40 Weeks Pregnant
Your baby is the size of a Watermelon ๐
๐ฑ Baby Development at Week 40
DUE DATE WEEK! Baby is fully developed. Average birth weight is 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg). Brain will continue developing for years. Baby's skin is smooth โ vernix mostly absorbed. Lungs fully mature and ready for first breath.
๐คฑ Common Symptoms
๐ฅ Nutrition Tips
- Light snacks for labor energy
- Honey and banana for energy
- Hydrate during early labor
๐โโ๏ธ Exercise Tips
- Walking during early labor
- Warm bath for pain relief
- Hip circles on birth ball
๐ฅ Medical Tests & Appointments
๐ฌ Hormone Changes
Full oxytocin surge triggers uterine contractions. Cortisol from fetal lungs signals respiratory readiness. Endorphins rise in labor.
๐ Week 40 Pregnancy โ In-Depth Guide
Congratulationsโyouโve reached the final week of your pregnancy! By this time, youโve probably taken care of most of the important things such as installing the car seat, make the bassinet and packed your hospital bag.
Now, you probably want to make sure you wrap things up other last minute, easy things including filling the car up with gas and making sure your cell phone is fully charged.
Some moms-to-be in what is generally their last week of pregnancy put a waterproof mattress on the bed in case their water breaks in the middle of the night. You donโt have to, but itโs always a good idea, given that your water can break anytime and this will help you contain the messes.
Getting back to baby, he/she is when youโre 40 weeks pregnant is as big as a watermelon and is ready to step foot into the real world. In terms of numbers, your baby measures 20.16 inches and weighs roughly 7.63 lbs.
๐ฉบ40th Week Pregnancy Symptoms
Most of the symptoms you experience in week 40 of your pregnancy are similar to the ones youโve been experiencing in the previous weeks. These include:
โธ Sleep troubles
โ If youโre having trouble sleeping, your best bet is to get up and distract yourself with something else such as reading or watching a movie. This however may not be an ideal time for exercise so you can put your Zumba plans on hold for a bit.
โธ Leg cramps
Stretches are the best way to get some relief from cramping in the legs, which as mostly caused owing to pelvic pressure.
โธ Contractions
Moms-to-be in their 40th week of pregnancy often confuse Braxton Hicks contractions for the real deal. But remember if youโre having contractions generally in the last week of pregnancy, they are probably the real ones, so if they are closer together, youโre mostly probably going into labor.
โธ Fatigue
This may be triggered by the fact that you arenโt getting the right amount of sleep, so again you best bet is to do something that keeps you busy.
โธ Anxiety
Well, you know this was bound to happen, and you also know why, so donโt stress about it as your baby will be in your arms anytime now.
๐Week 40 Signs of Labor
There are often times where you may be 40 weeks pregnant yet show no signs of labor whatsoever. But not to worry, because they will be here very soon! You should call your doctor if:
At 40 weeks, great chances are that you may not be able to contain your excitement. For this, you or your health care provider can induce or trigger labor using natural methods or with medication.
Induced labor is extremely safe, and you can read more about the statistics from the the Center for Disease Control and Prevention here . The popular natural methods to induce pregnancy include having sex, trying out natural supplements or taking long walks.
Your doctor may use one or more techniques to induce labor, and the best one for you depends on the condition of your cervix at the time. Some of the common methods of inducing labor include:
๐ท40th Week Pregnant Ultrasound - What to Expect ?
At 40 weeks, your fetus continues to grow hands and nails, and their lungs are developing pretty fast too. Your doctor may want to do a biophysical profile when youโre 40 weeks pregnant. This twofold test includes a non-stress test and ultrasound to check what the amniotic fluid levels look like.
โ Pregnancy Week 40 Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered by our medical team