Week 40

Development of 40 weeks fetus

How does a 40-week fetus develop?

The baby is now the size of a small pumpkin and can be born at any time. The mother's baby at 40 weeks on average weighs about 3.4 kg and is about 50.8 cm long.

After weeks of anticipation and preparation, your baby may be born at this time or not. Only 5% of women give birth on time, and many first-time mothers have to wait two weeks after the due date for their baby to be born.

Do not expect the baby to be born extremely beautiful and lovely. Newborn babies often have a temporarily disfigured head and may be covered with mucous membranes and blood. Your baby's skin may be discolored, dry and a rash.

The presence of maternal hormones in the baby causes the baby's genitals (scrotum in boys and labia in girls) to be larger than normal. A 40-week-old fetus, whether a boy or a girl, can even secrete milk from a baby's tiny nipple. This should go away in a few days and is completely normal.

Immediately after birth, the midwife, nurse or doctor will suck the mucus out of your baby's mouth and nose and you will hear the first cry you have been waiting for. The baby can then be placed on the mother's belly and had the umbilical cord cut, usually performed by the baby's father if allowed. A series of rapid screening tests, such as an Apgar infant measurement, will be done to assess your baby's response and noticeable signs, after which weight and height will be measured. . If the mother is pregnant but is at high risk or requires a cesarean section, a doctor specializing in the special care of the newborn will be present after the mother is in labor to care for the baby immediately and later. That baby will be placed in mother's arms waiting.

A change in the mother's body at 40 weeks of gestation

40 weeks pregnant, how does mother's body change?

40th week of pregnancy, you will experience the moments you've been waiting for - meet with your baby! Before I can meet the baby, however, the mother will have to go through difficult moments in giving birth. You can learn about the three stages of giving birth in prenatal classes. The first stage is to thin and stretch the mother's cervix with regular contractions. The second stage is when the baby moves into the vaginal canal to leave the mother's body. The third and final stage is when the mother gives birth to the placenta connecting the mother with the baby.

If you are not in labor within a week of your pregnancy expiration, your doctor may recommend tests to monitor your baby's heart rate and movement to ensure that your baby is getting enough oxygen and systemic. Your baby's nerves are still responding normally. To ensure a clear awareness of fetal development at this stage, you can talk to your doctor to learn more about these tests.

If the labor is still not working or if the health of the mother and baby is not enough, the doctor may induce labor by breaking the membranes artificially or using the hormone oxytocin or other drugs. If you are 40 weeks pregnant but are at high risk of danger, or if you have any other potential complications, you may request a cesarean section to have the pregnancy.

Some women know in advance they will have a cesarean section and can schedule their baby's birth date. If you are one of these, you will be able to emotionally and mentally prepare your baby for the birth. This can help alleviate the feelings of frustration many mothers who are unable to give birth on their own. But even if you go through a caesarean without a plan, rest assured that you will still be able to bond with your baby. It may not be the birthing experience I imagined, but finally my beautiful newborn baby was born and the months of waiting for the 40 weeks of pregnancy ended.

What are the things you need to pay attention to?

If you are past the birth date, your doctor may advise you to take steps to try and start your labor. You may be given medicine to help soften and widen your cervix. However, at 40 weeks of pregnancy, if the mother's amniotic sac is still intact, the doctor may break the amniotic fluid by creating an opening in the bag with a thin plastic hook. The process won't hurt, but the mother can feel the liquid flush as the bag cracks open.

Doctor's advice about 40 week pregnancy

What should mom discuss with the doctor?

When the fetus is 40 weeks old, if necessary, ask your doctor to give you medicine to promote contractions. The dosage of the drug can be tailored to adjust the intensity and frequency of maternal contractions.

What tests do you need to know?

You will probably have to see a doctor every week from now until the baby is born. Don't be surprised if your doctor performs one or more regular pelvic exams. This test can help the doctor confirm the baby's birth position: front head, front legs, or bottom front. Most children are in the front head position. As the mother's date of birth draws closer, the doctor may use technical words like "leakage" and "fetus".

A fetus is the medical term for the farthest part of the baby's body in the pelvis.

Permeability is the distance from the fetus to the pelvis.

During the pelvic exam, your doctor may also examine your mother's cervix to see how much it's softened, dilated, and thinner, and this information will be displayed in numbers and proportions. percent.

Maternal and fetal health at 40 weeks

What do you need to know to ensure safety during pregnancy?

Although it is safe to fly in the last 3 months of pregnancy, you need to discuss the plan with your doctor before you book a flight. In the event that a mother is faced with certain high risks, her doctor can advise her at home throughout her pregnancy.

You should postpone the flight if you:

Are pregnant with twins or more

Have diabetes or high blood pressure

Have a placenta or vaginal bleeding abnormality

There is a suspicion of premature birth

Have ever had blood clotting problems (including before pregnancy).

It's best to avoid flying in the last month, especially in week 40 of pregnancy, when you're most likely to go into labor at any time.