Pregnancy Week 40: the Last Month of Pregnancy
Hitting pregnancy week 40 you could expect that by next a couple of weeks, your life will totally change. There will be a loud cry in the house and this little darling is keeping you alert almost 24/ 7. Officially, this week marks the end of all carrying and hormone changing. While everything is probably ready by this time, it might be a good idea to list down what you need during delivery and some short stay at the maternity hospital soon. Pack some survival kit in a ready-to-grab handbag. This is handy when contraction gets more intensive and you need to run to hospital.
Pregnancy Week 40 – Making Sense out of Everything
Your small princess is now weighing about 6 to 9 pounds and reaches 22” length, although variations in scale can happen. The body is perfect and functioning well although skull will remain soft to help her get out of the exit door during delivery. In pregnancy week 40, the baby has been able to protect herself from difference in temperature thru building up fat under the skin. It will help her survive the temperature outside your womb when she arrives in the world soon enough. Antibody that is crucial for the immune system is still delivered via the life line, i.e. placenta. It will be continued later with mother’s breast milk.
Your body is preparing to let the little one go by pregnancy week 40. The most obvious sign that you could expect other than contraction is the breaking of water. Don’t worry. It does not look like what you see on TV’s soap operas. The water will not break once and in huge amount. Rarely does it break before you reach hospital. So, leave out those thoughts that don’t make sense. Keep practicing your breathing and relaxation technique rather than worrying about irrational things. Stop also wondering if the pelvis size would be enough for your baby to get out. Of course it does! Its elasticity allows it to expand during contractions and return again after delivery. Kegel practice will help it to work a lot better!
Indications
One of the most serious symptoms would be Braxton Hicks practice contractions since it is often be mistaken as the real ones. Pay attention if the frequency and pain doesn’t increase, then it is practice ones. Usually it can occur due to position changes in sleep or doing other activities. In pregnancy week 40, the baby will keep moving although in softer and slower ways. Healthy movements would be able to be counted several times an hour, which includes wiggles and flutters.
By this week, opening of cervix may take place slowly. This will keep on continuing until labor time comes. In some cases, your baby may have dropped now. The effect of this position would be discomfort in pelvis area. It is because of course due to the baby’s head that hits bladder. Getting a prenatal massage will help relieving these uncomfortable feelings, including leg cramps during pregnancy. Massage helps you relaxed and sooth the pains. While the blood circulation gets better, it could also help you to sleep well during pregnancy week 40.
