How Your Baby Grows Inside You: Week 40

How Your Baby Grows Inside You: Week 40

18 Jan 2017 | 3 min Read

Sonali Shivlani

Author | 213 Articles

Congratulations! You made it! After 40 weeks of aches, anxiety and anticipation, you are finally ready to hold your baby in your arms. You have probably been marking off days on the calendar of pregnancy week by week and been waiting for the labor to start. Well, anytime now!!

For most first time moms, labour can start a few days earlier than the due date. However, if you are a second time mom, you are most likely to carry beyond your due date. If everything is fine, your doctor might be willing to wait beyond your due date, till about 42 weeks even.

 

Baby Growth Week by Week

Your baby will weigh about 3 and a half kilos at birth on an average and will be about 20 inches long. Boys can be a little heavier than girls but genetics play a major role here. Petite parents can expect their baby to be lighter and have a smaller frame. For an Indian baby, average weight can range between 2.5 kg to 3.5 kg at birth.

 

Signs and Symptoms

You might feel an urge to pass bowels frequently in the last few days. Continue eating fibre-rich foods to avoid straining the blood vessels around the anus.

During pregnancy week by week follow ups, some women suddenly feel an extra burst of energy towards the end of pregnancy. You might find yourself wanting to clean the house, doing some last minute shopping or cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Just remember not to lift any heavy weight that could strain your back.  

You might want to keep a note pad and pen handy to note down the frequency and duration of your contractions. Your doctor will want to know these details so s/he can accordingly guide you, about when you can head to the hospital.

 

Physical Development

Your body has probably reached the “I-can’t-take-it-anymore” stage. Your gait might interfere with your energy burst and this could annoy you a bit. It’s just a matter of time, soon you have to deal with the entirely new changes in your body.

 

Emotional Changes

You could be feeling increasingly anxious about your delivery, but at the same time, you might want everything to get over quickly. Just go with the flow and remember to be positive throughout the process.

As you progress week by week into your pregnancy, talking to your baby now might also help ease the nervousness. Tell your baby to be strong and come out fast, as his loved ones are waiting for her/him.

 

Red Flags

If you have any bright red vaginal bleeding like the blood at start of your period, then you must immediately head to the hospital.

 

Old Wives Tales

People might tell you that if you have wide hips, labor won’t be painful for you. Labor pains depend on a number of factors and not on the size of the pelvis alone, so just remember to focus on your breathing and birth positions for an easier labor.

 

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Source for banner image:verywell.com

 

 

 

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