Pregnancy Week By Week : 40 Weeks Pregnant - What To Expect
Congratulations mommies...you have successfully completed the pregnancy tenure of 40 full weeks. If your munchkin hasn't already arrived...
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Congratulations mommies...you have successfully completed the pregnancy tenure of 40 full weeks. If your munchkin hasn't already arrived, it will any time now. Around 30% of pregnant women deliver post the 40th-week mark. So there's nothing to worry really! But it is a good time to keep your pregnancy bag, doctor's phone number, hospital emergency number, and your wellwishers' contact pinned to the most prominent wall of your home. The labor may kick in or the water may break anytime from now on. To learn about how prepared your baby is or what your body is undergoing at these final hours of your pregnancy, keep reading.
Baby Development
Dry spots on the skin
By this time your cuddlebun has shed most of the cheesy vernix, and so there isn't much moisturizing happening at this stage. So you may find patches of dry spots on its skin after birth. These go away with regular oil massage.
Developed organs
At week 40, your little one is ready to take on the world. Its placenta is still providing the antibodies that will be required to fight off infections once it is born. All the organs and vital systems have developed by now and your baby is ready to live independently as a miniature human being. The brain activity is in full swing and will continue at a rapid pace till 3 years of age.
Blurry vision
Your baby's eyesight is developed enough to see clearly at a one-inch distance. So immediately after birth, the vision will be a little blurry. But within a week it will clear and your baby will be able to the see loving mommy clearly. However, the baby can hear and recognize your voice and that gives the little mind a great deal of comfort.
Size of your little one
Your baby is now like a nice little plump watermelon and measures 20 inches head to toe. It is quite a handful to hold with a weight anywhere between 6.5 to 8 pounds.
Body Changes & Common Symptoms
Amniotic sack rupture: From this week onwards you have to be on your toes (not literally thankfully). When your baby is ready to take the plunge the amniotic sac will rupture. This is what the water breaking is all about. It can happen anytime anywhere, so it is best to stay home this week.
A two-step walk will tire you: You are over the full term and your baby has grown as big as it could be. So your belly is the biggest it could be and this makes any simple activity seem like a mammoth task. You are probably feeling tired and sleepy most part of the day, but anxiety and maternal worries are keeping you awake at night. Hold on for another few days, and all these will become things of the past.
The onset of labor: This is the time when false alarms change to real ones. The Braxton Hicks contractions that you may have felt during the second trimester will become more intense and frequent. This is real labor. If you have them at frequent intervals for 10 to 15 minutes, your practitioner needs to be informed promptly and you have to get ready for the much-awaited hospital trip.
Slight weight loss: There's nothing to be worried about a little weight loss this week. Your baby is not growing as rapidly as it did during the last few weeks. So your body does not require all that food and that's probably the reason your cravings have taken a backseat. Also, if the nesting instinct has kicked it, you will have a new burst of energy to make your home ready for your soon arriving little one. On the other hand, you may feel like slouching on your couch and spend the entire day trying to sleep. Either way, you will not consume as much food as you did earlier, and therefore you may have a slight change in your weight on the negative side.
Sharp pelvic pain: If you experience a sharp pelvic pain anytime this week, it means your baby has dropped into the birthing canal. The little head is now bumping against your hip and bladder, making life quite uncomfortable for you. But wait till it is out!
Health Tips
Baby Development
Dry spots on the skin
By this time your cuddlebun has shed most of the cheesy vernix, and so there isn't much moisturizing happening at this stage. So you may find patches of dry spots on its skin after birth. These go away with regular oil massage.
Developed organs
At week 40, your little one is ready to take on the world. Its placenta is still providing the antibodies that will be required to fight off infections once it is born. All the organs and vital systems have developed by now and your baby is ready to live independently as a miniature human being. The brain activity is in full swing and will continue at a rapid pace till 3 years of age.
Blurry vision
Your baby's eyesight is developed enough to see clearly at a one-inch distance. So immediately after birth, the vision will be a little blurry. But within a week it will clear and your baby will be able to the see loving mommy clearly. However, the baby can hear and recognize your voice and that gives the little mind a great deal of comfort.
Size of your little one
Your baby is now like a nice little plump watermelon and measures 20 inches head to toe. It is quite a handful to hold with a weight anywhere between 6.5 to 8 pounds.
Body Changes & Common Symptoms
Amniotic sack rupture: From this week onwards you have to be on your toes (not literally thankfully). When your baby is ready to take the plunge the amniotic sac will rupture. This is what the water breaking is all about. It can happen anytime anywhere, so it is best to stay home this week.
A two-step walk will tire you: You are over the full term and your baby has grown as big as it could be. So your belly is the biggest it could be and this makes any simple activity seem like a mammoth task. You are probably feeling tired and sleepy most part of the day, but anxiety and maternal worries are keeping you awake at night. Hold on for another few days, and all these will become things of the past.
The onset of labor: This is the time when false alarms change to real ones. The Braxton Hicks contractions that you may have felt during the second trimester will become more intense and frequent. This is real labor. If you have them at frequent intervals for 10 to 15 minutes, your practitioner needs to be informed promptly and you have to get ready for the much-awaited hospital trip.
Slight weight loss: There's nothing to be worried about a little weight loss this week. Your baby is not growing as rapidly as it did during the last few weeks. So your body does not require all that food and that's probably the reason your cravings have taken a backseat. Also, if the nesting instinct has kicked it, you will have a new burst of energy to make your home ready for your soon arriving little one. On the other hand, you may feel like slouching on your couch and spend the entire day trying to sleep. Either way, you will not consume as much food as you did earlier, and therefore you may have a slight change in your weight on the negative side.
Sharp pelvic pain: If you experience a sharp pelvic pain anytime this week, it means your baby has dropped into the birthing canal. The little head is now bumping against your hip and bladder, making life quite uncomfortable for you. But wait till it is out!
Health Tips
- Prenatal massage: A nice prenatal massage by a certified masseuse can help alleviate the pelvic pain. The oils used will help soothe the itchiness in your belly. It may also help you get a good 2 hours rest during the session.
- Walking can help: Even your body does not want to leave the comfort of your couch, try to walk for at least 10 minutes. There's no need for a brisk pace. Tread slowly and try to avoid irregular tracks. Choose your terrace, balcony, or a well-maintained track in the park as your walk field.
- Don't feel overwhelmed by birthing stories: If you are growing anxious about the birthing process, talk to someone who won't scare you. A lot of people try to share their experiences in a horrifying manner, creating panic in the listener. The very fact that they can speak about it so easily means that it was not really all that scary. So have faith. Nature has built you to do this and you shall be able to deliver well...literally!
