Most women feel tired and stressful during
pregnancy week 40. Don’t expect a peaceful sleep at night. The labor pains and movements create a lot of discomfort to the mom-to-be. Her uterus has become too big now (about 36-40cm above your pubic symphysis) and in most cases, it is difficult to find a good, comfortable posture to rest. Try to take rest as much as possible. Patients during this
Pregnancy Week are also requested to eat foods that are light on stomach. This would probably help them to overcome tendencies of vomiting and nausea. If you have delayed or no normal labors, see your obstetrician immediately. In these cases, a series of clinical tests are performed to assess the baby’s position inside the birth canal and its responsiveness.
Acording to
Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms doctors and caregivers may advise some natural labor inducers (such as, aromatherapy, applying castor oil or primrose oil. massage, warm bath, etc) to stimulate labor contractions. However, do not try to induce labor before 40 week
pregnancy. Ensure that your baby is well developed and has no risks of delivery. The unborn baby is prone to certain infections in this period. Therefore, go for routine check-ups and tests as prescribed.
Two out of ten babies are born on the
pregnancy week 40. A caesarean section of delivery may be conducted in this case. You can learn more about your entire pregnancy period in
Pregnancy Week by Week.
