Now is the best time for you and your partner to attend childbirth classes to guide you on childbirth and labor. Make sure you have enough baby supplies like food and clothes and file your maternity leave with your employer.
At 40 weeks of pregnancy baby development, your infant has thicker, coarser hair. The baby is as big as a small pumpkin. It is 20.2 inches (51 cm) long and weighs 7.4 pounds (3.3 kg). Its body hair has disappeared.
Your baby also has:
- Fully developed lungs
- Longer nails
- Two soft spots on the skull called fontanelles. These aids the skull bones in shifting as the baby emerges from the birth canal. They also help the baby’s brain develop further after birth.
- Meconium. This green, sticky substance in the gut forms your infant’s fecal matter after being born.
- A creamy coating called vernix caseosa that protects the baby’s skin
Body & Life Changes
How is my body changing?
At 40 weeks of pregnancy baby development, your body is adjusting fast to various changes. These include:
- A bigger belly. Your belly button sticks out, making it hard for you to walk and engage in regular activities.
- Stretch marks. These become more pronounced. You may apply moisturizing cream for itchy stretch marks.
- Formation of colostrum. This yellowish substance, the first milk the breasts produce, begins to leak from your nipples.
- Cervix dilation. This cylinder-shaped tissue in your uterus starts widening to accommodate your baby. Cervix dilation can cause true contractions or false Braxton Hicks contractions. Check with your doctor when the contractions become regular or stronger.
- Emotional changes. You might feel anxious, impatient, and worried about childbirth and parenthood. Sleep may be difficult. Hormonal changes cause mood swings as well.
- Lightening feeling. Your baby’s downward movement releases pressure from your ribs, making you breathe better and easing heartburn.
- Pelvic pain. This is an offshoot of the baby’s continuous downward movement. The movement of your baby’s head in your womb could cause a sharp pain in the pelvis.
- Presence of a clear white, slightly pinkish, and blood-tinged vaginal discharge. This bloody-looking discharge is actually the thick mucus plug, that falls from the cervix as childbirth draws near.
- Leg cramps. This painful condition usually occurs at night. Flex your ankle and toes towards the shin to reduce pain.
- Backache. This is caused by the pressure the baby’s head exerts as it moves further down the pelvis. Changes in posture can also cause backache.
- Low blood pressure. This is due to hormonal changes that expand the blood vessels. The growing uterus puts pressure on these expanded blood vessels and reduces blood flow from the heart to the body’s lower parts.
- Varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Reduced blood flow to the heart can make blood pool in the leg veins and near the rectum, leading to varicose veins and hemorrhoids.
- Frequent urination. Trips to the restroom increase as the growing uterus puts pressure on your bladder. Greater blood flow to the kidneys and relaxed urinary tract muscles also lead to frequent urination.
- Swelling. Your hands, face and feet become severely bloated. Higher estrogen levels cause water retention. Avoid swelling by raising your feet. Rotate ankles clockwise and counterclockwise to ease discomfort. Stretch toes in and out. Walk as regularly as possible.
- Hot flashes. Help yourself by choosing loose clothes and taking lots of water and juice.
What should I be concerned about?
At 40 weeks of pregnancy, baby development, you should watch out for:
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