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Congratulations, you’ve reached the last month of pregnancy! You’ve probably had the most unique time of your life during your 40-week pregnancy adventure, and you’re about to reap the grand prize. Once you hold your baby in your arms, we will bid you farewell from this episode and host you in the Month Month Baby Development series. We will answer all your questions about baby development there. But first, you need to learn what awaits you at 40-41 weeks of pregnancy and what needs to be considered in the last weeks of pregnancy!
40 Weeks Pregnancy and Baby Development
40 Weeks Baby Weight and Height
Your baby is now out of date. How much weight does the baby gain in the last weeks? You can learn how tall it is, from the table below.
| 40 weeks baby development | |
|---|---|
| 40 weeks baby weight | 3000-4000 g |
| 40 weeks baby size | 48-56cm |
- Although the information you see in the table is written for the 40-week-old baby, all the information is valid for the 41-week-old baby as well. By the way, although they are completely healthy, some babies may be bigger or smaller, that’s okay.
- You may find that the baby is still contracted in the fetal position when it comes out. The only reason for this is habit and convenience. After spending 9 months inside the narrow womb, it may take time before she realizes that she now has enough room to stretch as she pleases.
- When you meet him, don’t forget to talk a lot and say welcome. Because he will recognize your voice and his father’s voice.
40 Weeks Baby Images
40-41 weeks of pregnancy image as you can see above. What is the situation of the 41-week-old baby in the mother’s womb, if you want to learn more in detail.
40 Weeks Pregnancy Ultrasound Images
The ultrasound images you have taken in the last week of pregnancy may be different from the ones here. You don’t need to worry about this.
40 Weeks Pregnancy Image
What are the Points to Consider in the Last Weeks of Pregnancy?
- Is it possible to have intercourse in the last week of pregnancy? you may wonder. Even though doctors don’t usually recommend it, it’s okay. However, you should keep the time short and avoid movements that may cause pressure on your stomach.
- Nutrition in the last month of pregnancy is just as important as in other weeks. You should continue to eat a healthy and balanced diet and take care not to gain weight, especially in the last week of pregnancy.
- Apart from daily exercises, you should stay away from movements that will tire you.
- Travel is not recommended during the last weeks of pregnancy. If you encounter such a situation, do not take action without talking to your doctor.
- Take care to take your shower sitting or in the company of someone.
Exercises for Pregnant Women Over 40 Weeks
Some women do not want to use medication during labor to relieve pain. They prefer to give birth in the most natural way possible, using different positions, massage, hypnotherapy, breathing and relaxation techniques. Such methods are often shown in childbirth preparation courses. In the last weeks of pregnancy, you can get support from different relaxation techniques that will help you calm down. Let’s talk briefly.
1. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Beginning with your head or feet, you can relax one muscle group at a time and work your way up to other parts of the body in turn.
2. Tap Relaxation
Starting from the temples, your partner can make firm but gentle touches to the neck, shoulders, back, arms, hands, legs, feet for a few seconds. You can also relax the muscles in the areas he touched at that time.
3. Massage
Again, your partner or someone who has received pregnancy massage training can massage your back, shoulders, legs, arms. He can touch his forehead and temples with small circular movements. These movements help relax the muscles and release the hormone endorphins. With various trials, you can definitely find a massage technique that will be good for you.
4. Guided Visualization
Imagine that you are in the place where your imagination takes you, that you love so much, that is peaceful, that comforts you. Maybe a lush plateau high up, a vast seaside, maybe a forest covered with dense trees, maybe a fireplace, maybe the pages of your favorite story… Details, sounds, smells, colors, music… You can get help from these to relax.
5. Breathing Exercises
Breathing exercises are one of the most effective methods to reduce pregnancy-related complaints and facilitate the birth. That’s why you should do it regularly throughout your pregnancy.
Pregnant Pilates and Pregnancy Yoga Instructor Gözde Biber has suggestions for you. Here is a series of exercises that you can do yourself at home!
6. Meditation
With this mind and body technique, you focus your attention on breathing or repeating a word, phrase or sound. By meditating, you can interrupt the stream of thought that invades your consciousness. Thus, when your normal thoughts are temporarily suspended, you enter a state of physical relaxation and mental calmness.
7. Breathing Techniques
You should breathe through your nose, feeling the cool, clean air filling your lungs. You have to exhale through your mouth, imagining that you have released all your tension. You should practice breathing slower and faster than usual. The more you internalize your breathing work during pregnancy, the easier it will be to practice when labor pains come. Give particular weight to this as of the 40th week of pregnancy.
I’m 40 Weeks Pregnant I Have No Pain What Should I Do?
In the expectant mother who has completed the 40th week of pregnancy, the pains that point to the birth may not have started, in this process, she is checked every 3 days. It is checked whether the baby is well inside or not. Because after the 40th week of pregnancy, the baby is at risk. In this examination;
- Baby movements felt by the mother,
- With NST (non-stress test) , the baby’s heartbeat,
- With ultrasound, the baby’s fluid and respiratory movements are checked. If there is an abnormality in these and the baby is in a worsening condition, the mother is taken into labor.
