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At this point, it’s month nine of your pregnancy. Because your due date has already passed, your baby has finished their rapid growth period. Week 41 of pregnancy baby development is complete. At 41 weeks, your baby can weigh around 3 to 4 kg and is the size of a small pumpkin or watermelon.
As a result of hormones in women’s bodies, the genitals of your baby may appear swollen after birth but they will return to their normal size soon after.
You have reached week 41 of pregnancy baby development, deep into the third trimester. During this time, you may continue to experience symptoms from earlier in your pregnancy, such as food cravings, mood changes, and leaking breasts.
At week 41 of pregnancy baby development, the continuing signs of pregnancy include:
Usually, going beyond 40 weeks is nothing to worry about because oftentimes, the due date is an estimate. So it does not always mean that you are overdue if you are at week 41 of pregnancy baby development.
You are more likely to experience post-term pregnancy if:
However, post-term pregnancy may indicate problems with the placenta, or the baby.
Going 10 or 12 days beyond the due date can increase the chance of stillbirth as the placenta begins to function less. Placental aging may result in the following:
Approaching 42 weeks of pregnancy and beyond, there is a risk of the following:
The baby may also have post-maturity syndrome, when they are born with:
At week 41 of pregnancy baby development, your doctor may check the baby’s size, heart rate, position, and movements.
You and your doctor may also decide on labor induction. Labor induction has been reported to be associated with a 67% lower risk of infant death. In hospitals with labor induction policies, babies are 12% less likely to end up in neonatal intensive care.
To ripen or dilate the cervix for induced labor, you may be prescribed medication. Your cervix may also be manually dilated through a device that is similar to a tube with a balloon at the end, that rests inside the cervix. You may also be given hormonal medication to cause your uterus to contract, pushing you to go into labor. Your doctor may also break open the amniotic sac using a thin plastic hook.
A membrane sweep through an internal vaginal examination may be something that can be done during week 41 of pregnancy baby development.
This is done when the doctor sweeps their finger inside you in order to separate the cervix from the membranes surrounding your baby. This stimulates the hormones that induce labor. While it works immediately for some women, others require a few more sweeps prior to actually giving birth.
You may also be given:
Week 41 of pregnancy baby development is coming to an end. Observe your pregnancy and keep in constant contact with your medical provider. Your doctor may either suggest waiting for the baby to come naturally, or induce labor. Either way, the wait will soon be over, and it won’t be long until your meet your tiny passenger face to face.
Use this calculator to find your due date. This is just an estimate – not a guarantee! Most women, but not all, will deliver their babies within a week before or after this date range.
Calculation Method
Cycle Length
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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