Also, “I’m 41 weeks pregnant, no pain.” You can also be one of the mothers who say. If the cervix can handle artificial pain, delivery is usually preferred. Because each passing time can pose a risk for the baby.
What To Do If There Is No Birth At 40 Weeks?
Pregnancy past 40 weeks does not mean there is a problem. Almost half of all pregnancies exceed 40 weeks. It even extends up to the 41st or 42nd week. But the doctor won’t let it past 42 weeks.
Less than 5% of babies are born on the due date. But a baby who has had his day often hasn’t really had his day. The date was set wrong from the beginning.
Although rarer, a baby may actually have had a good day. In such cases, when the baby comes out, his skin is usually dry, cracked, peeling, sagging and wrinkled, but all of these are temporary. The reason for this is that the vernix layer that protects the skin has disappeared in the previous weeks as the date of birth approaches.
If pregnancy exceeds 40 weeks, the fetus will have longer nails and possibly hair. It will also have almost no baby hair on its skin. He will also be born more alert, with his eyes open and attentive.
Birth Symptoms at 40 Weeks Pregnancy
The main symptoms of childbirth;
- engagement coming,
- Coming of amniotic fluid and water
- Labor pains and contractions.
However, in the last weeks of pregnancy, expectant mothers;
- feeling of relaxation,
- Decreased appetite and weight loss
- Symptoms such as feeling too energetic may also occur.
When Should You Go to the Hospital?
Many couples are advised to go to the hospital 1 hour after contractions that come at intervals of 5 to 10 minutes. However, if the hospital is too far, transportation is difficult, and the weather is bad, it is better to leave the house as soon as possible.
If the birthing process hasn’t really started yet, you run the risk of being sent back home when you go to the hospital. When you go, you will be evaluated for signs of the birth process and the decision will be made accordingly.
Do not feel disappointed, unhappy or angry if you are sent home. Because whether many women enter the birth process or not is fully understood by the birth control process in the hospital. This is not something to be understood on the phone. Some hospitals, instead of sending you back, put you on hold in a room until your birth can occur.
Stages of Birth: What Will Happen at the Hospital?
- Expectant mothers are admitted to the delivery room when they reach the hospital after their birth begins. First, the first examinations and uterine openings are determined.
- Ultrasound is done to see recent changes. The approximate weight reached by the baby is recorded.
- NST is applied to see the baby’s current heartbeat and uterine contractions.
- If there is no situation that requires a cesarean section, the expectant mother is taken to a room to be examined at regular intervals.
- Although it is not possible in most public hospitals, it is important for the father-to-be to be in the room while the uterine contractions are being pulled and to support the mother-to-be.
How wide should the cervix be opened to give birth?
Until the birth occurs, the baby’s heartbeat is listened at intervals of about 20 minutes, and the opening of the cervix is checked at intervals of 1 hour. Birth occurs when the cervical opening reaches 10 cm.
It may take 1.5-2 hours for the cervix to increase by 1 cm, especially in mothers with their first pregnancy. When the baby’s head is visible through the vagina during uterine contraction, the expectant mother is placed on the delivery table.
Postpartum Mother and Baby
- With a few strong contractions and sufficient straining of the expectant mother, first the baby’s head comes out of the vagina.
- The doctor first wipes the inside of the baby’s mouth with the help of a cloth. She then gently pulls the baby in suitable positions, allowing it to be fully born. And the delivery room begins to resonate with the baby’s voice.
- The baby is about 50 cm and 3700 grams this week. On the one hand, while the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, the baby is left on the mother’s belly and the first contact with the mother is ensured.
- The doll is then dried, warmed, cleaned and dressed.
- The doctor removes the mate (placenta) of the baby, which is still in the womb. It checks the birth path and vagina for possible tears.
- Especially in first pregnancies, the episiotomy is repaired to facilitate the exit of the baby .
- Then the baby is given to the lap of the expectant mother who is taken to her bed. And finally, the mother has the opportunity to meet her baby’s eyes for the first time.
Suggestion for the Delivery Room!
We are talking about birth, what happens during birth. What about after birth? If you want to come to a decorated room with your baby and greet your loved ones in such a room after you leave the birth, you should consider decorating your delivery room.
We Have a Suggestion: Newborn Photo Shoot
Our recommendation is not that the baby is in the womb; about the time he opened his eyes to the world! These early days are the best time for you to have your best photos taken. If you want to turn these times of your baby into good memories, you can get help from photographers. Better to choose someone who has worked with babies before.
Will You Get Help From a Carer?
If you are considering getting help from a caregiver, you should start your research. Do not forget that it is important how well the babysitter’s thoughts on baby care are compatible with yours and whether you can agree or not.
